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Mary, Mother of the Church

4/14/2018

This year, on May 21st, the Church will celebrate Mary as the Mother of the Church. Pope Francis has declared that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar as an obligatory memorial to be celebrated annually on the Monday after Pentecost.

The understanding of Mary as Mother of the Church is not new. The Early Church understood that Mary was not only the mother of Jesus Christ, but also mother of the Body of Christ, the Church. St. Augustine recognized Mary as the mother of the members of Christ by virtue of her cooperation in the redeeming work of our Saviour and the establishment of the Church. St. Leo the Great explained that since the birth of the Head is also the birth of the body, Mary is at once Mother of Christ and mother of the members of his Mystical Body, which is the Church.1

Mater Ecclesiae. The mosaic which overlooks St Peter’s square in Rome. Photo: John Joas.

In 1964 at the close of the third session of the Second Vatican Council, Blessed Paul VI bestowed upon Mary the title “Mother of the Church”. It is no accident that the Council chose to situate its discussion of Mary in the Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium. In chapter eight of this document the Council affirms its special love for Mary due to her role in salvation history and instructs the Church to look to Mary as an example of what it means to be a redeemed person. By meditating on Mary in light of the Word made flesh, the Church enters more intimately into the mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more like Christ. Mary is “the model of virtues”; in contemplating her holiness, imitating her charity, and in receiving the word of God in faith, the Church herself becomes a mother.2

In 1975 the Apostolic See proposed a votive Mass in honour of the Blessed Mary Mother of the Church, which has since been inserted into the Roman Missal, and is the basis of the new liturgical celebration. The Gospel passage for the Mass, from the Gospel of John 19:25 – 27, takes place at the foot of the Cross:

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Mary is simultaneously present in the Church as the Mother of Christ and as the Mother that Christ gave to humanity in the person of the beloved disciple, John.3

Tradition holds that Mary prayed with the apostles in the upper room awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that gave birth to the Church. The members of this Church are the Body of Christ and united with Christ their Head they share the same mother, Mary. It is fitting that Pope Francis has chosen the following day to commemorate Mary’s motherly care of the pilgrim Church on earth. The new celebration reflects a maturation of liturgical veneration of Mary that “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, the Virgin who makes her offering to God.”4

By: Simone Brosig, Ph.D | Director of Liturgy

Notes:

Robert Card. Sarah, Decree on the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church in the General Roman Calendar, prot. N. 10/18, 11 February 2018.
Lumen gentium, 64 – 65.
St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 47.
Robert Card. Sarah, Decree on the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church in the General Roman Calendar, prot. N. 10/18, 11 February 2018.

Vertical Divider

Liturgical Calendar Information
Obligatory Memorial: Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church
Monday after Pentecost – Monday May 21, 2018
Mass: Roman Missal p. 1337 (Votive Mass Our Lady, Mother of the Church)
Readings: Ritual Lectionary no. 1002.

First reading: 1002(1) or 1002(2). Genesis 3.9-15,20 or Acts 1.12-14
Psalm: 1002(3) Judith 13, 18bc, 19-20ab, R. 15.9d
Gospel: 1002(5) John 19.25-27

Colour: White

Resources:

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Macabre but Miraculous

4/5/2018

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Evening Vespers for the Reception of St. Francis Xavier Relic at St. Albert the Great, Calgary. January 2018. Photo: Ryan Factura.

“I hope you aren’t offended by my saying this, Father, but this all just seems somewhat macabre!”

“Not offended at all, David - it is a bit macabre! It’s a man’s 465-year-old incorrupt arm for heaven’s sake!”

So went part of a brief conversation I never thought I would have in a place I never thought I would have it. I was given less than 24 hours notice that David Gray would like to interview me on his CBC program, The Eyeopener, early one morning several days before the visit of the relic of St. Francis Xavier to our diocese in January. As Bishop McGrattan has already related in the letter he circulated at the beginning of March, the level of secular media engagement this tremendous event received was nothing short of inspirational.

We were extremely privileged in Calgary to be one of the stops on this cross-country pilgrimage of the renowned relic. It was especially moving to see people come from every corner of our diocese - and beyond. Some walked from their cars parked more than a kilometre away for an opportunity to venerate and pray before the relic. The two days, though frantic and crowded, were days of grace. In having experienced this miraculous sign we encountered a tangible reminder of the tireless efforts of a missionary, symbolized by his arm which still hasn’t rested in the almost 500 years since St. Francis Xavier’s death. Literally, it still reaches into our lives to touch us and enflame our hearts for missionary discipleship. Stories of conversion, physical and emotional healing continue to pour in from around the country, and yes, from within our diocese. St. Francis was powerfully at work here for 36 hours!

