Mother of the Church – a new feast from Pope Francis

Today’s feast is very new on the liturgical calendar. Proclaimed in 2018, I don’t think it had much of a chance to infiltrate the habits of the faithful before the pandemic years of 2020 until now.

Pope Francis says that the first Monday after Pentecost will be the feast of Mary, the Mother of the Church and this year, we have a chance to properly celebrate it.

If Mary “Pondered all of these things in her heart, ” after Pentecost she had the opportunity and the grace to understand how all of those things she experienced and endured fit into the bigger picture of God’s plan – for her life and the lives of the faithful. Mary was among the disciples when they too received the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the joy that went with that first Pentecost Sunday.

And isn’t that just like a mother? A new mom takes care of her children even when she doesn’t quite understand or know what’s going on or where they’re all headed. And when her children reach adulthood and gain wisdom and understanding, they can even start teaching us. So it was for Mary and the disciples.

Ways to Celebrate

There are some FREE coloring pages here.

Go to Mass today if you can.

Sing some Marian hymns with your family – my favorites are Hail Holy Queen, Immaculate Mary, and Hail Mary, Gentle Woman.

Say the Rosary.

Recite all the Marian prayers as a family – Hail Mary, Regina Celi, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare. Say each prayer for the intention of your own mother or mother figure. Or say them for your own children.

Put flowers around a statue or image of Mary.

Start your own Marian garden.

Put a picture of your church next to your statue or a picture of Mary.

Collect some baby things for your local pregnancy care center – especially baby formula if you can find it.

This is one of my new favorite Mary books – the pictures are lovely to display with a book stand.

You can also get lovely images like this one with a monthly membership to Catholic Icing.