Monday:       Mary, Mother of the Church.
Date:         June 9, 2025.
Year:         C
The readings: [Gen. 3:9-15, 20 Or Acts 1:12-14; Jn. 19_25-27]
The message:  All generations will call me blessed.
Prepared by:  Catholic Doors Ministry.
Total words:  501.

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Reviewing the history of the Feast of “Mary, Mother of the Church,” we find some information online at wikipedia.

In Roman Catholic Mariology, Mother of the Church (Latin: Mater Ecclesiae) is a title given to Mary by Pope Paul VI. The first instance of this title appeared in the 4th century writings of Saint Ambrose of Milan. This title was also used by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 and then by Pope Leo XIII in 1885. Pope John Paul II placed it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

In 2018, Pope Francis decreed that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church be inserted into the Roman Calendar on the Monday after Pentecost (also known as Whit Monday) and to be celebrated every year. The decree was signed on February 11, 2018, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, on the 160th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions. It was issued on March 3, 2018.

Traditionally, the Church has portrayed the Blessed Virgin Mary together with the apostles and disciples gathered at that first Pentecost, joined in prayer with the first members of the Church. The title Mater Ecclesiae is found in the writings of Berengaud, bishop of Treves (d. 1125). In the 1895 encyclical Adjutricem populi (Helper of the People) Pope Leo XIII wrote, "She is invoked as Mother of the Church and the teacher and Queen of the Apostles". Following the title's usage by Leo XIII, it was later used many times in the teachings of John XXIII and Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

In 1968, in the “Credo of the People of God,” Pope Paul VI wrote: “The Blessed Mother of God, the New Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven her maternal role with regard to Christ's members, cooperating with the birth and growth of divine life in the souls of the redeemed.”

Prior to that, during his speech upon the closing of the third session of the Second Vatican Council on November 21, 1964, Paul VI said: "We declare Mary Most Holy Mother of the Church, that is, of all the Christian people." Reference here to the “Christian people” is a reference to the Catholic people, the mystical Body of Christ consisting of the baptised faithful on earth and in Heaven.

Today, Catholics throughout the world rejoice in affirming our conviction towards another Marian title that glorifies the Blessed Virgin Mary. This title is but one of thousands of titles that honour the Heavenly Queen, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church.

In this proclamation of Mary, Mother of the Church, is fulfilled the Biblical prophecy, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;” [Lk. 1:48]

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"When Adam had eaten from the tree, the Lord God called to him, and said, "Where are you?" The man said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."

The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall 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 your head, and you will strike his heel."

The man named his wife "Eve," because she was the mother of all the living." [Gen. 3:9-15, 20]

OR

"After Jesus was taken up to heaven, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath’s day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying. Peter, and John and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James." "All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers." [Acts 1:12-14]

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Gospel Reading...

“Standing near the Cross of Jesus were his mother, and mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is y our son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” [Jn.19:25-27]

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