Why is Mary considered Mother of the Church? How did she conceive the Church in her womb, or give birth to her, or nurtured her all along? The two principal reasons would be her closeness to her Son, Jesus, and her life of discipleship, again, to God, to her Son. She was the bearer and nurturer of Jesus, the head of the body which is the Church. She also followed Jesus everywhere in his mission, and participating in her own quiet way, in that mission of her Son. Even as she taught Jesus to be obedient not just to her words but also, and more so, to the will of his Father, she, too learned to obey and follow her Son even to the cross. We can imagine, too, that when her Son died, she mothered the “orphaned” community of disciples and nurtured them until they matured into courageous disciples as they were now also filled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even now she continues to nurture the Body of Christ. Is she not also a mother to each one of us, personally? Do we not turn and run to her in our hour of need? And do we not experience her maternal care and intercession? Indeed, she is Mother of the Church.

First Reading • Acts 1:12-14

[or Gn 73:9-15, 20]

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.

“Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.”