The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (Eighth Week in Ordinary Time) Memorial Gn 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14/Jn 19:25-34 (572A, see USCCB.org/motherofthechurch) Pss IV.

*In 2018 Pope Francis added a feast day for Mary, Mother of the Church to be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost – and the date he chose was intentional. On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birthday of the Church, and on the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, we celebrate the fact that Mary, as the mother of Our Lord, is intrinsically linked to the Church as her mother.

In issuing his decree to add this feast day to the Church’s calendar, Pope Francis wished to promote this devotion to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety.”

https://catholicnewsherald.com/faith/183-news/faith/faith-may/7108-mary-mother-of-the-church

**How is the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of the Church?

Mary had been present at the very beginnings of the Church. She was there at the Annunciation when her humble consent in purity of heart allowed the Son of God to take flesh in her virginal womb. The title, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae) was first used by Berengaud, bishop of Treves (d. 1125) in his writings.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:4–6