Fr. Roger J. Landry
Visitation Convent of the Sisters of Life, Manhattan
Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church
May 21, 2018
Acts 1:12-14, Ps 87, Jn 19:25-27
To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:
The following points were pondered:
- First Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church!
- History of referring to Mary under this title
- Pope Francis’ decision on March 3, 2018 (dated Feb 11)
- Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- John Paul II’s inclusion of Mater Ecclesiae in the Litany of Loreto in 1980
- Paul VI’s inclusion of a Votive Mass to Mary Mother of the Church in 1975
- Paul VI’s giving Mary this title on November 21, 1964 during the Second Vatican Council
- Eighth Chapter of Lumen Gentium.
- St. Ambrose’s 4th century writings
- The real history, found in God’s plans for Mary. The Preface for the Mass of Mary, Mother and Image of the Church I in the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary show Mary’s motherhood in four stages:
- Incarnation/Annunciation, as Mother of all those redeemed through her Son’s sacred humanity taken from her.
- At the Foot of the Cross, today’s Gospel in which Christ gives her as Mother to his beloved disciples.
- At Pentecost, in which she presided over the birth of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit
- In the Assumption and beyond, where she prays for us always, like St. Monica prayed for Augustine.
- Image of Mater Ecclesiae in St. Peter’s Square.
- “Monstra te esse matrem,” from the Ave Maris Stella. Giving Mary a chance to show herself a mother to us.
- Mary’s Motherhood in the Holy Eucharist.
The readings for today’s Mass were:
Reading 1 ACTS 1:12-14
After Jesus had been taken up to heaven,
the Apostles returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
a sabbath day’s journey away.
When they entered the city
they went to the upper room where they were staying,
Peter and John and James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1-2, 3 AND 5, 6-7
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
R. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
Alleluia
O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord;
O blessed mother of the Church,
you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 19:25-34
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.
