Welcome to Our Lady of the Ozarks

Many years ago, before I was a deacon, a friend once remarked that I seemed “very pious” at Mass, and he didn’t mean it as a compliment. He told me he often noticed my hands folded upright in prayer. It was when we were at a men’s retreat when he finally shared this with me and offered an apology. He said, “Dan, I’ve come to understand that your prayer posture isn’t for show. It’s simply part of who you are.” I thanked him for that. There was a time in high school and college when I stopped folding my hands because I thought it looked too childlike. Thankfully, when my wife and I had children, something in my heart compelled me to return the simple prayer posture I learned when I received Holy Communion for the first time and continued as an altar server. It felt like coming home. One of the most recognizable signs of reverence at Mass is the way altar servers walk and stand with their hands folded upright, fingers together, thumbs crossed, held close to the chest. This gesture is simple, silent, and deeply meaningful. It teaches us something essential about prayer, and it’s a posture every Catholic can benefit from imitating. At its heart, folded hands express readiness and devotion. In ancient times, a servant would place his hands together before his master as a sign of trust and willingness to serve. When altar servers fold their hands, they silently proclaim the same truth: I am here for God. Their stillness is not stiffness, it is attentiveness. Their posture becomes a living prayer. The gesture also fosters interior unity. When the hands are brought together, the body mirrors what the soul is meant to do: gather itself, focus, and turn toward the Lord. Our bodies influence our hearts. When we fold our hands, we reduce distractions and signal to ourselves that something sacred is happening. In a world full of noise, this small act becomes a powerful tool for recollection. For altar servers, the posture has a practical purpose as well. It prevents unnecessary movement and keeps their attention fixed on the altar. The faithful in the pews are not required to fold their hands in the same way, yet doing so can help cultivate a more prayerful disposition. The Church has always taught that the body participates in prayer. Our posture shapes our interior life. When we fold our hands, we are not just “looking prayerful”, we are becoming prayerful. The upward orientation of the folded hands also subtly expresses lifting the heart to God. Though the hands are not raised high, they point upward, reminding us that our prayer is directed toward heaven. Many Catholics find that folding their hands during moments of silence, before receiving Communion, or during personal prayer helps them remain centered on Christ. Finally, folded hands are a sign of humility and receptivity. They are hands that are not grasping or demanding, but resting and ready to receive. In the Mass, where God gives Himself completely, this posture becomes a beautiful expression of our identity as children before the Father. Altar servers show us that reverence is expressed not only in words but in the language of the body. By folding our hands together and holding them upright, we join them in a posture of readiness, humility, and love -- one that draws us more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist.

As we honor Mother’s Day with flowers, heartfelt cards, and perhaps a warm Knights of Columbus breakfast after Mass, each a beautiful gesture, let us also pause to embrace an even greater gift the Church offers, the inspiring witness of saintly mothers whose lives illuminate the path of faith. Motherhood is often described as a vocation of love, sacrifice, and perseverance. In the Catholic tradition, several canonized saints lived this calling not only as biological mothers but also as spiritual leaders within their families. Their lives remind us that holiness is not reserved for cloisters or pulpits, it can flourish inside and outside the home and in the daily routines of family life. I share with you a summary of five motherly saints. Saint Monica (331-387) – Patron Saint of Wives and Abused Victims - The Persistent Intercessor Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine, is perhaps one of the most well‑known mothers in Church history. Living in the 4th century, she endured years of heartache over her son’s wayward lifestyle and rejection of the faith. Through decades of patient prayer, fasting, and gentle witness, Monica’s steadfast love became the channel through which Augustine encountered Christ. Her story is a testament to the power of a mother’s intercession and the hope that no soul is beyond God’s reach. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1834-1888) Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers – The Modern Witness A pediatrician, wife, and mother of four, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla lived in mid‑20th‑century Italy. When faced with a life‑threatening complication during her fourth pregnancy, she chose to preserve the life of her unborn child, even at the cost of her own. Gianna’s decision was not made lightly, it was rooted in her deep faith, professional understanding of life’s dignity, and maternal love. She died shortly after giving birth, leaving behind a legacy of courage and self‑giving love that continues to inspire pro‑life witness today. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (174-1821) – The Educator and Spiritual Mother The first native‑born American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton was a widow and mother of five. After converting to Catholicism, she founded the first free Catholic school in the United States and established the Sisters of Charity. Balancing her role as a mother with her mission to educate and serve, she demonstrated that motherhood could extend beyond one’s own children to embrace the needs of the wider community. Saint Zélie Martin (1823-1894) – The Mother of a Saintly Family Saint Zélie Martin, along with her husband Louis, raised nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood, all becoming nuns. Among them was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” Zélie’s letters reveal a woman deeply devoted to her children’s spiritual formation, attentive to their personalities, and committed to guiding them toward heaven. Her life shows that the home can be a fertile ground for nurturing saints. Saint Felicity – Patron Saint of Mothers - The Martyr Mother Saint Felicity, a 2nd‑century martyr, was a pregnant Christian imprisoned for her faith. She gave birth in prison and was executed shortly afterward. (Her child was a adopted by a Christian mother.) Felicity’s courage in the face of persecution and her willingness to suffer for Christ, even as a new mother, stand as a profound witness to the strength of faith under trial. These saints, Monica, Gianna, Elizabeth Ann, Zélie, and Felicity, represent different eras, cultures, and circumstances, yet they share a common thread: they lived their motherhood as a path to holiness. Whether through prayerful perseverance, sacrificial love, educational leadership, or martyrdom, they reveal that the vocation of motherhood is a sacred calling capable of transforming both family and society. Their stories invite today’s mothers to see their daily sacrifices, joys, and challenges as opportunities for sanctity. In the Catholic vision, every diaper changed, every meal prepared, every prayer whispered over a sleeping child can be an offering to God, an act of love that echoes the lives of these holy women.