From the 4th century, St. Ambrose gave the Blessed Mother the title of “Mother of the Church,” underscoring her profound role in our spiritual journey. It was also proclaimed by St. Paul VI in 1964 at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council’s third session. Finally, after centuries of thought and devotion, Pope Francis brought this teaching and title to the General Roman Calendar so that we might better remember that Our Blessed Mother provides a maternal care that began from the moment that Jesus spoke from the Cross the words, “Behold your mother.”
On this first Monday after Pentecost, we are reminded that the Mother of God, the Blessed Mary, is our mother, too. She is our spiritual mother in the same sense as she was to the first disciples.
If you couple the first reading from Genesis with today’s Gospel passage from John, you can see the restoration of both woman and man from sin to virtue and holiness. In Adam and Eve, we see the choice of what is forbidden and evil over the good and Godly. We recognize temptation, weakness, and, ultimately, sin and its effects. In Jesus and Mary, we see the fulfillment of God’s restoration of man and woman in the Son of God, redeeming human nature, and in Mary, who chose to do God's will and became the Mother of God.
God’s plan for our redemption could have been accomplished in infinite ways. However, God the Father chose to work through the Incarnation of His Son and gave Him and us a human but sinless mother. God’s plan allows us to relate on a personal level to Jesus and to His Mother Mary because of their humanity.
Though we know that Jesus also possessed a Divine nature, that His human nature was perfect, and that Mary was sinless, we still see in them what God wishes for every man and woman: virtue and holiness centered on loving God and those He places in our lives. God provides the remedy and the example in each of their lives and personhood.
In the early days after Jesus’ death and even after His Resurrection, the apostles who formed the early Church turned to the Blessed Mother for her maternal love and strength. Surely, most of us can thank God for mothers who have provided us with the same; mothers who turned to God and led us to Him as well. Over two thousand years later, we face challenges due to human nature's brokenness societally and within the Church of Jesus Christ.
St. Ambrose, St. Paul VI, our own Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Pope Francis are reminding us to pray to our Blessed Mother for our Church. The same Blessed Mother who stood at the Cross of Jesus and among an uncertain group of apostles and remained steadfast in faith is the one who we remember and pray to today for our Church, for our family's faith, and for our world … that we may follow her Son and her to Heaven by doing the will of God each day.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
Reverend David S. Marcham is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Director of the Father Peyton Guild, whose members pray for Father Peyton’s beatification and spread his message of the importance of Family Prayer. Prior to becoming a seminarian, Father David was a physical therapist and clinical instructor, serving hospital inpatients and outpatients throughout the greater Boston area for eleven years. In 1998 he heard the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005. Father David grew up in Quincy, MA, and has fond memories of playing soccer, tennis and running track. You’re never without a friend when Father David is around, as he welcomes everyone into his circle with a smile on his face!
