[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

September 15, 2016 – Taking Mary into My Home

15 Sep 2016

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Father Patrick Butler, LC

John 19: 25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 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.

Introductory Prayer: You are true goodness and life, Lord. Closeness to you brings peace and joy. You deserve all of my trust and my love. Thank you for the gift of life, my family and above all of my faith. Thank you as well for giving us your Mother at the foot of the cross.

Petition: Lord, help me to grow in my filial love for Mary, your Mother and mine.

1. Standing: Today is a Marian feast: “Our Lady of Sorrows”. Mary, like me, had no particular love of pain and sorrow. The first announcement of her vocation by the Archangel Gabriel mentioned nothing about it, being filled only with messianic promises. However, soon after Jesus’ birth, Simeon completed the dimensions that were to enlighten her vocation: “…and a sword will pierce your heart that the thoughts of many might be revealed”. Recognizing the fulfillment of her calling in the accompanying of her Son during his crucifixion, she does so with a desire to fulfill God’s mysterious plan, not reluctantly, but standing closely to Jesus with all the sorrow that this implied for her.

2. Last Will and Testament: The words Jesus speaks to his mother and his beloved disciple are equivalent to his last will and testament. He bequeaths what is most precious to him to a beloved person. To Mary, he gives the friend that he loves so much, who will also need her help in the difficulties he will face. To John, he gives his greatest human comfort, his mother who is his best disciple. He knows that she needs him, an adopted son, to comfort and accompany her.

3. Mary Makes My Home Sweet: John took his responsibility for Mary seriously, taking her into his own home. Home for John was nothing less than the Church that Jesus founded. Mary was to have the pride of place there, as Jesus’ mother, and as she who knew, loved and served him best. She also took her role seriously, so seriously that she immediately perceived that all those she encountered were her adoptive sons and daughters. In this house that is the Church, Mary is the sweetness of the traditional saying, “Home, sweet home”.

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I can’t thank you enough for entrusting your mother to me and me to her. I want to take care of her by being an attentive, faithful son who imitates you. That’s what will console her and make her heart rejoice. Mary, be always at my side and intercede for me before God, in order that I persevere in following your Son.

Resolution: I will make my devotion to Mary very personal, whether it be in spontaneous conversation with her or contemplating the mysteries of Christ’s life while praying the Rosary.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

September 15, 2016

Our Lady of Sorrows

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.”