Mary, Mother of the Church

"Behold your Mother." In entrusting his Mother Mary to the Beloved Disciple from the cross, our Lord is concerned for much more than her practical living arrangements: He establishes a relationship between his holy Mother and all who are untied to him, that is, the Chruch. We, too, behold our Mother, for she is the Mother of all who live the new life of grace. We turn to her especially when we experience the cross, knowing she is "standing by." Today's memorial teaches us that "growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the mystery of the cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic banquet, and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God" (Robert Cardinal Sarah).