Mary, Mother of the Church: Mother of Hope

Friday 6th June 2025

As we celebrate today’s feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, we catch up with Jubilee Coordinator, Fr Chris Lough, to reflect on the role of Our Lady through the lens of the Jubilee as the Mother of Hope:

On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the birthday of the Church, concentrating on St Luke’s story of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. The following day, we keep the feast of Mary – Mother of the Church. We hear the familiar story from the Gospel according to John of the mother of Jesus and the beloved disciple standing at the foot of the cross and Jesus’ words, “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold, your mother!”

These words can be understood on various levels. At the simplest level, it is Jesus making sure his mother is cared for after his death. However, at a deeper level, it can be seen to be the coming together of the two greatest examples of discipleship in this Gospel to form a new community of those who have faith in Jesus.

The mother of Jesus (Mary and the beloved disciple are never named in this Gospel) appears only twice in John’s Gospel. The first time is at the marriage feast of Cana, where she, the first true disciple, is the instigator of Jesus’ first great Sign – the turning of water into wine. As a result, “his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11). In her second appearance, at the foot of the cross, she is given as a caring mother, not only to Jesus, but to the beloved disciple, who is the example of the perfect Christian and disciple. A community of perfect disciples is created. Mary is mother, not only to this disciple, but to all those who will come to have faith in Jesus. The Church is born at the foot of the cross!

In the Bull of Induction for this Holy Year of Jubilee, the late Pope Francis urged us all to honour Mary as the Mother of Hope. He particularly encourages us to make pilgrimage to those places associated with honouring her. As well as the famous international shrines, there are places much nearer to home. Our designated diocesan pilgrimage churches all have places of special devotion to Our Lady, as do all our parish churches.

As Pope Francis said: “I am confident that everyone, especially the suffering and those most in need, will come to know the closeness of Mary, the most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children and who, for the holy people of God, is a sign of certain hope and comfort.” (Bull of Induction for the Holy Year)

Tagged | Jubilee 2025