Monday, June 10, 2019

A Marian Memorial of the Holy Spirit

One of the great reforming actions of Pope Francis' pontificate might be the small but spiritually significant reforms to the liturgical calendar and praxis that could actually help enhance her spiritual life.
One of these changes is to mandate the inclusion of St Joseph in the Eucharistic prayer. A far more significant change, in my mind, is the addition of today's Memorial to the calendar of the Church.


Today is the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, appropriately held on the Monday following the feast of Pentecost.


This feast day calls attention to one of Mary's most important titles next to the title of Mother of God. it speaks to the reality that Mary is the mother of the Church, and that indeed without Mary saying yes to God, there would be no Church!


It also serves to remind us something reality that Mary was actually present on the Day of Pentecost in the upper room with the disciples. That means that like them, she was a part of the particular outpouring of the Holy Spirit that occurred for the Apostolic College on that day. indeed, the mention of Mary on the Day of Pentecost is the very last direct mention of her in Sacred Scripture.


It is most fitting that we should remember the Mother of the Church on the day after we officially celebrate the birth of the Church

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