MARY, OUR MOTHER

Our Lady of Sorrows

At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful mother weeping,

Where He hung, the dying Lord:

Bowed with anguish, deeply grieved,

For her soul, of joy bereaved,

Felt the sharp and piercing sword.

Deep the woe of her affliction,

When she saw the crucifixion

Of her ever-glorious Son.

(Stabat Mater Dolorosa. Edward Caswall, 1814-1878.

Public Domain.)

Today we commemorate the Sorrows of the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. Mary shared in all the sufferings of her Son. Since the earliest times the Church has meditated on 'The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary' (former title for this Feast).

1. Simeon prophesied to her, "Thy own soul a sword shall pierce."
2. The flight into pagan Egypt.
3. Jesus lost in the Temple at age twelve.
4. The meeting of Jesus on the Way of the Cross.
5. The standing at the foot of the Cross seeing Jesus die.
6. Holding Jesus' dead body in her Motherly arms.
7. Burying Jesus in the tomb.

PRAYER

O Lord Jesus Christ, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at Your Passion, implore Your mercy for us now and at the hour of our death; This we ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

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For "there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother." (John 19:25). O words full of compassion! For how much, O my heart, ought they to move you in all your depths, the sorrows and afflictions of so loving a Savior hanging upon the cross, and yet decreeing, for us alone, that we who were once enfolded in the darkness of our sins have now been led back again to the light, with the help of the Mother of God. It is fitting to suffer with such a Mother standing by the cross, bearing in her heart to the full the boundless sorrow of her suffering Son, and in some way, more special and more particular, to endure with her all that our innermost hearts could feel. It is indeed just that we, who in our miseries are constantly consoled by her, should also suffer with her in her sorrows. And even if we may not suffer with her as we should, at least, by calling to mind her dolor, let us stir up in faith, so far as we can, our heart's devotion. The depths of the grief of that loving Mother we do not know, but let us seek from afar, by surmising them, from the sorrows that we have been shown. (Blessed Henry Suso, +1366)