Our Lady of Sorrows

Sep 7
FHC

Sept. 10 – Our Lady of Sorrows

Sept. 15 is another day that we celebrate Mary; but we commemorate her as “Our Lady of Sorrows,” meditating on the connection of her own suffering to that of Christ. We celebrate it on this day in September, not only because it is a week after Sept. 8 – her Nativity – but also because it is the day after we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14), commemorating St. Helena finding the True Cross that Christ had been crucified on.

We recognize that Mary, as the mother of Jesus Christ, had a unique sharing in her Son’s suffering and Passion. When she presented the child Jesus in the Temple, Simeon prophesied over Mary that “You yourself a sword shall pierce,” (cf. Lk 2:35), seen as a prophecy about the great suffering and sorrow she would experience as she watched her own Son suffer on the Cross. Thus, many times the Immaculate Heart of Mary is depicted as being pierced by a sword.

There is also a tradition of commemorating or meditating on what are called the “Seven Sorrows” of Mary; seven moments of particular grief, sorrow and suffering of the Blessed Mother in connection with her Son. These include:

 

  1. The Prophecy of Simeon (as reference above) (Lk 2:34-35)
  2. The Flight into Egypt (Matt 2:13-21)
  3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days (Lk 2:41-50)
  4. The Carrying of the Cross (John 19:17)
  5. The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18-30)
  6. Jesus Taken Down from the Cross (John 19:39-40)
  7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb (John 19:39-42)

 

But why meditate on Mary’s Suffering? Through Mary’s suffering, it helps us connect our own sufferings to Jesus, and offer them to Our Lord. Mary is a Mother who watched her own Son suffer and die. Unfortunately, there are parents who have lost children; who have had to, like Mary, lay their own child or children in the tomb. This devotion reminds us that there is a place for our grief and suffering in the Divine Mysteries of Christ. That we share a closeness with Jesus’ beloved Mother in a unique way. And also how that suffering can be woven into the Lord’s work of Redemption in the world, of bringing death out of life, and by filling our grief with the radiant light of hope.

So, on this day of the Sorrowful Mother, pray for anyone you know who has lost children of any age.

Peace,

– Fr. Kevin

PS: We will be offering a Spanish Mass at St. Mary’s in Ackley on Sat., Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. – in addition to our other weekend services! Please pray for this! That perhaps Spanish-speakers in the area who have not been to Mass for a while will come! And even if you don’t speak Spanish, you are welcome to come!