What Is A Mother?

What is a mother? Who shall answer this?
A mother is a font and spring of life,
A mother is a forest in whose heart
Lies hid a secret ancient as the hills,
For men to claim and take its wealth away;
And like the forest shall her wealth renew
And give and give again, that men may life.

Cardinal Spellman: Mary, Mother of Mankind (20th century)