Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (cf. Lk 2, 34-35)
With these words the prophet Simeon, during the presentation of Jesus in the temple, foretold Mary's suffering. As the most humble and faithful servant of the Lord, Mary had a special share in Christ's work of salvation leading through the cross.
For many centuries, the Church celebrated two feasts to honor the sufferings of the Blessed Virgin Mary: on Friday before Palm Sunday - Our Lady of Sorrows, and on September 15 - Mary's Seven Sorrows. The first feast was for first time introduced in Germany in 1423 in the Diocese of Cologne and was called "Mary's Compassion to Compensate for violation perpetrated by the Hussites on Catholic Churches." Initially, they were celebrated on Friday after the third Sunday of Easter. In 1727, Pope Benedict XIII extended it to the entire Church and moved it to the Friday before Palm Sunday.
The second celebration has a slightly different character. Its honors Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows and Queen of Martyrs, not so much in Christological as in historical terms, recalling the more important stages and scenes of Mary's drama and her sufferings. Servites were the first to introduce this holiday. From 1667 it began to spread to some dioceses. Pius VII extended it to the whole Church in 1814 and set the feast day for the third Sunday in September. Pope St. Pius X confirmed it on September 15.
Both celebrations are parallel to the Passion of Christ, they are to some extent their equivalent. The first feast is directly connected with Holy Week, the second one with the celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The last change in the church calendar abolished the first holiday, celebrated before Palm Sunday.
From the fourteenth century on, the theme of Mary's seven sorrows appeared frequently. They are:
1. Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2: 34-35)
2. Flight into Egypt (Mt 2: 13-14)
3. The loss of Child Jesus (Lk 2: 43-45)
4. Meeting with Jesus on the Way of the Cross (the Gospels do not mention)
5. Crucifixion and death of Jesus (Mt 27: 32-50; Mk 15: 20b-37; Lk 23, 26-46; Jn 19: 17-30)
6. The Piercing of the Side of Jesus with a spear, and his descent from the Cross (Mk 15: 42-47; Lk 23: 50-54; Jn 19: 38-42)
7. Jesus is placed in the tomb (Mt 27: 57-61; Mk 15: 42-47; Lk 23, 50-54; Jn 19, 38-42)
Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary
We can meditate Mary’s sorrow in The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The chaplet was approved by Pope Benedict XIII in 1724. It is very known throughout the Church. Our Lady herself recalled this devotion during the apparitions of Our Lady of Sorrows to three girls in Kibeho, Rwanda. In 2001 Augustin Misago, the bishop of the Diocese Gikongoro, recognized these apparitions as authentic; these are the first Marian apparitions recognized by the Church in XXI Century.
It is undeniable that Mary suffered so much as the Mother of the Savior. We do not know if she knew exactly what awaited her Son. Some church writers take this for granted. In their opinion, since Mary was blessed with a special light of the Holy Spirit regarding the understanding of the sacred books, where in many places and sometimes in great detail the passion and death of the Savior of the world are foretold, she also knew about the future sufferings of her Son.
Mary was not only a passive witness to the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, but she participated fully in them. It is unthinkable, even on the level of nature itself, that a mother would not suffer at the sight of her dying son. Mary suffered like no other human being on earth. For she realized that her Son is the Savior of mankind.
Among the saints who distinguished themselves with a more special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, need to be mention the seven founders of the Servite Order (XIII century), St. Bernardine of Siena (+ 1444),Blessed Ladislas of Gielniów (+1505), St. Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionists (+ 1775) and St. Francesco Possenti, who took the religious name of Gabriel from the Sorrows of Mary (+ 1860).
Through the memory of Mary of Sorrows, we become aware of the sufferings of Our Lady who, like no other, was united with Christ, also in his passion, suffering and death.
Mary's greatest treasure is her Son Jesus.
Mary's greatest treasure is her Son Jesus. She sees everything in Him. Her heartbeat only for Him during her earthly life and it beats with the same rhythm in eternity. When Mary looks at us, our external appearance, the external way of presentation and behavior she notices as if in the background. The first thing that attracts her attention is the image of Her Son in our soul. When we give ourselves to her, our heart, in gratitude for this act of accepting her motherly love we receive her Immaculate Heart, and Jesus in it. Thanks to her, the mysteries of Jesus begin to penetrate our lives and transform us from within, reveal the Jesus’ personality in our lives.
“Today I felt the nearness of my Mother, my heavenly Mother, although before every Holy Communion I earnestly ask the Mother of God to help me prepare my soul for the coming of Her Son, and I clearly feel Her protection over me. I entreat Her to be so gracious as to enkindle in me the fire of God’s love, such as burned in Her own pure heart at the time of the Incarnation of the Word of God. (Diary 1114)
O Mary, my Mother and my Lady, I offer You my soul, my body, my life and my death, and all that will follow it. I place everything in Your hands. O my Mother cover my soul with Your virginal mantle and grant me the grace of purity of heart, soul and body. Defend me with Your power against all enemies, and especially against those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue. O lovely lily! You are for me a mirror, O my Mother! (Diary 79)
Until Tomorrow
fr. george