Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.
Reflection by Fr. Edward Looney
Today's Gospel: John 19:25-34
Jesus speaks only seven phrases from the cross and one of them was to comfort, console, and ensure the care of His Blessed Mother. “Woman, behold, your son.” “Behold, your mother.” These words said by Christ are an encouragement for the Marian devotion of the Church from the very beginning. The evangelist John, writing about himself, says,
“And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
John took care of Mary and provided for her, just as by her prayers of intercession and motherly counsel she aided and assisted the nascent Church.
Our churches have statues and other images of Mary. It is not enough for us to simply to look at these statues. The statues are meant to remind us that Mary is our mother. Our devotionals such as the Rosary or novenas are ways in which we communicate with Our Lady. As members the Church, we ask her to “pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” She cares for you and me and prays for our conversion, health, needs, and intentions.
The feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, is a reminder to us of Mary’s importance in the early Church. The apostles would have turned to her for maternal prayer and counsel. I can only imagine when Peter was discouraged, he went to Mary and asked for her prayers and advice. When St. James was discouraged in Spain during his missionary labors, Mary bilocated to Zaragoza and encouraged the apostle. According to the mystical biographers, the apostles gathered around Mary at the end of her life to pray with her. Throughout the 2,000 year history of the Church, we have loved Mary and she has loved us. Let this memorial renew your love for our mother.
Ponder:
What petition can I bring to Our Lady and ask her to pray for the Church today?
Pray:
Dear Blessed Mother, protect and help our pope, bishops, and priests. Inspire all the faithful of the Church to pursue holiness as you did.
Click to tweet:
The apostles turned to Mary for prayer and counsel. As the Church today, we still have recourse to her motherly example and intercession. #DailyGospel
Copyright 2023 Fr. Edward Looney
Fr. Edward Looney is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, president of the Mariological Society of America, author of several books, and host of the podcast How They Love Mary.
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