Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church

Mary, Mother of the Church surrounded by the faithful in prayer after Pentecost

The Monday after Pentecost, the Church celebrates a beautiful memorial: Mary, Mother of the Church. In 2026 it falls on May 25 — the day after Pentecost Sunday. This Mother of the Church prayer is for all of us who belong to the Church and who look to Mary as our mother in faith.

Who Is Mary, Mother of the Church?

This title was officially given to Mary by Pope Paul VI in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council. In 2018, Pope Francis established the memorial as a fixed celebration in the Catholic calendar, always on the Monday after Pentecost. The title reminds us that Mary, present at the birth of the Church on Pentecost, continues to watch over and intercede for all the faithful.

When Should You Pray This Prayer?

Pray this prayer:

On May 25, 2026 — the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church
When you feel lost or without direction in your faith
When you pray for the unity of the Church
When you need a mother’s intercession
When you are going through a difficult time in your spiritual life
When you pray for priests, bishops, and all who serve the Church

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church

Mary, Mother of the Church, you stood at the foot of the Cross and did not abandon your Son. You remained with the apostles, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit in prayer.

We come to you today as your children — members of the Church entrusted to your maternal care.

Watch over us, Mother. Pray for our priests and bishops. Pray for those who have left the faith. Pray for families that are broken, for hearts that are wounded, for souls that have grown cold.

You know what it means to wait in hope. You know what it means to trust when everything is dark. Teach us to do the same.

Mother of the Church,
intercede for us before your Son,
and keep us always close to his heart.

Amen.

How to Use This Prayer

Pray this on May 25, the day after Pentecost Sunday, as a way of closing the Easter season with a heart full of gratitude. You can also pray it any time you feel the need for Mary’s maternal intercession for the Church or for your own faith journey.

What does Mary, Mother of the Church mean?

It means that Mary is not only the mother of Jesus but also the spiritual mother of all the faithful. Just as she cared for Christ, she cares for his Body — the Church — interceding for every one of its members.

When is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church celebrated?

It is celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday. In 2026 it falls on May 25.

Why is Mary called Mother of the Church?

Because she was present at the most important moments in the life of the Church — the Annunciation, the Cross, and Pentecost. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus entrusted her to the beloved disciple with the words “Behold your mother” — a gesture the Church has always understood as entrusting all the faithful to her care.

Who established this feast day?

Pope Paul VI proclaimed Mary as Mother of the Church during the Second Vatican Council in 1964. In 2018, Pope Francis established it as a fixed memorial in the universal Catholic calendar, to be celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.