25/05/2026
*History of the feast - why it’s the day after Pentecost:*
1. *Biblical root*: In Acts 1:14, Mary is with the apostles in the Upper Room praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. At the Cross, Jesus tells John “Behold your mother” Jn 19:26-27, entrusting the Church to her care.
2. *Early tradition*: Church Fathers like St. Ambrose and St. Augustine referred to Mary as the spiritual mother of all Christians. The title “Mother of the Church” developed from this understanding of her role in salvation history.
3. *Official recognition*: Pope Paul VI formally proclaimed Mary “Mother of the Church” during Vatican II in 1964. He placed the title in the context of Pentecost, noting Mary’s presence at the Church’s birth.
4. *Liturgical feast*: Pope Francis established the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church in 2018 to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost. The date connects her motherhood directly to the birth of the Church through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
So the feast links Mary’s role as mother to the event of Pentecost, when the Church began.
DIVINE SPIRIT RENEW US ©
