The Collect for the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church:
“O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day
and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Reflection
We stir up our faith by recalling the scene of the crucifixion where Jesus said “Behold, your mother.” In this scene, John the Apostle – the beloved disciple – represents every disciple. Remembering this, we ask God to do what He’s already done and continues to do. We pray that Mary help us, her children, to bear more fruit. In a special way, Mary is the mother of the Church as a whole, so we ask her to help draw others into the Church, which in turn increase the number of her own children.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
Recall that Mary is your spiritual mother and the spiritual mother of all your fellow believers. Reflect on the ways that her intercession and example have helped your faith. Pray to God to love Mary more deeply. Pray especially that the whole Church look to Mary as a model and guide to more perfectly server her son, Jesus. Then spiritually unite that prayer to all the Masses throughout the world today. That way, when the priest says “Let us pray,” you can be a part of that “us” even if you don’t get to attend Mass.
