Order of Carmelites

Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church

Today, June 6, is the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

This is celebrated the Monday after Pentecost.

St. Augustine of Hippo and Pope St. Leo the Great, both Doctors of the Church, reflected on the Virgin Mary as Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.

St. Augustine wrote, “Mary is the mother of the members of Christ, because with charity she cooperated in the rebirth of the faithful into the church.”

St. Leo the Great says that the birth of the Head is also the birth of the body, thus indicating that Mary is at once Mother of Christ, the Son of God, and mother of the members of his Mystical body which is the Church, These considerations derive from the divine motherhood of Mary and from intimate union in the work of the Redeemer, which is culminated at the hour of the cross.