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Today’s Gospel
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Today's Gospel + image + catechesis

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

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Gospel text (Jn 19:25-34): 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.” 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.

Illustration: Pili Piñero

Today, we remember Mary, Mother of the Church. In this sense, we contemplate the spiritual motherhood of Mary in connection with the Church, which is - in itself - Mother of the People of God, because "no one can have God as Father if he does not have the Church as Mother" (St. Cyprian). Mary is the Mother of the Son of God and at the same time Mother of those who love her Son and the "beloveds" of her Son, in conformity with that «Woman, behold, your son; disciple: Behold, your mother» (Jn 19:26-27), as Jesus said.

- By giving His body to men and returning His spirit to His Father, Jesus Christ even gave His friends to his Mother.

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