The Holy Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by seeking the Gift of Understanding from the Holy Spirit so he can fervently exalt and love Mary, Mother of the Church and by building the Virtue of Piety so he can continually grow in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Liturgy
Memorial of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church – Monday after Pentecost- Jn 19:25-34
Commentary
Anticipated before Eden and coming into glorious reality in Christ’s Passion (Latin, passionem, meaning, “suffering”, “enduring”), God the Father’s plan for the redemption of mankind is achieved through His Holy Catholic Church.
From the Cross, Jesus reveals the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Church. Jesus protects her from destitution, a fate common for childless widow women, by giving St. John patriarchal responsibility for the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. John had headship over all those in his home). Jesus also blesses St. John by giving His mother to be St. John’s mother, a mysterious and powerful act for St. John’s biological mother, St. Mary Salome, was still alive. More broadly, Jesus establishes His Holy Catholic Church with God as Father, the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of the Church, and St. Joseph, His earthly father, the Patron of the Church; in this, God confirms the longing and importance of both fathers and mothers for every person.
After the death of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary continued in her mission as Mother as she comforts the Apostles in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14). Early in the life of the Church, St. Augustine and St. Leo the Great confirmed that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. More recently, the Blessed Virgin Mary was reconfirmed as “Mother of the Church” during Vatican II and, in 2018, a memorial for the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in the Liturgy on the Monday after Pentecost, reminding the faithful of the great blessing of, and need for, the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the faithful are to constantly seek her intercession for their good and the good of the Church.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Marvel at how Jesus cares for His Mother and gives men throughout the ages their spiritual mother: Son of the Father, Jesus imitates His heavenly Father by spiritually Providing the Church with the Blessed Virgin Mary, a spiritual mother, who intercedes and comforts people throughout the millennia; Son of Joseph, Jesus imitates His earthly father by Protecting Mary (a vulnerable female) by giving her John (a male) to protect and care for her.
Exalt and love the Mother of the Church
Realize: Rather than the false worship of a pagan “earth mother”, Jesus confirms the absolute power of God the Father, but also gives His human mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to be the Mother of the Church who intercedes for humans to God.
Believe: Reflect upon the Mother of the Church (CCC 501, 773, 829, 963-970, 973-975).
Pray: Holy Spirit, give me the Gift of Understanding so You help me perceive the mysterious and powerful blessing of the Mother of the Church, and I am moved to honor, thank, and draw close to my Mother as Jesus Himself did.
Grow in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Realize: In His infinite wisdom, God desires for all men to have the blessing of a mother and a father. Mothers, like all humans, are prone to sin and fail their children in various ways, sometimes causing deep wounds, and all mothers eventually die. In the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus has given the Church a perfect mother who never fails to love those who come to her.
Believe: Reflect upon Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (CCC 971-975).
Pray: Blessed Mother of God, pray for me that I grow in the Virtue of Piety (a part of Justice) so I increase my devotion to you, and I more frequently seek your intercession on my behalf to your Son.