Vatican City, Sep 11, 2013 / 10:18 am
Pope Francis told thousands gathered for his weekly general audience that the Church is like our mother, who gives life to and nurtures the faithful.
"Today I wish to continue our catechesis on the Church by reflecting on an image used by the early Fathers and the Second Vatican Council: the Church as our Mother," he said. "By reflecting on the human experience of maternity, we understand that the Church is like our own mothers."
During his Sept. 11 audience, Pope Francis stressed in his first point that as our mother, "the Church gives us the gift of life."
He emphasized the importance of remembering the day when one was baptized, because that is they day one enters the Church, telling those gathered, once home, to "go and look well what is the date of your baptism," and to "have it in your heart and celebrate it."