The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Memorial
- Feast Day
- May 25
The Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, is observed on the Monday after Pentecost. It was inserted into the General Roman Calendar by Pope Francis through the Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments dated February 11, 2018, signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah.
The title Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae) was solemnly proclaimed of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Blessed Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964, at the close of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council, in his speech promulgating the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium. Lumen Gentium 53-69 develops the doctrine that Mary, by her consent at the Annunciation and her standing beneath the Cross (John 19:25-27), is truly Mother of all the members of Christ.
The 2018 decree explains that this Marian celebration on the day after Pentecost is fitting because it shows the maternal role of the Mother of God in the Pentecostal mystery: with the Apostles she persevered in prayer awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). The proper Mass and Liturgy of the Hours are taken in part from the existing texts of the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The memorial restates the conciliar teaching that Marian devotion is integrated into the Paschal mystery: Mary is Mother of the Church because, at Calvary and at Pentecost, she stood with the Lord and the Apostles, the new Eve and the figure of the Church (CCC 963-975). To honor her is to honor the Church in its inmost mystery.
Patronages
the universal Church · mothers
Catholic Churches Named After The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Butterworth — Butterworth, PENANG
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish — Lemery, BATANGAS
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish — Toronto, ON
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Chippenham, ENG
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Erinsville, ON
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Minneapolis, KS
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Holdfast, SK
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Enterprise, ON
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Osceola, WI
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Poteau, OK
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church — Porcupine Plain, SK
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Swanton, VT
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Granger, IA
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Encinal, NM
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, High Hill — Schulenburg, TX
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church — Eunice, LA
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church — Mire, LA
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Richland Center, WI
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Ashkum, IL
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Truckee — Truckee, CA
Sources