The Order of Grace and Bearing Children

The Order of Grace and Bearing Children

“The Order of Grace” can be explained by looking at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life.
The Second Vatican Council document The Light of the Nations explains the order of grace through the Blessed Virgin Mary in this way:
“Predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin was on this earth the virgin Mother of the Redeemer, and above all others and in a singular way, the generous associate and humble handmaid of the Lord. She conceived, brought forth and nourished Christ. She presented Him to the Father in the temple, and was united with Him by compassion as He died on the Cross. In this singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Savior in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore she is our mother in the order of grace. This maternity of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the Cross, and lasts until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect.”⁴
The Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary was not only physical to Jesus, but also Spiritual to the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. At the foot of the Cross, our Lady received her pangs of birth spiritually, when the Church was born from the side of Christ. Likewise, Spiritual Mothers, who spiritually adopt priests, help the People of God with their sacrifice and suffering in identity with the priest-victim who offers the Holy Sacrifice.
By following Mary, the Mother of God, Spiritual Mothers can now bear children in the order of grace. Because we, as human beings, are composed of Body and Soul, all women are capable to bear children spiritually.⁵ As seen in the life of our Lady, Mary’s “yes” to God’s Will precedes her role as the physical mother of Christ. Her fidelity of conforming her will to God’s supersedes her physical motherhood of Christ.

Mat 12:50  For whoever does the Will of God is my brother, sister and mother.

Thus, for those who cannot physically bear children, for those who are not called to married life, and for those who are widows, you are capable of bearing children in the order of grace.
Cloistered Nuns who do not have a physical spouse are the primary example of women who bear children in the order of grace. By their conformity to God’s will, they have many spiritual children outside of their monastery walls! They pray unceasingly for priests and their pastoral ministry.