"No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother"
(St. Cyprian, De unit. 6: PL 4, 519).
Mothers are loved by their families, and the love of a mother for her sons and daughters knows no bounds. They carried us lovingly in the womb for a period. We have partaken of her goodness, fed on her and developed within her. She has lovingly carried us and to her great joy has given us birth and brought us into this world. From then on she has been there for us to feed us and give us physical growth. She has ensured for our education. As a family she has acted as intermediary with other members, especially our father, from us to him, and to him from us, she intermediates in both directions, and with our brothers and sisters she has ensure that we have acted out of love and charity at all times.
I have always liked the idea of church as mother, ever since I was made aware of it. From the above passage on mothers, reading it again, it is not difficult to see the similarities. The Church like our mother, cares for her sons and daughters, and provides spiritual food for growth in the faith. She ensures for our education, and has tried to ensure that we act out of love and charity with our brothers and sisters at all times. She has been our mediator with God the father, through the power invested in her by Jesus Christ His son, and our brother.
Off course, the mothering relationship in human terms and spiritual terms whilst in some ways similar, are in others totally different. I see my mother giving up her life for me, I see her constant concern for me personally, which maybe isn't there from the church all the time. Maybe the Church is a mother when we go to her as sons and daughters in need, but a mother is always mothering us, twenty four hours a day, whether we are approaching her or not. We are always on her mind.
We love our mother, not because she possesses qualities which surpass those of other human beings, but for the simple fact that she is our mother. She might not posses some virtues to the same degree as others, but she is our mother never-the-less and that is why we love her. Because of whom she is, not because of what she is. This is also true of the Church I think. The church has its faults, its weaknesses, and there are moments of which we are ashamed to claim her as our "mother". However, love her we do, because she is our mother, and because our brother Jesus loved her, and gave his life for her.
So, in the physical sphere we are given birth, educated, fed and given growth by our earthly mother, so we are also given birth, educated, fed and given growth by our spiritual mother.
I think the idea of Church as mother is a helpful one for communicating a good image of church. Although some people do not have a good idea of their mother, I think most people will be able to understand the emotions and the terms of the relationship of which we can speak.
Another aspect of this model which can be expanded is the idea of the family unit as a symbol of church, and of the church as being a family unit. The mother-model of the church is suited to this idea.
It is most helpful in counteracting views of the church which are seen as authoritive, and of a relationship being one-sided, e.g. we go to church because we are frightened of being disciplined in some way if we do not go. I think also it can help form a balanced view of the church, that although we love her almost un-conditionally, that is not to say that she is perfect.
I would like to conclude by saying that as Catholics, we are also reminded of Our Lady in this model. It is worth noting that she has also been seen as a model of the Church. In my opinion the magnificat of the mother of our Lord, can easily be seen as a song of the church militant.
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." Luke 1 v 46cf