How the Catholic Faith Provides Rest for the Depleted Mom

Emily Jerger details five ways the Catholic faith can provide relief and encouragement to mothers who are feeling overwhelmed and depleted.

When we brought our newborn son home from the hospital, we were very grateful for the bassinet that had been handed down to us. The bassinet’s base was like a tripod with long outstretched arms, and the bed pivoted easily so I could sleep right next to my son. While the bassinet was a great gift to have, the base was a bit long and the cause of an occasional stubbed toe.

One evening, after another exhausting round of caring for our newborn, I was bringing him back upstairs to our bedroom and tripped on the base of the bassinet. Thankfully, as I fell forward, the baby landed softly on our bed.

My heart, however, did not land softly. I left the bedroom and walked out into the hall, letting out the most visceral scream of my life. Frustration, humiliation, pent-up worries and fears, and a whole mix of exhaustion came pouring forth in the scream of screams. My husband later told me that when our baby heard me scream, he immediately stopped crying. That being said, my husband also asked me to never scream like that again.

Motherhood Is Exhausting

I knew that becoming a new mom could be overwhelming. I did not realize how sleep deprivation, an uncertainty about how to care for such a fragile little human being along with too many conflicting “experts,” and trying to balance other responsibilities can make it easy to feel like you are running on empty, all the time. When I came across this article comparing motherhood to the equivalent of working 2.5 jobs, it was incredibly validating.

In May of 2025, Parents.com published an article about “Depleted Mother Syndrome.” The article lists eight symptoms. Maybe you recognize yourself in some of the following: guilt, exhaustion, aches and pains, changes in appetite, more frequent illnesses, feeling overwhelmed, becoming more irritable, and being emotionally detached from others. If so, you are not alone.

As I was becoming more depleted as a new mom, I found myself also becoming angrier and more irritable. A different side of myself started emerging, and I felt like it was something much darker, something I didn’t want to see in myself. I was afraid of who I might become if I remained so depleted.

In times like this it is vital to remember the invitation of Jesus:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

The weary mom needs to know that Jesus cares and does not expect her to continue to pour from an empty cup. A mother is not meant to always remain depleted.

The Catholic Faith Offers Rest for the Weary

The beauty of the Catholic faith is that it offers plenty of opportunities to come to Jesus and find the rest He invites us to receive. Whether through traditions of prayer, communities of faith, sacraments, or opportunities of inspiration, the Catholic faith offers help and hope to the weary mom. I would like to share with you five ways the Catholic faith is helping me whenever I feel overwhelmed as a mom.

Eucharistic Adoration

Along with the invitation of Jesus to come to Him and rest, Eucharistic adoration is an opportunity to pray in silence and stillness before Jesus. One does not need to make a holy hour to benefit from visiting the Blessed Sacrament. Even a short visit or prayer pause during the day can help to create a moment to breathe and simply sit before the one who sees you and loves you.

I have often brought my baby to adoration in the hopes that he will stay asleep, only to have him wake up and become really active. At times our visit lasted only five minutes, but it still provided an opportunity to connect with Jesus and be still, something that busy moms have a hard time doing. Some of the beautiful moments I have had in Adoration also came from the affirmation of a few older women who are regular adorers. Their joy in seeing my son arrive and their words of encouragement have brought relief and refreshment to my heart. Sometimes we all need to hear, “You are doing a great job.”

My mom is a regular weekly adorer, so many of the times that I have stopped by the adoration chapel have intentionally coincided with when I knew Grandma would be there. Having a family member or friend in Adoration to help watch our children can make it easy to take moments of silence and stillness without the concern of keeping a child calm and quiet. Some Adoration chapels even feature children’s hours when moms can get together and bring their children.

Even if it is not possible to physically go to Adoration, websites like YouTube offer livestreams of Adoration chapels around the world. By uniting ourselves in spirit to Jesus in the Eucharist we are inviting the Lord deeper into our life. In much the same way that a spiritual communion prayer tells the Lord, “I desire that you come into my heart and I receive you as if you already there,” so virtual Adoration invites God to bring His grace into our hearts and homes.

The Rosary

The Rosary is a simple form of prayer that can be restful. My 1-year-old son loves it when we turn on The Family Rosary Across America on Relevant Radio. He immediately recognizes Father Rocky’s voice and loves to hold a rosary of his own as he marches around the living room. If we watch on their website or YouTube, the rosary also features a video with pictures of families, and my son loves to look at these pictures.

The Family Rosary comes on in the evening, when we need to wind down our day. The rhythmic prayer and listener calls, including calls from children, remind me that I am part of a bigger family and that we are all interceding for one another. In addition to Relevant Radio, there are many other resources, such as the Hallow app, which feature the Rosary and can be played on a phone. I have found that playing an audio Rosary in the background while playing with my son brings a sense of peacefulness and calm to my heart.

Confession

Confession can offer another respite for weary moms. There have been times in my first year of motherhood where my anger flared up or I lost my patience and acted in ways that betrayed my greater desire to love and care for my son. In these cases, instead of holding on to guilt or anxiety, I could bring it to Confession and unburden my soul. In going to Confession, I receive the gift of greater freedom and peace.

Granted, it can be hard to bring a child into a confessional. My husband once had a very difficult Confession because our son was very “talkative” and the priest had a hard time hearing my husband. If you feel like this might be a struggle, you might consider calling the parish office and setting up an appointment with the priest. Many priests are more than happy to accommodate for Confession outside the regularly scheduled hours.

Communities of Faith

Parishes and other Catholic organizations can offer support and assistance to struggling moms. In our local parishes it is not unusual to hear of meal trains being organized for families with any kind of need that would make it difficult or burdensome to prepare meals at home. Pregnancy resource centers and other organizations can help provide for various material needs that families may have.

When people at our former parish heard we had adopted, I received snacks, pacifiers, baby clothes, and other items that people wanted to give. Catholic friends of mine also surprised me by organizing an unexpected baby shower when my son was already 11 months old. This after-the-fact baby shower was actually providential timing, as many of my son’s baby items like diapers and wipes were running out.

Having a community of faith that can walk with you, not just in the beginning, but throughout the journey of motherhood, can be a lifeline for a weary mom. There are also groups for moms, homeschool co-ops, women’s groups or Bible studies, and other ways to connect with people to receive prayer and encouragement on the journey.

Spiritual Nourishment and Traditions

Finally, there are many other beautiful traditions of prayer and spirituality that can help nourish and refresh a tired mom. Playing beautiful music, such as Gregorian chant, can help both mom and baby calm frazzled nervous systems. Lighting votive candles can not only bring light and beauty to the day but give us a sense of peace, knowing that God is with us. For busy moms, there are options like going on a virtual retreat or listening to an inspiring talk that can lift the heart, even if one cannot get away for an in-person retreat. Participating in ongoing spiritual direction can also provide encouragement and support when things are tough and one’s prayer life feels challenging with the demands of motherhood.

Prayers such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Liturgy of the Hours can offer short breaks in the never-ending workday moms face. I love the Liturgy of the Hours because of the way it wraps around the rhythms of the day. There was a time when I would feed my son while praying from either the Magnificat or Christian Prayer. Praying out loud while feeding my son gave me the chance to nourish myself spiritually while nourishing him physically. It also anchored prayer in a daily routine that I could count on.

The Catholic faith is such a rich and diverse source of spirituality and prayer that there really is something for everyone. How has the Catholic faith helped you find rest, support, and encouragement on your journey?

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Copyright 2026 Emily Jerger
Images: Canva