"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."

Another deeper meaning is embedded in these words of Jesus.  Mary was given to be the spiritual mother of all those saved by Jesus. Thus, she is called the Mother of the Church. Under the cross she, by God’s divine plan, became the mother of those who believe in Jesus, sharing in his Divine life. As a mother, she formed Jesus from infancy to adulthood. As our mother Mary desires to form us as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, leading us to him and instructing us to do whatever he tells us.

Here is what St. John Paul II said: “After entrusting John to Mary with the words “Woman, behold your son!”, Jesus, from the Cross, turns to his beloved disciple, saying to him, “Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:26-27). With these words, he reveals to Mary the height of her motherhood: as mother of the Savior, she is also the mother of the redeemed, of all the members of the Mystical Body of her Son. In silence the Virgin accepts the elevation to this highest degree of her motherhood of grace, having already given a response of faith with her “yes” at the Annunciation. Jesus not only urges John to care for Mary with special love, but he entrusts her to him so that he may recognize her as his own mother”.  How blessed is the eternal plan of God!