Mater Ecclesiae

Beata Maria Virgo Imago et Mater Ecclesiae

On November 21, 1964, at the end of the third session of the Second Vatican Council, Paul VI, during the celebration of Mass, declared our Lady "Mother of the Church, that is, of the entire Christian people, both the faithful and their pastors, who call her their most loving Mother," and decreed that "from now onward the whole Christian people should give even greater honor to the Mother of God under this most loving title." (AAS 56, 1965, p.1015)

Accordingly, many particular Churches and religious families began to venerate the Blessed Virgin under the title of "Mother of the Church." In 1974, to encourage Marian celebrations during the Holy Year of Reconciliation (1975), this Mass was composed; it was shortly afterwards inserted in the second editio typica edition of The Roman Missal (Sacramentary) among the Votive Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (MR, pp. 867-869)

Deus, misericordiarum Pater,

cuius Unigenitus, cruci afffxus,

beatam Mariam Virginem, Genetricem suam,

Matrem quoque nostram constituit,

concede, quaesumus, ut, eius cooperante caritate,

Ecclesia tua, in dies fecundior, prolis sanctitate exsultet

et in gremium suum cunctas attrahat familias populorum.

O God, Father of mercies, whose Only-begotten Son suspended upon the cross, made the blessed Virgin Mary, his mother, our mother as well, grant, we beseech you, that by her loving cooperation, Your Church, being more fruitful day by day, may rejoice in the holiness of her offspring, and may draw all the families of the peoples into her embrace.

At Lauds: Dom Anselmo Lentini, OSB

Quæ caritatis fulgidum

es astrum, Virgo , superis,

spei nobis mortalibus

fons vivax es et profluus.

Sic vales, celsa Domina,

in Nati cor piissimi,

ut qui fidenter postulat,

per te securus impetret.

Opem tua benignitas

non solum fert poscentibus,

sed et libenter sæpius

precantum vota prævenit.

In te misericordia,

in te magnificentia;

tu bonitatis cumulas

quicquid creata possident.

Patri sit et Paraclito

tuoque Nato gloria,

qui veste te mirabili

circumdederunt gratiæ.

Amen

What a shining star of love for those above you are, O Virgin; to us mortals a living and flowing fount of hope.

So you win, O heavenly Lady, the heart of your most holy Son that he, who faithfully asks through you, entreats confidently.

Your kindness not only grants help to those who plead but more often

you anticipate freely the requests of those who pray to you.

In you is mercy, in you is generosity; you the height of whatever goodness creatures can own. 

Glory to the Father and the Paraclete and to your Son, who wondrously adorned and surrounded you with grace. Amen

Vespers: Virgo Mater Eccelesiae

Virgo mater ecclesiae,

Aeterna porta gloriae,

Esto nobis refugium

apud patrem et filium.

Gloriosa Dei mater,

cuius Natus est ac pater,

ora pro nobis omnibus,

qui mem0riam ågimus.

Stella maris. lux refülgens,

stirps regålis, sancta parens,

 roga Patrem et Filium

ut det nobis Paråclitum.

                       

Virgo clemens, virgo pia,

virgo dulcis, O Maria.

Exaudi preces omnium

Ad te pie clamantium.

Funde preces tuo Nato,

crucifixo, vulneråto,

pro nobis et flagellåto,

spinis puncto. felle potåto.

Alma mater summi regis,

lux et porta celsi cæli,

inclina te misérrimis

geméntibus cum låcrimis.

                       

Patri sit et Paråclito

tu0que Nato gloria,

cuius vocåris münere

mater beåta Ecclésiæ.

Virgin Mother of the Church,

eternal portal of glory,

be for us a refuge 

with the Father and the Son.

Glorious Mother of God,

Whose Son is also your father,

Pray for us all,

Who observe this memorial.

 Virgin merciful, Virgin holy,

Virgin sweet, O Mary.

Hear the prayers of all

those crying obediently to you.

Pour out prayers to your Son,

Crucified and wounded,

Scour also for us,

Pierced by thorns, given gall as drink.

Gracious Mother of the high King,

Light and gate of high heaven,

Incline yourself to the wretched,

Groaning and weeping.

To the Father and Paraclete

To your Son be glory,

Whose gift it is that

You be called Mother of the Church. Amen.