From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
May 28, 2026 (#103)
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
There is evidence that the ancient Church celebrated the feast of Pentecost from at least the beginning of the 2nd century. And there is even clearer evidence that, at least in the East, the feast was observed liturgically over the course of a week, that is, with an octave. The Western Church adopted the octave of Pentecost at a much later date. That octave was observed by the Roman Catholic Church until the changes of 1969. Today, Pentecost Sunday marks the close of the Easter Season. But for most of the centuries of the Church's life, the feast celebrating the Holy Spirit was considered as equal to Easter and Christmas, both of which have octaves that continue the celebration of the saving events commemorated. The latest edition of the Roman Missal restored a special Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost, which parallels in many respects the Easter Vigil.
Furthermore, from at least the 12th century, servile work was prohibited on the first 3 days of the octave of Pentecost. This was reduced to the first two days in 1771 and entirely abolished for the Monday in the octave (“Whit Monday”) in 1911. These regulations, and various other customs associated with the feast and its octave made it understandable that many clergy and faithful people were surprised and even shocked by the abolition of the octave in 1969. In this context, we might say that the establishment of the new feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, by Pope Francis, in 2018, might be seen as the first step in the possible (and desirable?!) restoration of the Pentecost octave.
Francis decreed that this feast is to be kept as an “obligatory memorial” on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday, and is to include specific readings for the Mass of the day as well as unique prayers and special preface. The first reading is to be selected either from chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis (verses 9-15, 20) or chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles (verses 12-14), which recounts the presence of the Blessed Mother with the apostles on the first Pentecost Day, when the Holy Spirit descended upon all gathered with her in prayer. The Gospel for the Mass is taken from John 19: 25-34, thus highlighting the words of Jesus from the Cross to the beloved disciple, “Behold your mother.”
Notably, Saint Ambrose articulated a theology of Mary as Mother of the Church in the 4th century. And on November 21, 1964, at the conclusion of the third session of Vatican Council II, Pope St. Paul VI decreed, “We declare Mary Most Holy Mother of the Church, that is, of all the Christian people." Pope St. John Paul II affirmed this title and furthered this understanding of Mary’s spiritual relationship to the Church and to the People of God in his magisterium, as did Pope Benedict XVI. This new feast is, in a real sense, ancient and new.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
