THE MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. THE MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. ""Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” "And from that hour the disciple took her into his home." (John 19: 25 - 27)." Monday September 15th in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. "At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last." (Stabat Mater). Thus was the prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple fulfilled. "Your own soul a sword will pierce." By the Cross of Jesus, the Mother of Sorrows received her everlasting vocation: “Behold, your mother… Behold your Son." Mary may have murmured silently: "Be it done to me according to Your word." And she became our Mother too from that instance. What do you make of the Seven Sorrows of Mary? Was it necessary? Superfluous? An overkill? Our Church teaches: "Our Mother Mary teaches us to live, together with her, beside the cross of her Son. In her suffering, she reminds us of the malice of sin and shows us the way of true repentance." (Roman Missal). The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows follows the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Back to back we celebrate the mystery of suffering in the economy of salvation. Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary had been practiced since the 13th Century. The Swedish mystic, St Bridget received this Devotion. Below are the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 1. The prophecy of Simeon 2. The flight into Egypt 3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days 4. Mary meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary 5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus 6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross 7. The burial of Jesus. Mary like her Son Jesus endured each of her agony with perfect love and total abandonment to God. How do we summarize the dynamics of Cross and Crown, Test and Testimony, Trial and Triumph? The Apostle Peter says it best in the Communion Antiphon: "Rejoice when you share in the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice exultantly when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4: 13). In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus. For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below: http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10 To select Daily Bible Verse for another day please use Daily Reading section [Select date] option
