The idea of Mary as Mother of Christians is found in the writings of St. Augustine, who explains that Mary is the mother of the members of Christ, because with charity she cooperates in the rebirth of the faithful into the Church. St. Leo the Great, Pope just about a decade after the death of Augustine says that the birth of the Head is also the birth of the body. Mary is Mother of Christ, the Son of God, and also mother of the members of his Mystical Body, the Church.
“Mother, behold your son” we hear in the Gospel for today’s memorial. Holy Father Pope Francis explains, “Indeed, the Mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25), accepted her Son’s testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender Mother of the Church which Christ begot on the cross handing on the Spirit. Christ, in turn, in the beloved disciple, chose all disciples as ministers of his love towards his Mother, entrusting her to them so that they might welcome her with filial affection.”
“As a caring guide to the emerging Church Mary had already begun her mission in the Upper Room, praying with the Apostles while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (as we heard in our first reading today).”
This connection with Pentecost is surely why the Holy Father placed this memorial on the Monday after Pentecost. Mother Mary prayed with the Apostles, teaching them to be open to the Holy Spirit, as she was at her annunciation, where the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, and through whom she conceived the Christ.
When we pray, Mother Mary is always praying with us, she is praying for us, even before we have the inspiration to pray. She is praying that we may be open to the Holy Spirit’s gifts. She is praying that the fruits of the Holy Spirit may grow in us like the Christ-child grew in her holy womb: gentleness, patience, self-control, chastity, and joy.
Let us honor her with this tender title, Mary, Mother of the Church, today and always, that all Christians may be open to the new life of the Holy Spirit, as the Apostles on Pentecost, for the mission of the Gospel, and have the strength to remain faithful to the commands of Christ as we carry our crosses, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, we recommend ourselves and the entire Body of Christ.
Mary, Mother of the Church: Guide and assist our Holy Father and our Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.
Mary, Mother of the Church: Enlighten the People of God along the paths of faith, hope and love! You were given to us as a mother by your Divine Son at the moment of his redeeming death.
Mary, Mother of the Church: Remember us your children, support our prayers to God. Preserve our Faith, strengthen our Hope, increase our Charity.
Mary, Mother of the Church and Immaculate Heart: Help us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today.
Mary, Mother of the Church: From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, and from every kind of war, deliver us. From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us. From every kind of injustice in the life of society, deliver us.
Mary, Mother of the Church: From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil deliver us. From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Mary, Mother of the Church: That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for the repose of the soul of Mr. Joseph Malesic, 104-year old father of Bishop Edward Malesic, who died this week for all the poor souls in purgatory and for N.
We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.
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