THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH MAY 24, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 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.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

REFLECTION

“Behold, your mother.”

May is full of joy and love. We are reminded this month about our Mother Mary -- beginning with St Joseph the Worker and Mary by His side, followed by May crownings, May processions, Mother's Day, Our Lady of Fatima, Pentecost Sunday, the birth of the Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Memorial and ending with the The Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth on the last day of May.

It all began with the angel visiting Mary at her home. She then carried Her Lord and Savior in her womb for nine months, releasing Him to the world to be tortured and executed for our redemption. Jesus gave her to the apostles as their mother. The Queen of the Apostles stayed, gathered, comforted, supported prepared and prayed with them for the descent of the Holy Spirit to set them on fire.

As a good and loving Mother, she told them of her Son, shared stories of His childhood and reminded them of His many promises, none of which were broken. She is Mother, teacher and Queen of the Apostles. Since they were appointed to carry on the work of Salvation by Jesus, the apostles, the new priests, were her apostolate, her care and her protection. She showed them to patiently and perseveringly pray for the Lord, for His timing.

No matter how dire, how bare our lives may be, the petitioner of our prayers, our Blessed Virgin Mary, lives with us and among us encouraging us to reach souls for her Son, Jesus.

Mother Mary is the Patron Mama of PAPA (Priest Always-Prayer Apostolate). With her promises and encouragement, we pray for our priests through the PAPA Prayer for Priests. We reach out to kindred souls to pray for priests. We invoke the name of Mary, Queen of the Apostles to make our priests holy.

If you are interested in learning more about PAPA, notify us at papa@papamio.org.

Trust in God no matter how things might look.

God Bless You