Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin called on Mary, the Blessed Mother, for her intercession in helping today’s mothers.

“On this day, dedicated to our mothers, we pray for and thank the women, both living and deceased, who gave us life,” he said in a Facebook post Sunday. 

“We also thank those women who nurtured us with maternal care and love. Let us especially pray for pregnant mothers and those women facing unplanned pregnancies,” he wrote. “May we accompany and support them in their choice to bring new life into the world. Happy Mother’s Day! Let us entrust all mothers to the intercession of our Blessed Mother, Mary.”

Although Mother's Day is a secular holiday, the Catholic Church believes its devotion to Mary, Mother of God, pertains to all mothers, Fr. Jim Hinkle of St. Theresa Parish, said. The Church honors Mary throughout the year, with such celebrations carrying over to all mothers, he said. Mary is honored for the whole month of May, with two holy days this month drawing extra attention. 

Pope Francis also highlighted the importance of mothers.

“Let us affectionately remember our mothers, even those who are no longer with us down here, but who live in our hearts,” Pope Francis tweeted. “Our prayer, our affection, and our best wishes for all our mothers.” 

St. Pope John Paul II expounded upon the importance of mothers in Mulieris Dignitatem.

"Motherhood has been introduced into the order of the Covenant that God made with humanity in Jesus Christ,” he wrote. “Each and every time that motherhood is repeated in human history, it is always related to the Covenant which God established with the human race through the motherhood of the Mother of God.”