Mrs. Sagrario Amo Arturo receiving communion from her son.

I am the mother of Father Angel Amo Arturo, LC. A few months ago my son was ordained a priest and I still feel a tremendous excitement in my heart. This is without a doubt the greatest thing that can happen to a mother. Throughout our lives we have a series of momentous events such as the birth of a child, a wedding, a graduation, but nothing can compare with the overwhelming sight of your son consecrating the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord. It´s as if something inside you were about to explode with joy as you realize what God has done with your own son and what this grace means for your whole family.

I have to be sincere and recognize that it was very difficult not having him at home with me. He is the "baby", the youngest of three children, very joyful, mischievous and enthusiastic, which meant we felt his absence all the more. It wasn´t easy and I cried many a tear. When I look back and remember those moments I realize that those tears were watering the seed of his vocation so that it would be

	Father Angel Amo, LC, with his family after his first Mass.

fruitful.

Little by little seeing him so happy and so secure, I began to accept more peacefully the dynamics of the love, sacrifice and donation it involved as I realized that I had a part to play in my son´s vocation. The last thing I could be was an obstacle. On the contrary, I had to be a source of encouragement, getting excited with his experiences and achievements, praying all the while that our Lord would show him his Face, helping him to feel strong and at peace with his decision to follow Christ.

In the beginning I had my doubts but later I saw more clearly that my son was privileged because God had chosen him to be his priest. He could count on our Lord to be with him wherever he went and believe me, living this with faith is a magnificent experience; a mixture of joy and responsibility as I feel that my son´s vocation and mission is something that is mine as well.

(June 26, 2003)