In certain languages such as French and Spanish, nouns are either feminine or masculine. It feels appropriate that the French word for church, “église”, and the Spanish word for church, “iglesia”, are both feminine. These languages are in harmony with the Church’s feminine assignment in relation to the Church.
Today, the day after Pentecost, we celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. What a comforting image of the Church as a nurturing Mother. Although the Church has long recognized her in this title, a day memorializing Our Lady as Mother of the Church was not officially marked as such on the Liturgical Calendar until recently.
In 2018, the late Pope Francis highlighted Mary’s maternal role in the Church. As Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church, Pope Francis’s formal designation of her title for the day following Pentecost symbolizes her maternity to all the faithful.
The Word-made-flesh Himself articulates His Mother’s maternal role: 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.’” (John 19:26-27).
Many Scripture scholars claim that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, represents every person. At His death He declared His Mother the mother of the living, the mother of the faithful, and the mother of us all. When we invite Our Lady into our home, as John the Apostle did, not only does she become our Mother, a new discipleship begins.
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us!
En algunos idiomas, como el francés y el español, los sustantivos son femeninos o masculinos. Resulta apropiado que la palabra francesa para iglesia, “église”, y la palabra española “iglesia”, sean ambas femeninas. Estos idiomas están en armonía con la designación femenina de la Iglesia.
Hoy, el día después de Pentecostés, celebramos la Memoria de la Santísima Virgen María, Madre de la Iglesia. ¡Qué imagen tan reconfortante de la Iglesia como una Madre cariñosa! Si bien la Iglesia la ha reconocido con este título desde hace mucho tiempo, sólo en los años recientes se ha incluido un día oficial en el Calendario Litúrgico para conmemorar a Nuestra Señora como Madre de la Iglesia.
En el 2018, el Papa Francisco destacó el papel maternal de María en la Iglesia. Dado que Pentecostés se considera el nacimiento de la Iglesia, la designación formal de su título por parte del Papa Francisco para el día siguiente a Pentecostés simboliza su maternidad para todos los fieles.
El mismo Verbo encarnado articula el papel maternal de su Madre: Cuando Jesús vio a su madre y al discípulo a quien amaba, le dijo a su madre: “Mujer, ahí está tu hijo”. Luego le dijo al discípulo: “Ahí está tu madre” (Juan 19,26-27).
Muchos estudiosos de las Escrituras afirman que Juan, el discípulo a quien Jesús amaba, representa a cada persona. En su muerte, declaró a su Madre la madre de todos los vivos, la madre de todos los fieles y la madre de todos nosotros. Cuando invitamos a Nuestra Señora a nuestro hogar, como lo hizo el apóstol Juan, no solo se convierte en nuestra Madre, sino que comienza un nuevo discipulado.
María, Madre de la Iglesia, ruega por nosotros.
Frances Smit is a children’s book author, a Catechist (of the Good Shepherd), educator, and mom. She serves in-the-pews Catholics seeking MORE through stories that hold space for an encounter with God. She desires everyone to experience that with God, there is always MORE. https://fbsmit.
Feature Image Credit: MART PRODUCTION, pexels.com/photo/virgin-mary-statue-in-white-room-7220060/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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