LIFE, MARRIAGE & FAMILY: Mary, Mother of the Church
By Mark Griffin, Director of the Office for Life, Marriage & Family
Future generations will look back on May 2025 as a significant time in the history of the Church. With the election of a new Pope comes excitement at what the future holds. Over the last few weeks, we have been witnessing the richness of the Church’s traditions surrounding the passing on of the authority held by the successor of St Peter.
In this month of May, traditionally dedicated to Our Lady, and the month in which we celebrate Mother’s Day, it would be timely to reflect on Mary’s relationship to the Church established by her Son.
When Jesus was on the cross, He spoke to His mother, and the apostle John, saying to them, “Woman, behold, your son!” (John 19:26) and “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:27). In this moment, Jesus entrusted the earthly care and protection of His mother to the apostle.
This is entirely appropriate, as Jesus had no biological siblings, and St Joseph was already deceased by this time. He was also entrusting the beloved disciple to the care of the Blessed Mother. In this scene, John is representative of the whole Church, and we can see this more deeply by turning to the book of Revelation.
In chapter 12 of Revelation, we read of the vision of the great sign appearing in the heaven, that of a woman (Our Lady) giving birth to a male child to rule the nations (Jesus). In verse 13, we read that the dragon pursued the woman who had borne the male child, but that she, “was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time” (Rev 12:14). Interestingly, from the times of early Christian iconography, John is symbolised by an eagle, indicating that this scene is representative of John taking Mary into his care.
At the end of chapter 12 of Revelation, we read that the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with her offspring. As Mary only had one biological child, to whom could this be referring?
The scripture goes onto say that her offspring are, ‘those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus” (Rev 12:17). From these passages, along with the traditions of the Church, we can conclude that not only is Mary the biological mother of Jesus, but also the spiritual mother of all the faithful followers of her son—the Church. What a gift this is for us!
As we turn to the next chapter in the life of the Church, may we rely on our Blessed Mother’s love, entrusting our new Pope and his intentions, and the needs of the whole Church, to her motherly intercession.