--- title: The Red Palm of Motherhood description: The Red Palm of Motherhood --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/12/14/the-red-palm-of-motherhood#) # The Red Palm of Motherhood Dec 14, 2012 9:00:37 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) A few weeks ago, on All Soul’s Day, Father Kean – a exuberant young priest at our parish – preached from the daily reading from Revelation 7: > *After this I had a vision of a great multitude,* > *which no one could count,* > *from every nation, race, people, and tongue.* > *They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,* > *wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.* > *They cried out in a loud voice:* > > *"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,* > *and from the Lamb."* “Oh, I so want to be one of that great multitude, waving one of those palms!” he declared to us. (At the time, I marveled that he so wanted that ancient symbol of martyrdom. Did he know what he was asking?) ![Maria Santos Gorrosteita](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Maria-386x400.jpg?width=309&height=320&name=Maria-386x400.jpg "Maria") Maria Santos Gorrosteita This week, a Facebook post was making the rounds, announcing that *Time *magazine had chosen feminist “icon” Sandra Fluke over the recently assassinated former mayor of Mexico, Maria Santos Gorrosteita,[[1]](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/12/14/the-red-palm-of-motherhood#_ftn1) as “Person of the Year.” As with so many things on Facebook, this was not entirely accurate – *Time *will vote December 14. Even so, the Facebook image inspired me to read more about the beautiful Mexican politician and mother who found the courage to face down the Mexican drug cartel, continuing to fight even after the first and second attempt on her life, despite the fact that she was mother of three young children. (Her husband has since gone missing.) In many places of the world, the fight against evil is both dangerous and unrelenting. As mothers, we do our best to “stand in the gap” between that evil and our families. We pray. We teach. We protect. And, at times, our mothering efforts will draw fire. The hardest part about this is facing the fact that, despite our best efforts and intentions, evil does sometimes appear to get the upper hand. Our children grow up and are free to choose – or not to choose – the way we have pointed out to them. When they do, our hearts swell with pride . . . when they do not, the helplessness wounds deeply. This week, as we approach Rose Sunday, let us remember all those (and in a particular way, those women) who guided us along the path. May those who are farther along the path to heaven watch over us, and strengthen us to shine a little brighter for those who follow in our footsteps. --- [[1]](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/12/14/the-red-palm-of-motherhood#_ftnref1) http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/28/mexican-mayor-maria-santos-gorrostieta-killed-by-gunmen-was-defiant-to-end/ ***Copyright 2012 Heidi Hess Saxton*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F12%2F14%2Fthe-red-palm-of-motherhood%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F12%2F14%2Fthe-red-palm-of-motherhood%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F12%2F14%2Fthe-red-palm-of-motherhood%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Red%20Palm%20of%20Motherhood) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F12%2F14%2Fthe-red-palm-of-motherhood%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F12%2F14%2Fthe-red-palm-of-motherhood%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ New 'Ave Explores' Series Looks at Diversity of Catholic Family Life Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/new-ave-explores-series-looks-at-diversity-of-catholic-family-life) [ The Top 10 Scams and Rip-Offs for New Moms: What NOT to Buy for Your Baby Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/09/11/the-top-10-scams-and-rip-offs-for-new-moms-what-not-to-buy-for-your-baby) [ Game Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/03/29/game-review-deus-ex-human-revolution) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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