Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. This memorial was established in 2018 by the Congregation for Divine Works and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican (now called the Dicastery for Divine Works and the Discipline of the Sacraments). This memorial recognizes Mary’s unique relationship to Christ and her maternal role in the Church. It occurs on the first Monday after Pentecost Sunday, which marks the birth of the Church. The purpose of this memorial is to help us to reflect on the special role that Mary has in the life of the Church.
The gospel passage for this memorial is when Jesus, hanging on the cross, sees both his mother and John the apostle there witnessing his crucifixion. Jesus says to his mother, “Woman, behold your son,” and to John, “Behold your mother.” The passage goes on to say that the disciple took Mary into his care thereafter. So, on the surface we see Jesus providing for the care of his mother when he will no longer be able to do so. But history has borne out that there is a deeper meaning, that from that moment Mary took on John and all of Jesus’ disciples as her children, and that we, the disciples, have looked to her as our mother—one who intercedes for us and who models and nurtures our faith.
The date that the decree for this memorial was promulgated was February 11, which was chosen to coincide with the first appearance of Mary to St. Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes. Mary eventually identified herself as the Immaculate Conception during these apparitions. Lourdes has become a very popular site for pilgrimages to this day and is a good example of how devotion to Mary fosters our faith even to the present day.
Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections