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Mary Mother of the Church:

Mary Mother of the Church: Feast Day the Day After Pentecost 

Tucked inside my copy of 33 Days to Morning Glory, among other treasured mementos, is a folded newspaper clipping that reads: "New Feast Emphasizes Mary as Mother." The Catholic Church has long taught that the Blessed Virgin Mary is our spiritual mother, and that she is the mother of the church, but it wasn't until 2018 that this beautiful feast day was added to the official liturgical calendar to be celebrated annually the day after Pentecost. Writing this blog post today, on my birthday, I can't help but smile as I hold the newspaper clipping in my hand, because the first time the feast of Mary Mother of the Church was celebrated in 2018 was May 21st, my birthday! When I reflect back on 2018, it's amazing to see how my faith journey and seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary as my spiritual mother was growing even if I didn't quite see it myself. May 13th, 2018 was the day I made my Marian consecration, and that year not only was the 13th the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, but it was also the Solemnity of the Ascension and Mother's Day. When I think about the wonderfulness of all three of these celebrations falling upon the same day, I can't help but see the connection that they show Mary is always with us, in our past,  present, and our future, helping to guide us to her divine son. So, as we celebrate the feast of Mary Mother of the Church today, the day after Pentecost—the birthday of the Church—reflect upon how the Blessed Virgin Mary has been working in your life to bring you closer to Jesus through her, and I think you will be amazed! I hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed time celebrating Mary as Mother of the Church and that your devotion to the Blessed Mother continues to grow! 


Celebrate with Food: 

Today, make strawberry-short-cake and serve it with "MOMosas." My family loves to use this delicious short-cake recipe from "Betty Crocker." If you want a quick microwaveable short-cake recipe, here is a recipe from “Taste of Home.” It makes enough cake to fill four small ramekins. I lightly greased the ramekins, so that I could pop the cakes out and plate them. The recipe says microwave for 2-3 minutes—don’t do 3 minutes—I torched one at that time haha. Instead, I found cooking them for 1 minute and 40 seconds to work very well.

Since Pentecost was yesterday, the red strawberries are a perfect way to symbolize the Holy Spirit and His special connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church. You can make "MOMosas" with alcohol (for adults) or mix your orange juice with Sprite or carbonated water for everyone. 


Celebrate with a Craft: 

An easy craft you and your children can make today to celebrate Mary as Mother of the Church, is to print a picture of Mary's Immaculate Heart and print a picture of your parish. Glue the picture of your parish in the center of your Immaculate Heart print, and then display your craft in front of a statue of Mary to symbolize that Mary is the Mother of the Church. Here is a free printable coloring page of the Immaculate Heart from the website "Catholic Inspired." 


Celebrate with a Prayer: 

Here is a prayer I wrote that you and your family can say together. 

Mother Mary, Mother of the Church, take my hand and guide me. Pray that I will not stray and that I will always open my heart to the Lord. Pray for the Church, throughout the world, that She may be holy and good, filled with beauty, full of virtue, and offer service and love to our neighbors so that we may serve the Lord. Let me turn to you not only in times of trouble, but in all moments of my life, for through you, immaculate mother, I know is the surest way to the Son. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us! Amen.

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