Mary, Mother of the Church at the Foot of the Cross

Perhaps the biggest thing that separates Catholics from protestants is Catholics’ devotions to Mary. She is called many things, but if we focus on one in particular, we cover the rest. Mary is the Mother of the Church, and a mother is many things. A mother loves unconditionally (Virgin Most Merciful), wipes tears (Mother Most Sorrowful), intercedes for her children (Queen of All Saints), gives hope to her children (Mother of Perpetual Hope), gives advice (Mother of Good Counsel), undoes her children’s messes or confusion (Undoer of Knots), and much more. So, if she is Mother of the Church, then she is mother to us all and seeks to intercede, comfort, help, and pray for us all.

I once had someone say to me that Mary’s dead and that we shouldn’t pray to her. I replied that one cannot be a Christian and not believe in eternal life, so then how could she be dead? If Jacob could see the angels carrying our prayers to and from heaven, then the Bible tells us the saints hear our prayers (Genesis 28:12). This person also said that we are only to go through Christ. That’s true that salvation is only reached through Jesus (John 14:6). Though many protestants claim sola scriptura and refuse the traditions of the Church (at least verbally), Mary’s motherhood of the Church is biblical. Jesus gave His Church to His mother in John 19:26-27.

If we believe that those who believe in Jesus will never die (John 11:25-26) and that Mary was chosen by the Father to be the vessel for the Son (Luke 1:28-33), then we know His perfect love would not leave His own Mother behind! After all, she didn’t leave her Son behind. She and very few others followed Him all the way to the cross and stayed with Him through His death. Yet, through her sorrows which were great, her faith was also great. She remained despite the crowd condemning Him. She remained despite the soldiers torturing Him. She remained despite the gruesome sight.

One place she wasn’t, however, is the place most mothers would go next and often: the tomb. While Mary was probably there when He was laid in the tomb, she’s not mentioned when the holy women go to anoint Him after the sabbath. In John 20, only Mary of Magdala is mentioned. Mark 16 mentioned Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. Matthew 28 mentions Mary of Magdala and ‘the other Mary’ which we might assume is the mother of James. Luke 24 lists Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and ‘others,’ but no mention of Jesus’s mother. Jesus’s mother is always identified specifically in the bible.

So why would Mary be so faithful to be at the foot of the Cross but not come to anoint His Body later at the tomb? Again, it was her great faith. She knew all that Jesus had said about being raised from the dead (Matthew 20:17-19) and trusted in the Will of the Father. She was waiting on her Son and praying fervently.

The Bible doesn’t tell us if or how Jesus appeared to Mary, His mother, though there are legends about a private visitation. What we do know is that Mary has come to intercede for many over the years. Mary points the way to Jesus and she begs all of us, her children, to follow and listen to her Son. So much more can be said about her wisdom, intersession, and holiness, but perhaps another time. For now, for this Triduum, be with Mary at the foot of the cross. Pray, fast, and wait on the Lord.