Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
The Blessed Virgin Mary has walked with the Church from the beginning. Mother of God, she is also Mother of the Church, through which, in turn, She is the Mother of all men.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 3:9-15, 20
After Adam had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to him and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.
Or – 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 – 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7 (R.3)
R. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob. R.
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.
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.
Gospel – Jn 19:25-34
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother 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. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
Featured Saints
St. Norbert, bishop (†1134). Founder of the Premonstratensian order of canons regular who went on to become Archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany. He fought to establish the Gregorian reform and to restore priestly dignity during a time of decadence.
St. Marcellin Champagnat, priest (†1840). French priest, founder of the Institute of the Marist Brothers in Lyon, France, dedicated to the spiritual and cultural education of youth.
St. Raphael Guízar Valencia, bishop (†1938). Bishop of Veracruz, Mexico, who valiantly exercised his Episcopal ministry during persecution. He organized missions and spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and died in exile in Mexico City.
Bl. Lawrence of Villamagna, priest (†1535). Franciscan preacher from Ortona, Italy; he spoke with such wisdom and unction that he attracted multitudes and worked countless conversions.
Blessed William Greenwood, martyr (†1537). Carthusian monk imprisoned during the reign of Henry VIII of England. He died of starvation and of illness contracted in prison.
Blessed Innocent Guz, priest and martyr (†1940). Franciscan Polish priest; he died in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Germany.
St. Jarlath, bishop (+ c. 550). He is the principal patron of the of the Archdiocese of Tuam in Galway, Ireland. He established the monastery and school of Cluain Fois in the vicinity of Tuam, which became an important monastic centre, where several missionary saints received their initial formation.
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