When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052923.cfm
The disciples gathered in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the perfect image of the church. Although this feast day is of recent origin (2018), its rationale is as old as the Scriptures themselves. In the United States today is Memorial Day. As my grandmother taught me, this day was originally known as Decoration Day, a day to visit the cemetery to remember those who have fallen, decorate their graves, and pray for peace and for an end to war.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church—Memorial Day (USA)
