Today is the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This feast was established in 2018 by Pope Francis, to be celebrated every year on the Monday following Pentecost. Although the feast day is relatively new, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of ‘Mother of the Church’, is very ancient. When he created the feast, Pope Francis said he wished to ‘encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful.’

Today as we celebrate the role Mary plays in the life of the Church, we also recognise and give thanks for all mothers and grandmothers who nurture life and faith in their children, turning their hearts to Jesus and revealing to them that they are precious and deeply loved. It is this selfless and generous love that fosters within the child a capacity to know that they are loved and to show love for others.

Whenever we look to Mary, we come to see the revolutionary nature of her love and tenderness, not weakness, but rather strength. We implore her maternal intercession that the Church may be a home for all so that the way may be opened to the birth of a new world, where justice, peace and love prevail.

You are invited to pray this prayer taken from ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ (n288 by Pope Francis)

Mother of Love,

pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,

that she may never be closed in on herself

or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

Mother of the living Gospel

wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,

pray for us. Amen.

By Mike Humphrys