From the moment she conceived Jesus in her womb, Mary became the mother of his Mystical Body, the Church, and of all of us. In this meditation we use texts from Sacred Scripture, Pope St John Paul II, Pope St Paul VI, St Josemaria Escriva and St Bernard to consider how:

• Mary gave birth to Jesus and to the Church in Bethlehem
• From the Cross at Calvary, Jesus gave Mary to St John, and to each one of us, as our mother
• Because of the pain she suffered when Christ’s body was pierced with a lance and the Church flowed from his side on Calvary, Mary has a special love for all her children
• Mary exercises her motherly role in many moments related in the Scriptures
• We can show our gratitude to Our Lady and honour her through such practices as the Rosary, the Angelus, Marian aspirations and pilgrimages