As most of you know, my faithful, fun, and wise mother died 3 weeks ago, and I thank you for your prayers and support that you’ve shown to me and my siblings. And, today, this feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, makes me think of Mom again, for both Our Lady and my mother lost their firstborn sons. Dennis was 18 months old when he died of a hidden brain tumor. My parents were devastated, but to their credit, their strong faith, devotion to Mary, and the support they had, they lovingly shared Dennis’ memory with us 9 children who followed all our lives. Near her death, Mom talked of Dennis once again, and I know he was waiting in heaven to greet her.
Today, on this feast of Mary, we remember and imagine the pain and the anguish which Our Lady would have suffered as she stood at the foot of the Cross. We remember her sufferings particularly because she became our mother at the foot of the Cross when Jesus said to his disciple, “Behold, your mother”. Three days later, what joy must have been hers when her son, Our Lord, triumphed victoriously over death for us by his Resurrection.
Today’s feast honors devotion to the seven traditional sorrows of Mary which are:
- The prophecy of Simeon in the Temple when Jesus was brought there by Mary and Joseph as a baby. Simeon was preparing Mary for what was to come. Courage and trust would be asked of her. What an example she is to parents today who must watch their children suffer because of sickness, war, or even poor decisions.
- The flight into Egypt. Like the Holy Family, how many families are living today in refugee camps and must immigrate to foreign countries to escape those who are kidnapping and murdering in their homeland?
- The loss of the Child Jesus at age 12 in the Temple. Imagine Mary’s fear, not unlike many parents who have lost their child even in a supermarket or parents who have permanently lost their child, not knowing his or her whereabouts?
- Meeting Jesus on the road to Calvary,
- Standing at the foot of the Cross as Jesus dies
- Receiving the body of Jesus in her arms,
- Watching the body of Jesus be placed in the tomb. We watch daily many parents who must bury their children because of needless malnutrition, lack of health care, or war. What suffering is theirs.
This feast of Mary offers us the opportunity to reflect upon the sufferings of the Mother of God. May we do so with love and gratitude.
Mother Mary, pray for us. Stand with us in our sorrows and help us comfort those who struggle in their sorrows. Amen
