A Mother’s Prayer in a Broken World

Liesl Schiavone reflects of the brokenness of our world and how we, as mothers, must proceed. 

It’s no secret that the events of the last few weeks have left people rattled, restless, and frustrated. We’re desperately trying to make sense of this profoundly broken world. The news feels like an endless cycle of tragedy — another day, another tragedy, another reminder of suffering. 

Certainly, we’ve all had a lot of thoughts swirling through our minds. How did we get here? How can we mend the brokenness? How can we heal? 

As a mother, I want to be able to ensure that this rot and decay never touches the lives of my children. I want to be able to tell them that they’ll always be safe, free, and valued. That courage is admirable, but they won’t need it. But God never promised us that kind of assurance. No, He said: 

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” (John 15:18) 

Motherhood’s Cross 

That’s the cross we, as mothers, carry in these dark days. The knowledge that if we do our jobs right, the world will hate these little people we love with every fiber of our being. 

At its start, motherhood can be a great equalizer. A task so gigantic, a slate so clean, it brings each of us to our knees. I can only imagine it’s a job all mothers want to do well. 

But wherein lies the difference between the mother of the righteous and the mother of the wicked? It’s a haunting question. I have trouble believing the latter didn’t hope for a better outcome, or dream of a bright future for her child. I imagine the hearts of both are pierced, aching with what came to be. Whether victim or perpetrator, we were all infants once — tiny souls held in someone’s arms. But wickedness creeps in, little by little, and the evil one claims ground. He preys on even those who should know better, even those whose mothers did their best. 

So, what do we do? How do we get this right? How do we raise saints and renew the face of the earth? 

We look to those who have gone before us and we pray like we’ve never prayed before. 

A Model to Follow 

Yesterday would have been my mom’s 74th birthday. I can’t help but think of all she did to work toward this goal, the lessons she taught in words and action: the work of a mother with her eyes set on heaven. 

On more than one occasion, I heard people ask mom how she and my dad managed to raise six children who continue to practice their faith. Her answer was always the same: “I don’t really know, but I prayed a lot.” And it’s true. She was one of the greatest prayer warriors I’ve ever witnessed. I can still see her sitting in her prayer spot on the living room couch, deeply immersed in prayer. She knew that even if she taught all the right lessons, that she could not lead our souls to heaven without fervent prayer. She knew that the devil doesn’t sleep. 

Satan doesn’t stop pursuing those who seek Truth. He is constantly on the prowl, looking to win us over and have us fall — and that’s where prayer comes in. Of course, Mom prayed for our safety and health, she prayed that God would bless us — but I know that she prayed earnestly that we would always know Him, love Him, and serve Him, in this life and the next. I know she prayed for our courage, for our pursuit of all things good and beautiful, and that we would stay close to the Lord at all times and through all circumstances. 

Mom did teach us a lot of good lessons, the kind of things that one might think would ensure a positive outcome in child rearing. She taught us the tenets of the Faith, about right and wrong, and about the dignity of the human person. She taught us that everyone is worthy of love and respect, even when we disagree. She taught us humility, awareness of our sinful tendencies, and of our need for genuine repentance. She taught us to speak the truth in love and to live where our feet are, serving those who God puts in our path. A sure formula for successful mothering. 

But we can’t forget the most important piece of Mom’s blueprint for motherhood: prayer. In addition to all these things and more, she also prayed without ceasing. Prayer is the piece that takes our action to the Almighty. It’s the part that changes the world when we’ve done all we can. Because when all feels impossible, we have a Father who works only for good. 

Our Call to Action 

So, that’s what I plan to do. I plan to continue teaching the lessons, showing love in word and deed to the best of my ability, and praying more fervently. 

Join me. 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Liesl Schiavone
Images: Canva