ORIGIN OF THE FEAST
Today is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. In Roman Catholic Mariology, Mother of the Church (Latin: Mater Ecclesiae) is a title officially given to Mary by Pope Paul VI. The title was first used in the 4th century by Saint Ambrose of Milan, as rediscovered by the great theologian Hugo Rahner. The title was also used by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 and then by Pope Leo XIII in 1885. Pope John Paul II placed it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church; while Pope Francis added a feast by this title into the Roman calendar. In 2018, Pope Francis decreed that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church be inserted into the Roman calendar on the Monday after Pentecost (also known as Whit Monday) and to be celebrated every year. The decree was signed on February 11, 2018, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the 160th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions. It was issued on March 3, 2018.
THE ROLE OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER IN THE CHURCH
Mary’s role in the church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. This unbreakable union of mother and son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to His passion and death. Thus the Blessed mother advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfulness persevered in her relationship with her son on the cross, “Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there; so he said to His mother, ‘He is your son’. Then He said to the disciple, ‘She is your mother’”, Jn 19:25-27. Figuratively, John represents the Church; thus Jesus handed His mother, to be the mother of the Church while we, automatically becomes her children. There Mary stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only Son unto the intensity of His suffering. As Mary intervened at the lack of wine at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee in John 2; thus causing Jesus to changed water into wine, and saving the couples from the embarrassment, so does Mary intercedes for the church to her Son whenever we cry to her.
Dear friends in Christ, the Blessed Mother of God, the New Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven her maternal role with regard to Christ’s members, cooperating with the birth and growth of divine life in the souls of the redeemed. She always prays for her children the Church at all times. She is always ready to present our worries, hardships, health challenges and difficulties to her son Jesus whenever we fly to her patronage. Let us always pray through Mary to Jesus for it is a hiding secret only those with the eyes of faith have discovered. O virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to you we commend ourselves and the entire Church. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and guard our Holy Father and our Bishops in fulfilling their apostolic missions entrusted to them by Jesus, through St Peter, the rock of the Church and first shepherd of Christ’s flock. Oh most Holy Mary our mother and our model, by your obedience and patience you have taught us how to be true children of God. Continue to nurture our vocations so that we may be faithful in our missions as faithful disciples. Intercede on our behalf praying that we might serve in the church as one heart, one mind and one body uniting all people in heaven and on earth. As we say this prayer daily, let us join the psalmist to say, “Glorious things are told of you, O city of God”, psalm 87:3. Amen. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
May the Lord bless His word in our hearts through Christ our Lord. PEACE BE WITH YOU.
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