Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church (Memorial, 2021)

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On March 3, 2018, Pope Francis issued a decree that the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church should be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost every year.


Having commemorated the birthday of the Church on Pentecost Sunday, it is right to reaffirm and celebrate Mary as the Mother of the Church on this day. We don’t need to think far in order to understand the maternal connection between Mary and the Church (how Mary is the mother the Church). If we accept the truth of the Scriptures that Mary is the mother Christ, then we should readily accept the fact that she is the mother of the Church because the Church itself is the mystical body of Christ (cf. Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23).


As Mary stood beneath the cross (cf. Jn. 19:25), she accepted her Son’s witness of love and welcomed all people in the person of John the Beloved Disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. In addressing the world “Woman, behold your Son”, the Crucified Christ proclaimed Mary’s Motherhood not only in relation to John the Beloved Disciple but also to all His disciples. Thus, Mary has become the tender Mother of the Church which Christ begot on the cross. 


In the Upper Room, Mary’s maternal presence was very palpable as she prayed with the apostles while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14) in preparation for the birth of the Church on the Pentecost Day. If Mary is the Mother of Christ in the natural order, she is also the mother of the Church the Mystical Body of Christ. Hebrews 2:9-13 makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is our brother. Since Jesus is our brother, and Mary is His Mother, it follows that Mary is our mother as well.


On this day, we join Pope St Paul VI as we express our belief that “…the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ’s Body”.

 

Prayer:

May our Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us, her children, Amen!


Have a blessed day!



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