Rumbling and grumbling to lift myself up out of bed one morning, I was trying to achieve that early-riser heroic moment — eventually I made it — when my wife commented, “You stay up too late.”

She was right, knowing that I had a lot of things to get done on this given day. So, I was silent in response, lumbered around getting ready, yet snickering to myself as I couldn’t help thinking of that expression many a man grew up with: “Behind every great man is a great woman.” From what I can gather, the early 1900s expression notes that women often helped men succeed in their lives, but the greatness of women that contributed to that success often went unnoticed.

Mary and Jesus with flowers

iStock/Kara Gebhardt

Whether society has done a better job of recognizing achievements of heroic women — both sung and unsung — I can only hope. Certainly, God has given us the complementarity of the sexes. Nonetheless, this old cliché came about in my head one dreary morning to remind me that any greatness in our household is due to the prowess of the heroine.

In the coming month of May dedicated to the Blessed Mother, Catholic Watchmen not only want to acknowledge the complementarity of relationships, but especially dedicate prayer time in devotion to Mary, and for the dignity of all women. We are counting on Watchmen and their families to devote prayers and petitions in honor of Mary and for the dignity of women in every country of the world. Furthermore, that both Mary and all women may be honored and respected, and that their essential contribution to the family and to society may be highly esteemed. May dignity, honor, respect and esteem be bestowed upon all women for their diligence, demanding work ethic, sensitivity and faithfulness to their family, friends and neighbors.

The words and actions of the most powerful woman in the world — our Blessed Mother — exemplify women’s essential contribution at the highest level. There are many devout women who look to her as the par excellence of spiritual motherhood to imitate. As Watchmen in our daily disciplines, we are to similarly emulate and follow the example of St. Joseph as our spiritual father. In a complementarity — “God created mankind in his image” (Gen 1:27) — that commits to providing and protecting a robust life of faith. Mother Teresa noted that “when we stand before God results are not important.” Faith is what counts. Faith in God over success in life is what matters most.

There are many special moments we can show our faith in the coming month during Eastertide. Early in May this can entail crowning and blessing statues of the Blessed Mother. Throughout the month, we can pray rosaries and novenas for the dignity of life and for dignity of all women. We can chant the Regina Caeli at the hours of 6 a.m., 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day, and celebrate feast days including Fatima (May 13), Ascension (May 26) and Visitation (May 31).

On Mother’s Day (May 8), we can honor the glory of home life of the first domestic church and give thanks to our mothers, especially for spiritual mothers, who like Mary help lead us closer to and in contemplating Jesus.

Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists with the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement.