Holy Mary, Mother-in-law?

[DisorientingSneeze]

Mary is the mother of Jesus.
The Church is the bride of Christ.
Does that make her mother-in-law of the Church?

I know she is Mother of the Church (and hooray for that new feast day! No such thing as too many Marian feast days IMO).

We look to her as the best possible example of a woman and mother. I feel like Mary comes through for us yet again as the ultimate example of a mother-in-law whose love for her “daughter-in-law” the Church is so seamless and pure that we drop the in-law part and just call her Mother of the Church.

My oldest is only 5, so it’s a long time before I have to confront any of the joyful or potentially complicated feelings one does about becoming a mother-in-law, but when that day comes I know whose help I’ll ask for.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

I thought about including that possibility in the post then thought excluding it made it less rambley. I have 4 kids so far. It is entirely possible that none of them have a vocation to marriage. I’m ok with that too.

And good question about the culture!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Apparently there was some differentiation, since the Gospel references Peter’s mother-in-law and doesn’t just call her Peter’s mother. I think she is called “mother of Peter’s wife” or something like that. Luke 12:53 also specifically references in-law relationships (mother against her daughter…mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law etc.)

Mary is the Mother of the Church because Jesus gave her to all of us who make up the Church to be our Mother.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Mary is the Mother of the Church because Jesus gave her to all of us who make up the Church to be our Mother.

That’s such an important relationship and such a beautiful part of the Church’s teaching on Our Lady. I’m glad you put that here. My mother in law musings are just tangential thinking/questions, not Church teaching. Anyone lurking/reading this please take note.