Today(September 19th) is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows. I've felt a connection to Our Lady of Sorrows for a long time. It started during the short life of our daughter, Therese. My emotions from losing a child found consolation and solace in Mary's life as a grieving Mother. In the last year, I've been focusing on and learning more about each of her sorrows. (It's actually part of a big writing project that I hope to share with you in the next few months!)
Even though I didn't plan on writing a blogpost today, I couldn't let the day go by without sharing a few thoughts...
I really wanted to go to Mass this morning and I planned my grocery store stops around it. I planned on going to a parish that I catch an occasional daily Mass at a couple of towns away. I got there early and I was happily surprised that there was Eucharistic Adoration. I got to pray the chaplet of the seven sorrows. When 9am came and Mass didn't start, I found out that that parish no longer has a morning mass on Fridays. (whomp, whomp!) So I listened to the readings and homily from EWTN's online Mass after the rest of my errands. Not the same...but better than nothing!
The priest focused much of his homily on Mary's posture, standing at the foot of her Son's cross. Mary was standing under the cross; a sign of strength and total unification with Jesus' suffering and death. Mary stood among all the hatred and ugliness of the loud, jeering crowd and the antagonizing soldiers. Mary stood as her son was tortured, mocked, and scorned. Mary's presence and posture was an outward affirmation to the "yes" she first spoke at the Annunciation, her "yes" at the painful words of Simeon's prophesy, her continual "yes" throughout Jesus' entire life, and ending with her most powerful "yes" as she stood at the foot of the cross watching her son being killed.
Mary stood at Jesus' cross to love Him, support Him, and console Him in any way she could. Mary did not despair as she stood at the most painful moment of her life. Mary's heart broke at the sight of her Son, but she still clung to hope. Mary trusted that God would bring good even out of the greatest and most painful tragedy.
"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose"-Romans 8:28
Mary lived that scripture verse. In the darkest moment of her life, Mary held tightly onto hope and trusted God in the difficult circumstances of her life. She stood...eyes on the cross and her beloved Son.
Under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mary gives us an incredible example of how to keep our eyes on God and hold onto hope when we face trials and tragedies in our own lives. When we find ourselves standing with those we love that are suffering on their own personal crosses, we have the consolation that we do not stand alone. Mary stands with us helping to bear our burdens and the burdens of our family and friends. Mary understands our heartache and pain.
Today's feast is an opportunity to remember Mary's faith and strength. It's also a day to recall and honor the suffering she endured for all of us that was foretold at Jesus' Presentation in the Temple:
"And you yourself a sword shall pierce..."-Luke2:35
May I make a suggestion to offer Mary a special prayer today to console her Immaculate Heart? Any prayer will be a beautiful spiritual flower offered to Mary with love...and what mama doesn't love to get a flower from her child?? (Even a dandelion!) If you would like to find out more about the chaplet to the seven sorrows, click here.
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| We went to Hershey, PA this summer and found Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church nearby for Mass. This was a beautiful prayer alcove in the church. |
