Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
In 2018, Pope Francis added the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church to our Church calendar. Pope Francis hoped this devotion “might encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful.”[1]
The Scripture reading for this memorial feast is John 19:25–34, in which Jesus calls out from the Cross, entrusting Mary to his disciple John as his mother and entrusting his disciple to Mary as her son. Pope John Paul II taught us that through this Scripture passage, we understand that “Mary is present in the Church as the Mother of Christ, and at the same time as that Mother whom Christ, in the mystery of the Redemption, gave to humanity in the person of the Apostle John.”[2] Mary is our mother too—Mother to the Church and mother to us personally.
As a new mother, inviting Mary into my life was natural. I could relate to her so easily, but as I got to know her more, I realized I would have liked to have been in friendship with her sooner. I grew up in a Protestant church, in which so many of the models of faith put before me were men: Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, and Paul. It was difficult for me to connect with these stories, as a young girl without land or leadership. But Mary, I understood.
As a child, I longed for more faith and to sense God’s presence. Now, as an adult, I imagine Mary, the young Jewish girl waiting for the redemption of her people, and I know she would have understood. She could have been the model of faith I needed as a child, but now I look to her and say “Yes,” just as she did. She shows us how saying “Yes” to God reveals a world more magnificent than we could ever imagine. By saying “Yes” to God, Mary became the first disciple, Jesus’ first follower.
When I became a mother, I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of daily tasks I needed to do to care for my child and our home. As I washed what seemed like a never-ending pile of dishes or folded the mountain of laundry, I knew Mary was familiar with this work. She showed us how to live out a loving, vibrant faith through the simplicity of daily tasks. Yes, Mary was present at all the big moments in Jesus’ life, but she was also there in the tender, small moments. Her model of motherhood guided me to understand these small moments are precious in the life of my son and also showed me how to meet her Son in those places.
Sometimes I struggle, both with my faith in our Church and my place in it. I understand why Pope Francis added this feast day. We need to be reminded of how Mary heard the shepherds running in from the fields with the good news that they heard the angels sing that night, and she kept these things and “pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) We need the reminder of how Mary told the servers at a wedding in Cana, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) We need our Mother to remind us of the magnificent mystery of our Church but also to move us into action.
We honor Mary as Mother of the Church on the day after Pentecost, reminding us that Mary was present with the disciples on Pentecost. Mary prayed with the first Christian community, awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit for all believers. Mary prayed with them as the Holy Spirit descended. And Mary, our dear Mother, continues to pray for us.
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Ben Sirach states that all, even the just, are affected by sin, and therefore, he sounds a call for penance.
The young man of the Gospel is proud, perhaps a bit pharisaical, to have observed the commandments since his childhood. But Jesus asks more: for the kingdom of God one must be willing to follow Jesus absolutely and give up everything else for it. Jesus’ offer is too demanding for him to be accepted. The young man was not willing to pay the price. Are we always willing to pay it fully?
Opening Prayer
God our Father, your Son Jesus, looks at us with love and he asks us to follow him generously and radically. But you know how hard it is for us not to be attached more to things and people than to you. Sustain us in our struggles to be fully free for you and people, for what is impossible for us you can do in us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Intentions
– For those in the Church, who proclaim to us the wisdom of the Word of God, that they themselves may first live it and share their experience with us, we pray:
– For parents and educators, that they may challenge the young to live for things that matter; and for the young, that idealism and generosity may keep guiding their lives, we pray:
– For all of us, that we may be deeply aware that by the grace of God we have the strength to answer the invitation of the Lord, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father, in these humble signs of bread and wine, we will soon recognize the presence of your Son, Jesus Christ, in our midst. May he give us eyes and hearts of faith to recognize his real presence also, in all who are poor and do not count in this world. Make us small and poor enough to know that we owe to the poor what we owe to Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God, our Father, in this Eucharist we have encountered your Son, Jesus Christ. Let him give us the poverty of heart to follow him wherever he calls us. We may have few material things to sell and give to the poor. Make us aware of all the riches of mind and heart, of patience and love that we can share and help us to do so wholeheartedly and without regret, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
Usually, an encounter with Jesus changes a person. But one can also refuse, like the rich man of the Gospel. May we have encounters with him that change us. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
