The Diocese of Gaylord on Monday celebrated one of the more recently established feast days on the Catholic calendar.

“Today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “This feast was established only a few years ago by Pope Francis in 2018. It is celebrated every year on the Monday following Pentecost. Let us pray in thanksgiving for the many years of grace and protection Our Lady has given us in safeguarding the Church and her Magisterium.” 

Mary is honored multiple times throughout the year in addition to this newest feast day, the Marians said. May is the Month of Mary, and it has two special days, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, and the Visitation on May 31. Other feast days include the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, which is celebrated Jan. 1; the Annunciation, which is celebrated March 25; Mary's Assumption into Heaven, which is celebrated Aug. 15; and the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated Dec. 8. 

In Catholicism, Mary holds a special place. As a human, she is among those in need of God's saving, but as the Mother of God, she received the gift of God's grace to a greater extent than others would hope to experience, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) explains. Mary cooperated with God's plan, even though it put her at risk of being stoned for adultery. Her compliance places her in a crucial role in salvation. Catholics say Mary defines model discipleship and, as such, ask for her intercession in prayers. 

Pentecost marks the day the Holy Spirit filled Jesus' disciples, thus enabling them to preach the Gospel. It comes 50 days after Jesus' resurrection and around 10 days after his ascension into heaven. Christianity.com offers an account of what happened. The disciples gathered inside of a room and suddenly there was a loud roar that sounded as if a gust of wind had rushed into the room. Tongues of fire flashed over the heads of Jesus' apostles, filling them with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in tongues. A crowd that had gathered around them included people who spoke various languages, and each member of the crowd could hear Jesus' followers speaking in the listener’s native language. Peter preached and 3,000 people converted that day.