Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 19, 25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

Mary, Mother of the Church

1) The cross. Nowadays the Church also bears crosses and is crucified daily around the world. And I say this because the Church is not an institutional structure; you and I are the Church, all the baptized are the Church. We have been greatly crucified in this millennium, but we’re still here, because the Church belongs to God, because you belong to God, and Mary is always where God is.

2) Standing by the cross. Following the decision of Pope Francis, on the Monday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Theology tells us that when Mary saw her son crucified, she suffered the pains that a woman has when giving birth. Yet, the iconography shows us Mary standing upright by the cross. When you experience pain and when you feel that everything in your life is collapsing, the only thing that keeps you on your feet is faith. So, nourish your faith today. It’s faith that keeps you standing.

3) Life. Today let’s pray for our Church, for the Pope and his health. I already have grey hair and I only have 23 chapels to care for. Imagine the Pope who has to guide the whole Church! Let’s pray for the bishops, for they are the ones who confirm us in our faith and must protect us from so many doctrinal errors. Let’s pray for all priests and all forms of consecrated life, so that we may remember that we belong to God. Let’s pray for every baptized person, that they may remember that they are the Church.

God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that something good is on the way!