Mary, the woman of the Eucharist

Mary, Educator of the People of God

Introduction

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is undoubtedly an educator of the people of God. She has been since the moment when, through her faith and obedience, she educated Jesus in the tradition of His people. She was the first mirror through which He learned to contemplate the world.

Mary and the Eucharist: A Deep Connection

In Christ’s public life, the Mother becomes a disciple, and on Calvary, she is declared the mother of the beloved disciple and of all the faithful whom he represents. Her mission now is to cooperate with maternal love (maternal mediation), in union with Christ and in the Spirit, for the glory of the Father, in the regeneration and formation of the faithful (Lumen Gentium 63).Maria guides us, therefore, through the mysteries of faith, especially that of the Eucharist. As observed by Saint John Paul II in the Encyclical *Ecclesia de Eucharistia*, the Eucarist is a “mystery that dominates our thought and can only be received in faith” (n. 15). Maria is the “support and guide in faith in the mystery of faith” (n. 53).

The Testimony of Mary in the Eucharist

Mary, as a true teacher, offers us, first of all, the testimony of her own life, fully surrendering herself to Jesus and to the gift of the Eucharist. She is called the “woman of the Eucharist” (*Ecclesia de Eucharistia* 53). The Mother of Jesus is present in various aspects of the Eucharistic mystery: the Lord’s Supper, the redemptive sacrifice, real and saving presence, communion of love.The Virgin in prayer leads us to the vital consequences of the mystery: celebrating, adoring, and living the Eucharist. All this is based on the two convergent offerings of the Mother and the Son: “Do”.

The Words of Mary and Jesus

At Cana, Mary utters the last word reported by the Gospels, giving an order: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2,5). Similarly, Jesus, on the eve of his passion, says to the Christian community: “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22,19).The will of Mary and her Son reveals a clear orientation: to live the Eucharist and guide the faithful toward its celebration.

A Goal to Be Achieved

The goal to be achieved is to live Mary, identifying with her as the type and model of the Church in the celebration of divine mysteries. As we identify with her, our life becomes a sign that contains and reveals the deep spiritual attitudes of her existence. And, finally but no less importantly, we essentially refer to Christ and his preeminent sacrament: the Eucharist.

A Testimony from Chiara Lubich

Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) offers a beautiful testimony that illustrates this thought:One day I entered the Church and with a heart full of confidence asked it: ‘Why did you want to stay on earth, in every corner of the earth, in the sweet Eucharist, and did not find, You who are God, a way to bring us and also leave us Mary, the Mother of all of us who pilgrimage?’In silence, he seemed to respond: ‘I did not bring it because I want to see her again in you. Even though you are not immaculate, my love will virginize you and you, you will open your arms and the hearts of mothers to humanity which, as at that time, thirsts for its God and His Mother. Now, calm your sorrows, your wounds; dry your tears. Sing the litanies and try to reflect on them.’

The Role of Mary in the Eucharist and the Magisterium

Saint John Paul II, in his Encyclical *Ecclesia de Eucharistia*, emphasizes that ecclesial communion is built daily around the Eucharist. To recognize Jesus in the Eucharist, the living and unifying center of the Church’s life, the Pope warns about the importance of deeply living this sacrament.Mary, as Mother and model of the Church, offers a wonderful example and valid help to achieve this goal. She has a deep relationship with the Eucharist, which can guide us toward this Most Holy Sacrament (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 53).For a deeper reflection on Mary and the Eucharist, we recommend reading the Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis Cultus* by Paul VI.