MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

6TH JUNE 2022

THEME: THE LAST WORDS OF JESUS……. “Behold, your mother, Behold your son…. It is Finished”

Today we remember Mary, Mother of the Church. In this sense, we contemplate the spiritual motherhood of Mary in connection with the Church, which is —in itself— Mother of the People of God, since “no one can have God for Father, who has not the Church for his Mother” (Saint Cyprian). Mary is the Mother of the Son of God and at the same time Mother of those who love her Son and those “well-loved” by her Son, in accordance with that “Woman, behold your son; disciple: Behold your mother” (Jn 19:26-27), just as Jesus said. Giving his body to men and returning his spirit to his Father, Jesus Christ even gave his Mother to his friends. And the greatest love is the one with which Jesus loves the Church (Eph 5:25), to which his friends belong. Therefore, children adopted by God cannot have Jesus as brother if they do not have Mary as Mother because, while Mary loves her Son, she loves the Church of which she is an eminent member.

Furthermore, while remaining in the midst of the Apostles in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14), Mary —Mother of the Church— recalls the presence, gift and action of the Holy Spirit in the missionary

Church. By imploring the Holy Spirit in the heart of the Church, Mary prays with the Church and prays for the Church, because, she already assumed in the glory of heaven, she accompanies and protects the Church with her maternal love.

Mary takes care of her children. We can, therefore, entrust to her the whole life of the Church. The BVM serves as the ultimate role model for all Christians in her willingness to cooperate with God’s will. So, while we rightfully acknowledge her as the Mother of God, the Theotokos, we also acknowledge her sanctity and her willingness to do God’s will. The Cross, the Eucharist, and the Mother of God are three mysteries that God gave to the world in order to structure, fructify, and sanctify our interior life and lead us to Jesus. Let us honor Mary the Mother of the Church by imitating her virtues of faith, humility, and total surrender.

Hail Mary full of grace.... Amen.