Saint Mary, Mother of the Church

**June 6 – Mother of the Church****Obligatory Memory**From Pope Paul VI’s address, *Conclusion of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council* (November 21, 1964: AAS 56 [1964], 1015-1016):Given the close relationship between Mary and the Church, to the glory of the Most Holy Virgin and for our consolation, we declare that Mary Most Holy is Mother of the Church, that is, of all the Christian people, both laity and pastors, who call her their beloved Mother. We establish that henceforth with this title, the whole Christian people will pay even greater honor to the Mother of God and address their prayers to her.**Entrance Antiphona** Cf. Acts 1:14: (All these devoted themselves to prayer and supplication, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.)*The disciples persevered in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.*Collect PrayerGod, Father of mercy, who by your only-begotten Son, hung on the cross, gave us your own Mother, the holy Virgin Mary, as our Mother; make the Church, guided by her maternal love, exult in the number and holiness of its children, and gather into one family all the peoples of the earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.**First Reading Gn 3:9-15.20***“Mother of all living”*Reading from the Book of GenesisAfter Adam had eaten from the tree, the Lord God called to him and said, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam replied, “The woman whom you gave me as my companion gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then God addressed the woman, saying, “What have you done?” She answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”Then God said to the serpent: “Because of what you did, cursed be all who move on their bellies and eat dust for the rest of their lives. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”The man named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all living.Word of the Lord.

Instead of the preceding reading, use the following:

“They persevered in prayer, with Mary, Mother of Jesus.”
Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem,
descending the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
a sabbath-day’s walk away.
When they arrived in the city, they went up to the upper room,
where they used to meet regularly.
Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, brother of James,
were all present. They persevered in prayer,
along with some women,
including Mary, Mother of Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 86 (87), 1-2. 3 and 5-7

Refrain: Great things are spoken of you, city of God.

The Lord loves the city he founded on holy mountains.
He loves its gates in Zion,
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Great things are spoken of you, city of God.

And it shall be said in Zion: “All of them were born there.”
The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion”.
They will say, dancing and singing:
“All my springs are within you”.

ALLELUIA

Refrain: Alleluia. Blessed Virgin, who gave birth to the Lord; admirable Mother of the Church,
you revive in us the Spirit of your Son, Jesus Christ!

GOSPEL Jn 19:25-27

“Behold, your son…behold, your Mother”

Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
At that time, Mary his mother and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross, along with Mary of Cleophas and other women. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother: “Woman, behold your son”.
Then he said to the disciple: “Behold, your Mother”. And from that hour on, the disciple took her into his home.

Prayer over the Offerings

Receive, Lord, our offerings
and transform them into the sacrament of salvation,
by which we may more fervently confide in your love
through the intercession of the holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church,
and contribute with greater diligence to the work of redemption.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface Mary, Image and Mother of the Church

The Lord be with you.

R. And with your Spirit.

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

R. It is right and just.

The Lord, the holy Father, God eternal and omnipotent, it is indeed our duty, it is our salvation, to give You thanks always and everywhere, and to exalt Your infinite goodness in the celebration of the memory of the holy Virgin Mary. Receiving Your Word in her Immaculate Heart, she merited to conceive Him in her virgin womb, and by giving birth to the Creator of the universe, she prepared the birth of the Church. Together with the Cross, she accepted the testament of divine charity and received all men as her children, through the death of Christ born for eternal life. While waiting, with the apostles, for the coming of the Holy Spirit, joining in the prayers of the disciples, she became an admirable model of the Church in prayer. Elevated to the glory of heaven, she assists with maternal love the still-pilgrimage Church on earth, tenderly guiding her steps toward the heavenly homeland, while waiting for the glorious coming of the Lord. Therefore, with angels and saints, we proclaim Your glory, saying (singing) in one voice: Holy, Holy, Holy.Antiphona for Communion Cf. John 2:1-11 A wedding was being held in Cana of Galilee, and there was Mary, Jesus’ Mother. There Jesus began His signs, manifested His glory, and the disciples believed in Him.Or: Cf. John 19:26-27 Suspended on the cross, Jesus said to the disciple: “Behold your Mother.”Prayer After Communion Lord, who in this admirable sacrament gave us the pledge of redemption and life, make Your Church, with the maternal help of the holy Virgin Mary, carry the good news of the Gospel to all peoples and renew the face of the earth with the gifts of Your Spirit. By Christ our Lord.A solemn blessing may be used.