Month of Mary, Prayer for Our Mothers
Rev. Fr. John Fullerton, US District Superior, writes to faithful Catholics about the importance of remembering our Heavenly Mother, as well as our earthly mothers and grandmothers during the month of May:
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
Catholics the world over have long recognized the month of May as a time of special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As early as the 13th century, Spain and Germany developed their unique devotions to Our Blessed Mother, which gradually spread throughout Christendom. This organic movement culminated in 1954 with Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, which established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31 of each year.
Today, Catholics of all geographies and rites show their love for Our Lady through pious devotions and special feast days. It is only natural, then, that Catholics in the United States make a connection between the holy celebration of the Mother of God and the secular holiday of Mother’s Day.
Just as Catholics honor Our Lady’s special role in salvation history and the giving of new life to the human race through Jesus Christ, they join together in honoring the special place of motherhood in the life of the Church and society. In an era characterized by the frequent assault on the family, particularly motherhood, it is fitting to underscore the pivotal role that mothers play in shaping the formation of young Catholics, including those destined to become future priests and religious. And as we know, motherhood does not stop after one generation. This familial vocation continues to bear fruit through the special love, attention, and perhaps a bit of spoiling given by grandmothers to their grandchildren.
Indeed, it is impossible for us to not think of the profound role Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s mother, Gabrielle, played in his moral and spiritual development. A mother of eight who endured many hardships, she raised her children to be pious Catholics—with five, including Marcel, entering religious life. Without her care and example, the Archbishop may have never answered his religious calling nor had the faith and fortitude to found the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). The importance of authentic Catholic motherhood cannot be understated.
These reflections are why I invite you to make a special gift to the SSPX in honor of your mother and grandmothers between now and the end of May.
The Society’s apostolate supports Catholic motherhood throughout the United States through its schools, retreat centers, and—most importantly—its chapels, where the sacraments are offered according to the traditional Roman Rite. To show my appreciation for your generosity, I will offer a special Mass shortly after May 31, 2025, for all of those mothers and grandmothers whose names are included with your donation.
To make this donation, please visit SSPX.gifts or send your donations with the names you want included to the address below. Even if you are not able to make a gift at this time, please send the names of those mothers and grandmothers you want remembered to giving@sspx.org with the subject line: “Mothers Mass 2025.”
Your generous material and spiritual support allows the SSPX to continue its mission of restoring Catholic Tradition in the United States and beyond. Please continue to pray for our apostolate and ask the Blessed Virgin for her protection in these difficult times.
In Our Lady,
Fr. John Fullerton
U.S. District Superior
Regina Coeli House
PO Box 206
Farley, MO 64028