On February 11, 2018, Pope Francis declared that a new obligatory memorial is to be celebrated in honor of our Blessed Mother under the title: Mary, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae).

This memorial is celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.

In the Liturgy for the feast day, the Gospel of John 19: 25-34 is used. This passage deliberately focuses on Mary’s Commission.  She was with her son, Jesus, at the center of the Paschal Mystery.  The Gospel says it this way:

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple, John there,

He said to His mother: ‘Woman, behold, your son (all the Church).’

Then he said to John:  ‘Behold, your mother.’

After the Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit, Mary is entrusted as Witness to all that has said and done and for the strengthening of the faith of the early Church.

Let us go often to Mary, Vessel of the Holy Spirit, Woman of Yes, Disciple and Missionary as we too Evangelize and ‘Go to all nations’ bringing about the Kingdom of God.

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church

Mother, help our faith!

Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call.

Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land     and to receive his promise.

Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith.

Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature.

Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One.

Remind us that those who believe are never alone.

Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!