Mary, Mother of the Church

Monday, 9 June 2025

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Introduction

On 3 March 2018, Pope Francis instituted the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to be celebrated the day after Pentecost. This feastday testifies to Mary's pivotal role in our faith. She was present with the disciples, praying with the first Christian community, eagerly awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit. And Mary, our dear Mother, continues to intercede for us in prayer.

This celebration will help us remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is both “Mother of the Redeemer” and “Mother of the Redeemed."

Opening Prayer

God, Father of mercy

whose only-begotten Son, nailed to the cross,

proclaimed as our Mother

his own Mother, Mary Most Holy

grant us, through her loving cooperation,

that your Church, becoming more fruitful each day,

may she rejoice in the holiness of her children

and draw to her bosom all the families of peoples.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit

and is God for ever and ever.

First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15.20: The mother of all living

Gospel: John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
            and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
            and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
            he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
            “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
            in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
            Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
            and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
            “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,
            in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
            for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
            the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
            and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
            and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
            they did not break his legs,
            but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
            and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

Intercessions

With the help of Mary, our Mother, let us pray united to our Father in heaven that he will look kindly upon us, his servants, and do great things in us. Let us say in response R/ Lord, listen to your people.

* That the Lord may show his love and mercy to all who strive to serve him faithfully and forgive those who have failed, both to him and to the brethren, let us pray to the Lord.

* That the Lord may show his power and defend the humble people, so often humiliated and trampled underfoot, and dispose us all to respect and love him, let us pray to the Lord.

* That the Lord may give us the will and the strength to carry out his Word in our lives, day by day, with decision and joy, let us pray to the Lord.

* That the Lord may make us aware of the poverty of our heart, filling it with his goodness, his welcome to people and his care and concern for the poorest and neediest, let us pray to the Lord.

* That the Lord may help us to see to it that the hungry receive nourishment and that he may inwardly dispose all people and the powerful of this world to share justly with each one the goods of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

* May the Lord welcome all our departed loved ones into the house of eternal joy, we pray to the Lord.

Lord, our God: In memory of Mary, Mother of the Church, we pray to you: fill us with your good things, so that, with Mary, we may bless your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Receive, Lord, our offerings

and turn them into a sacrament of salvation,

by whose efficacy and by your loving intervention

and by the loving intervention

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church,

fill us with holy fervor and make us worthy of being more intimately associated with her

more closely associated with her in the work of redemption.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Having received this pledge of redemption and of life

we beseech you, O Lord, that your Church,

through the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin,

instruct all nations, proclaiming the Gospel to them.

and fill the whole world with the effusion of your Spirit.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

We, as Church, are called to be what Mary was and did on earth: to believe in God's ways and inspiration, even without knowing what the future holds, and to be open to the needs of others, serving everyone wholeheartedly. May Almighty God give you this strength and bless you abundantly: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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Bl. V. Mary, Mother of the Church

John 19: 25-34

This is your Mother!

On 3 March 2018, Pope Francis instituted the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to be celebrated the day after Pentecost. This feastday testifies to Mary's pivotal role in our faith. She was present with the disciples, praying with the first Christian community, eagerly awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit. And Mary, our dear Mother, continues to intercede for us in prayer.

This celebration will help us remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is both “Mother of the Redeemer” and “Mother of the Redeemed."

The Gospel presents the image of the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross, to whom Jesus entrusted the task of being the mother of his disciples - “Mother of all those who believe in him.” If we are willing to stand by the Cross together with our Blessed Mother, then we will also have the privilege of listening to the words of Jesus, “Behold, your Mother.” When we find ourselves in difficult or painful moments of life, remember that we are not left alone. We have a Mother who watches over us with maternal care and protection. She draws us closer to her Son each day and helps us navigate through the challenges we face.

Explaining this Gospel passage, Pope Francis said, "In these times in the world, when there is a deep sense of being an orphaned world, today's Gospel has great importance, as Jesus promises us: ‘I am not leaving you as orphans, I’m giving you a mother.’ And this is also a (source of) pride for us: we have a mother who protects us, accompanies us, and helps us in difficult or terrible times."

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9 June 2025

Mary, Mother of the Church

Matthew 5:1-12 (John 19:25-34 – for Mary, Mother of the Church)

Mary, Mother of the Church and the path to holiness

Today, the Monday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church — a title that reminds us of something deeply consoling: Jesus did not leave us orphans. From the Cross, he entrusted Mary not only to John, but to all of us. She is Mother of the Church, Mother of each of us.

This is not a new title. Saint Pope Paul VI proclaimed it at the Second Vatican Council. Saint John Paul II encouraged devotion to Mary under this name. But in 2018, it became a liturgical celebration, rooted in a beautiful truth: on the day the Church was born, her Mother was already present — silent, prayerful, courageous, gathered with the Apostles in the Upper Room.

Mary stands at the foot of every cross. She doesn’t run away from pain. She stands. And that is what a mother does. She stays. She holds. She hopes. She believes — even when all seems lost.

From her we learn how to be Church: not a closed group or fearful refuge, but a reconciled, missionary community. When we are tempted to withdraw, to focus on ourselves, to become a Church of maintenance rather than mission, Mary tells us: go! love! serve! trust the Spirit!

She helps us live the Gospel of the Beatitudes — not as a theory, but as a path. Holiness is not about big gestures. It is about the little steps of every day — being poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure in heart. The saints, especially the “next door saints,” our loved ones, are cheering us on.

So today, let us walk with Mary, Mother of the Church, toward our true home. She who is the Gate of Heaven now walks beside us — to teach us, guide us, and, when the time comes, to welcome us home. Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church and the path to holiness - Youtube