Today’s Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows invites us to stand or kneel by the cross of the crucified Lord, with Mary his mother, John the beloved disciple and two other devoted women-followers mentioned in the Gospel reading.
The special Sequence at the Mass describes for us the crucifixion scene: “At the cross her station keeping stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, all his bitter anguish bearing, and now at length the sword had passed.”
At the presentation of the Child Jesus at the Temple, the old man Simeon had rejoiced at seeing “your salvation,” “the light you will reveal to the nations” and had prophesied that “a sword will pierce your [Mary’s] own soul.” (Lk 2: 30, 32, 35)
At the cross Mary suffered with her Son and wept with the world for the world’s Redeemer.
At the cross the dying entrusts his mother Mary to the beloved disciple John who then “takes her into his own home.” (Jn 19: 27) He also entrusts John to Mary, “Woman, this is your son.” (Jn 19: 26)
Mary becomes mother not only to John but to the Church, the new people of God, the brothers and sisters of the Lord. Mary as our mother can and will teach us how to know, love and follow the Lord who gave his life for us on the cross and rose from the dead to lead us into his heavenly kingdom.
And with John we are privileged to take Mary our mother into our own homes. What would Mary find in our home? Would she feel welcome and at ease there? Would Mary find welcome and love for her in our heart?
We pray, as the Sequence ended, “Christ, when you shall call me hence, be your Mother my defense, be your cross my victory. While my body here decays, may my soul your goodness praise, safe in heaven eternally.”
