BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS. (Monday after Pentecost)
This celebration was instituted in 2018 and then added to the General Roman (Universal) Calendar. The Decree states ‘This celebration 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. Mother of the Church, pray for us!
Memorial
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
The disciples were persevering with one accord in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Erant discípuli perseverántes unanímiter in oratióne cum María, matre Iesu
[–» Greeting]
COLLECT
O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also; grant, we pray, that with her loving help, your Church may be more fruitful day by day, and exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Through our Lord.
Proper Readings
The readings for this memorial are proper.
FIRST READING
First Option: The mother of all the living.
A reading from the Book of Genesis 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.
The word of the Lord.
OR:
Second Option
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer together with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 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.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7)
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
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia.
O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O blessed mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 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.
The Gospel of the Lord
SEE AS WELL:
TODAY’S GOSPEL COMMENTARY
WHY IS MARY CALLED MOTHER OF THE CHURCH?
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Receive our offerings, O Lord, and transform them into the mystery of salvation, so that by its power we may be set aflame with the charity of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and with her may be united more closely to the work of redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer
Preface of our Lady, Mother of the Church
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, and to proclaim your greatness with due praise as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Receiving your Word in her Immaculate Heart, she was found worthy to conceive him in her virgin’s womb and, giving birth to the Creator, she nurtured the beginnings of the Church. Standing beside the Cross, she received the testament of divine love and took to herself as sons and daughters all those who by the Death of Christ are born to heavenly life. As the Apostles awaited the Spirit you had promised, she joined her supplication to the prayers of the disciples and so became the pattern of the Church at prayer. Raised to the glory of heaven, she accompanies your pilgrim Church with a mother’s love, and watches in kindness over the Church’s homeward steps, until the Lord’s Day shall come in glorious splendor. And so, with all the Angels and Saints, we praise you as without end we acclaim:
[–» Holy, holy, holy…]
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Núptiae factae sunt in Cana Galilaeae, et erat mater Iesu ibi; tunc fecit inítium signórum Iesus et manifestávit glóriam suam, et credidérunt in eum discípuli eius.
A wedding was held in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; then Jesus performed the first of his signs and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him.
Or:
Ex cruce pendens dixit Iesus discípulo, quem diligébat: Ecce mater tua.
As he hung upon the cross, Jesus said to the disciple whom he loved: Behold your mother.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Having received the pledge of redemption and of life we humbly pray, O Lord, that, with the Blessed Virgin’s Motherly help, your Church may teach all nations by proclaiming the Gospel and, thanks to the outpouring of the Spirit, may fill the whole earth. Through Christ our Lord.
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