55. The Catholic Mothers' Retreat: Day 3 - Freedom from Comparison - From Worldly Perfectionism to God-inspired Purpose

Day 3: Freedom from Comparison - Letting Go of our inner multi-tasking "Martha' and Embracing our contemplative "Mary"

The pressure to be everything for everyone can drain the joy from home life. We step into a quieter, sturdier way: a day shaped by prayer, simple offerings, and a renewed understanding of vocation. From the first moments, we ground the conversation in a heartfelt prayer for mothers and a candid look at how comparison steals peace. Then we explore a living tradition that anchors busy hearts, introducing the Filipino devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the story of healing, perseverance, and community that continues to draw pilgrims by the millions.

Our journey blends history and hope with the practical rhythms of daily work. We talk candidly about the tug-of-war between the inner "Martha" who  is oh so demanding on women and what they "should" be doing. 

Meanwhile, the inner "Mary" is able to say "No" to all tasks and say "Yes" to slowing down and being in the presence of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Rather than choosing one over the other, we show how to hold both: prioritize prayer at the start of the day, invite God into chores, and offer small crosses for family and those in need. The ordinary becomes sacred when done with love, and the repetitive becomes a path to peace. Along the way, we reflect on Saint John Paul II’s words to women, honouring the dignity of mothers and wives as steady signs of God’s tenderness and fidelity.

By the end, you’ll have a concrete way to shift from wordly perfectionism to God's purpose for your life: I invite you to begin with prayer, name  and set your limits, and allow gratitude reframe each task. We can learn from the example of Mother Mary and how this can support our daily "Yes," why small practices outlast big resolutions, and how to trust that God’s grace is enough when you feel like you aren’t. 

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Chapters

• 0:00 Opening And Theme: Freedom From Comparison
• 0:13 Prayer For Mothers And Daily Grace
• 1:59 Introducing Our Lady Of Peñafrancia (Philippine devotion to Mother Mary)
• 3:29 Reflection On Vocation And Dignity
• 5:03 Gratitude, Litany, And Closing Prayer

Transcript

Sheila Nonato: 0:00

Day 3. Freedom from comparison and letting go of our inner "Martha." Embracing our vocation as wives and mothers. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Opening prayer. Our Lady of Pena francia, please help all mothers to embrace their unique calling. Our Lady of Pena francia, you are adorned in the mantle, the cloak of sparkling gold, and crowned with a bejeweled halo of twelve stars to signify your queenship, purity, and our reverence for you.

Sheila Nonato: 0:37

May all women know of and grow in confidence in their God-given dignity and vocation. May we let go of comparison and the need to do it all. In the midst of our many busy tasks, may we prioritize prayer at the start of our day, to allow God to work through us in whatever challenges, big or small, we may face that day. May we be able to pray during our daily motherhood duties, the dirty dishes, the changing of diapers, during our cooking and cleaning.

Sheila Nonato: 1:11

May we be able to offer up all of our little crosses for our families and for all those in need of prayers and miracles around the world. And may we come to know that in the midst of our work, we rely upon God and God's grace to get us through our day.

Sheila Nonato: 1:27

May we balance our inner "Martha," who fulfills all motherhood tasks, with our inner "Mary," who also remembers to sit at the feet of Jesus and prioritize prayer and conversation with God. It is not just the doing of the tasks that fills our day, but most importantly the offering of all that we do for God, which we do out of love for Jesus and our families, not just out of duty. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Sheila Nonato: 1:59

Introduction to Our Lady of Pena francia. For day three of our Mother's Day retreat, please allow me to introduce you to a devotion from the Philippines, the country where I was born. The history of the devotion to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Pena francia in the Philippines is 300 years old. A French nobleman named Simon Bella discovered the image of the Blessed Mother, known in the official language of the Philippines Tagalog as "Ina." This translates to mother. In the statue, she is carrying the baby Jesus in her arms. The image was found in the mountains of Pena francia, which means "Rock of France," south of Salamanca, Spain. It was hidden alongside other sacred images and church bells to prevent it from falling into the hands of invaders. The devotion of Our Lady Pena Francia began in the Philippines in 1712. A seminarian named Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, the son of a Spanish official from Peña de Francia, was healed after praying with a holy card of Our Lady of Peña francia. Miguel later became a priest and built a small church with a canvas copy of the painting. Centuries later, a bigger church was built to house a statue of Our Lady of Peña francia. The Peña francia devotion has grown exponentially, that 1.5 million devotees, pilgrims, and tourists attended the festivities last September.

Sheila Nonato: 3:29

Reflection: "To reign is to serve."

Sheila Nonato: 3:32

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II's "Letter to Women" this year, may we recall our Blessed Mother's unique role as the Mother of God, and her faithful and courageous yes to fulfill her vocation and mission. As St. John Paul II wrote, "Thank you, women who are mothers. You have sheltered human beings within yourselves in a unique experience of joy and travail. This experience makes you become God's own smile upon the newborn child, the one who guides your child's first steps, who helps it to grow, who is the anchor as the child makes its way along the journey of life. Thank you, women who are wives. You irrevocably join your future to that of your husbands, in a relationship of mutual giving at the service of love and life."

Sheila Nonato: 4:24

May we turn our eyes towards our Blessed Mother and embrace our calling as wives and mothers and give thanks to God for the blessing of our husbands and children. When we feel exhausted or inadequate, when we compare our homes and our homemaking skills to those of others, especially on social media, may we learn to accept that we are enough, and most importantly, that God is enough. He provides for us in ways that we may not even see.

Sheila Nonato: 4:55

May we give gratitude to God every day for the gift of our families, our vocation, and our faith. Litany, Good Saint Anne, please pray for us. Our Lady of La Vang, please pray for us. Our Lady of Penafrancia, please pray for us. Our Lady of the Cape, please pray for us. Our Lady of Czestochowa, please pray for us. Our Lady of Kibeho, please pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, please pray for us. Closing prayer. Turn to me thine eyes, O most loving Virgin of Penafrancia, Have mercy on my soul that come to thee full of repentance. Protect my family, relatives, friends, and benefactors. Intercede for your devotees, both the living and the dead, especially for those whom I am most obliged to help. Amen.

Sheila Nonato: 5:43

In the name of the Father, name of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.