May 21 - Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tenderness is among the most special virtues which mothers offer to the world.

According to Vatican News, today, May 21, 2018, on this first Memorial of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis stressed this during his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta as reflected on the Church as a woman, possessing the gentle but strong attitudes of mother and bride…

The virtue that most distinguishes a woman, remarks Pope Francis, is tenderness. Mary, he noted, exemplifies this perfectly as she “gave birth to her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and put Him in a manger.” This care, meekness and humility are qualities of strength for mothers… Pope Francis concluded, praying: “A Church that is a mother goes along the path of tenderness.” (quote from Zenit)

Hopefully more and more Catholics are renewing today, their devotion to Mary, which has been seen by many as in decline. The Church’s devotion to Mary is “Intrinsic” to Christian Wrshop as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out in paragraph 971 – the word intrinsic means it is essential, inherent; we cannot do without it.

CCC 971 “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs… This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

This new Feast will be celebrated by the universal Church on the Monday after Pentecost from now on.

 

[Limoncello4021]

Yes, we had a very nice feast day Mass today.

 

[MariaChristi]

So happy to read this great news! May this Feast bring many Graces to God’s children – renewing Faith, Hope and above all Charity, within the Whole Church – all over the world!

Thanks so much for your reply and your devotion to Mary our Mother given to us by Jesus on Calvary.

 

[Deditus_Domina]

Going to be nitpicky and point out this is only a Memorial and not a Feast. (but a rose by any name would smell as sweet). It is a nice addition to the universal calendar…

 

[twf]

Do English texts exist yet for this new memorial? Was it celebrated in English speaking parishes today?

 

[Deditus_Domina]

yes. There were English and Spanish readings available through USCCB. It was already in the missal as a votive mass of the BVM. It is entirely possible it wasn’t celebrated in every Parish this year as a lot of people missed the memo

 

[Deditus_Domina]

I know people who got an email from Magnificat with the parts and readings as well. I did not however and I subscribe

 

[MariaChristi]

Deditus_Domina,

Yes, you are correct. Liturgically it is called a “Memorial” and not a “Feast”. I think I have read it described as a “Feast” also by some. I agree the wording may be more important to liturgical experts, but we can all rejoice in honoring our Mother as “Mother of the Church”. She is the Mystical Rose ever sweet!

 

[MariaChristi]

I always read the Mass Readings from the USCCB website and I was delighted with the Readings chosen for this new Memorial. See HERE

How sad it was not better publicized – that anyone would miss a memo for a Mass so especially appropriate on the day after Pentecost to honor Our Blessed Mother!

Let us continue to pray for clergy and people to regain or redouble their efforts to see God’s Mother honored in a special way, as Jesus desires us to do. May we obey His words as the beloved disciple did. John heard Jesus say: “Behold Your Mother” and took Mary into his home and into his life. By God’s Grace may we do the same.

 

[margaret42]

Isn’t his feast established by Pope Francis?

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Margaret,

Here is more info on the announcement, posted on the internet by Catholic News Agency:

Vatican City, Mar 3, 2018 / 06:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday, the Vatican announced Pope Francis’ decision that the Church celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as “Mother of the Church” every year on the Monday after Pentecost, as a way to foster Marian piety and the maternal sense of the Church.

The decree establishing the memorial was published March 3 in a letter from Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

As Sarah explained, Pope Francis added the memorial to the Roman Calendar after carefully considering how the promotion of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this particular title might encourage growth in “the maternal sense of the Church” and in “genuine Marian piety.”

“This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed,” Sarah wrote.

The cardinal noted that the “joyous veneration given to the Mother of God by the contemporary Church, in light of reflection on the mystery of Christ and on his nature, cannot ignore the figure of a woman, the Virgin Mary, who is both the Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.”

The memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, has been added to the General Roman Calendar, the Roman Missal, and the Liturgy of the Hours. The Latin text has been published, and the translations will be prepared by the bishops’ conferences and approved by the congregation.

A celebration of a memorial generally means that prayers and readings specific to the day’s memorial are used in the Mass.

The Marian title of “Mother of the Church,” was given to the Blessed Mother by Bl. Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council. It was also added to the Roman Missal after the Holy Year of Reconciliation in 1975.

Subsequently, some countries, dioceses and religious families were granted permission by the Holy See to add this celebration to their particular calendars. With its addition to the General Roman Calendar, it will now be celebrated by the whole Roman Catholic Church.

In 2018, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, will be celebrated on May 21.