Monday after Pentecost 2025 - Mary Mother of the Church

 This morning we read again that passage from the Acts of the Apostles read yesterday on the Great Solemnity of Pentecost, how the apostles gathered in the Upper Room with a number of women and other members of the brethren and with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Tradition has found in this scene a sign of our Lady’s maternal role for the entire Church. Wishing to draw our attention to the importance of this relationship, Pope Francis, in 2018 instituted today’s memorial of Mary Mother of the Church to be celebrated the Monday after Pentecost.

A mother’s life is centered on her child right from the womb. She has the responsibility to watch over the gift God has given her. A newborn infant continues to have great need for her protection; and as the child grows up she helps him take his first steps in life. 

The Gospels show us some of the care our Lady lavished on Jesus. And in the Acts of the Apostles we see the same concern for the nascent Church, with Mary watching over the apostles and the first Christians. It was a time of “gestation,” amid persecutions and difficulties, when we especially needed her help. 

She was with the Church at the beginning, and following her Assumption, our Lady continues to be with the Church in every place and in every age until the Lord’s return. Mother Mary accompanies the pilgrim Church with a mother’s love and watches in kindness over the Church in our pilgrimage to our heavenly homeland.

Mother Mary assists us with her prayers, as she did the apostles, and she is the perfect model for us. Pope St. John Paul II, reflected on Our Lady’s Maternal Role in the Church in his Marian Encyclical Redemptoris Mater, writing, “in her new motherhood in the Spirit, Mary embraces each and every one in the Church, and embraces each and every one through the Church. In this sense Mary, Mother of the Church, is also the Church’s model.” 

Pope Francis taught “Our Lady wants to bring the great gift of Jesus to us, to us all; and with him she brings us his love, his peace, and his joy. In this, the Church is like Mary; she has to lead everyone to Christ and his Gospel.” This is the goal of the Church’s life and of that of each Christian: to bring the love of Jesus to all men and women. May Mother Mary always be with us with her aid in this great task for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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United in prayer with Mary, the Mother of the Church, let us offer our prayers to the Father with confidence:

For the holy Church of God throughout the world, that through Mary’s maternal intercession, she may grow in holiness, unity, and zeal for the mission of Christ.

For all mothers, especially those who are struggling or suffering, that they may be strengthened by the example and prayers of Mary, Mother of the Church.

For our parish community, that under Mary’s guidance and protection, we may become more devoted to prayer, more generous in charity, and more faithful in spreading the Gospel.

That the poor and afflicted may always know the prayers and heavenly aid of the Blessed Mother and concrete acts of charity of the Church.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and for all of the souls in purgatory that they may be welcomed into the eternal joy of heaven, especially…

Heavenly Father, you gave us the Blessed Virgin Mary to be our Mother in the order of grace. Through her loving intercession, strengthen your Church and guide us on our earthly pilgrimage until we reach our heavenly homeland. Through Christ our Lord.

December 12 2018 - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Mother of the Author of Life

When Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531, Mexico was one of the most depraved cultures in human history.  The number of human sacrifices by the Aztec culture is virtually incalculable.

Our Lady came bearing the message of her Son and a message of life.  Mary to Juan Diego said: “My dearest son, I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, Author of Life, Creator of all and Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth...and it is my desire that a church be built here in this place for me, where, as your most merciful Mother and that of all your people, I may show my loving clemency and the compassion that I bear to the Indians, and to those who love and seek me...”

A Church was built.  The Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most popular pilgrimage site in North America built near the site where Our Lady appeared to the poor farmer, Juan. It is second in the world only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

What was in 1531 an almost entirely pagan culture almost entirely converted to Christ.  According to a contemporary chronicler, nine million Aztecs became Catholic in a very short time.  It is only in recent decades that Catholicism in Mexico has begun to revert, as the culture of death, which is so prevalent in our culture, attempts to regain its lost territory.

At Tepeyac, Our Lady of Guadalupe showed herself to be a lover of humanity and a lover of life.  She is depicted with a ribbon around her waist, indicating that she is with child.  She is also depicted standing on a moon, the symbol of paganism. History shows that cultures which worshiped the moon are very depraved.  And so Mary, standing on the moon, as if crushing it, points to the victory of Jesus Christ, the God of Life, over the powers the false pagan gods of death.

The Feast of Guadalupe is an important Advent feast, to remind us that we prepare during Advent to celebrate the birth of Christ the Savior, victor over the powers of sins and death.

Saint John Paul II, his great Marian Document, Redemptoris Mater, writes:  For Mary, present in the Church as the Mother of the Redeemer, takes part, as a mother, in that monumental struggle; against the powers of darkness" which continues throughout human history.

And so throughout Advent we do well to invoke Our Lady in our prayers for the conversion of our culture, especially for those who, because of their errors and false beliefs spread and participate in evil intentionally or unintentionally.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the Right to Life Movement, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


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We bring our prayers to God through Mary.

Please respond to the petitions: “Mother of the Redeemer, intercede for us”

That Our Lady may protect the Church from all evil, and aid us in the mission of the Gospel.

That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their
vocation.

For all refugees forced to flee from their homes, that God bring peace to them and their country of origin.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who
intercedes for us from her place in heaven.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

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.