Mother of the Church

Mother of the Church (Latin: Mater Ecclesiae) is a title given to Mary in the Catholic Church, as officially declared by Pope Paul VI in 1964. The title first appeared in the 4th century writings of Saint Ambrose of Milan, as rediscovered by Hugo Rahner.[1] It was also used by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748[2] and then by Pope Leo XIII in 1885.[3] Pope John Paul II placed it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church[4] and Pope Francis inserted a feast by this title into the Roman Calendar.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference HRahner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Bullarium Romanum,series 2, t. 2, n. 61, p. 428
  3. ^ Acta Leonis XIII, 15, 302
  4. ^ "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church." Catechism item 963 at the Vatican web site
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).