This amazing opportunity was made possible by the contributions of many people, city by city, where the relic travelled as well as through the support of the Jesuits of Canada and the Jesuit Archbishop of Ottawa, Terrence Prendergast, SJ. It was the efforts of the organization, Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), however, which made all the difference. This movement of young adults devoted to full time missionary outreach on university campuses across the country is a bright light for the future of the Church. Their mission to proclaim the Gospel, clearly and simply, to one person at a time reveals their heart for the world and the Church. It was the impressive number of university students whom they brought together to make this pilgrimage happen in each city which gives testimony to the fruits of their labours.

Earlier this year, in response to the request of the Holy Father, we undertook a survey of youth and young adults in advance of the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the topic of the Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment. Despite making every effort to provide a survey which was easily accessible and seeking the input of those who practice and don’t practice the Faith alike, it was the overwhelming response of those who actively live their Catholic Faith which really stood out. A significant portion of those who responded acknowledged that it is groups like CCO and experiences like the relic pilgrimage which strengthen and confirm them in their faith. In a world that frequently ostracizes and marginalizes people of faith, the response of young people to authentic experiences of the richness of our Church’s traditions gives lots of hope for a promising future when we, like the St. Francis Xaviers of our past and the CCO missionaries of our present, remain untiring in our fidelity to the Gospel and Christ’s Church.

By Fr. Cristino Bouvette | Director of Vocations & Interim Director of the Office of Youth Ministry

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One Rock 2.0

4/5/2018

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“You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy: 2: 1-2).

It is with these words that the Apostle Paul exhorts one of his closest collaborators in undertaking the task of evangelization. In fact, it could be said to have been one of St. Paul’s key strategies: identify the obvious leaders from among the Christian communities he was establishing and invest extra attention and formation in them in order that they could go forth and more effectively preach the Gospel.

A hallmark of the Pontificate of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has been his call to go out to the peripheries. This has become a popular anthem but before we charge out to these peripheries, we should ask a few questions first. Questions such as, who are on the peripheries? what are we bringing them? what’s the most effective way to do so? As exciting and adventurous as it may sound to rush out to those margins inspired by the call of the Pope and love for our Lord, we should do so strategically.

Borrowing the strategy of Paul for Timothy is how we hope to do so with what has become a time-honoured tradition in our diocese and province.

Upon my interim appointment to supervise the Office of Youth Ministry, one of the responsibilities I inherited was to work with our One Rock coordinator, Raluca Ungureanu, in organizing this year’s event. After careful review, under the direction of Bishop McGrattan and with the support of his brother Alberta Bishops, we have significantly modified the event which we are now calling: One Rock 2.0

This will be an event exclusively open to young adults ages 18-35 (married or single) contained to one day at St. Michael’s Church, Calgary on Saturday, 29 September 2018. Based upon recurring feedback over the years combined with the absolute need to tighten the expense, we have introduced these modifications.

The exciting approach we will begin using to register attendance is designed to directly impact our parishes. We want this day to be an enriching and formative experience for the young adults in our communities who are already showing signs of leadership- our “Timothys”. As delegates from parishes, the young people who attend One Rock 2.0 will be inspired to return home, empowered to be protagonists in the New Evangelization.

In light of the vision our Bishop has set for intentional outreach to young adults in the diocese, soon to be followed upon by the October 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment, now is the time to step up and do all in our power to support the future leaders of our Church. This will require challenging our parishioners to support the next generation, spiritually and materially.

I, along with our dedicated One Rock Steering Committee, have every confidence that this event, though smaller in scope, will be powerful in the intensity of its focus. Not only do we count on your support, but we very much look forward to working together to empower our modern young people to be the up and coming pillars of our parishes and local Church, boldly and strategically reaching into those peripheries with the transformative power of the Gospel.

Who do you know and hope will be at One Rock 2.0? Well, TELL THEM!

By Fr. Cristino Bouvette | Director of Vocations & Interim Director of the Office of Youth Ministry

For more information about One Rock - visit http://onerock.ca

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Mary, Mother of the Church

Macabre but Miraculous

One Rock 2.0

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