Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial)
Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother. (John 19:25)
Have you ever attended the funeral where a mother was burying her child? It is nearly impossible to bear. Or perhaps you have lost a child yourself. It’s the kind of thing that makes us want to run away so that we can avoid the pain. Whenever we face distress like this, we can find matchless help in Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary can help us follow her example. Through her intercession, we can find the grace to endure in hope and trust in God during indescribable sorrow.
Not all mothers will endure the death of a child, but every mother knows what it’s like to suffer over her child. Whether it’s a serious illness, rejection from a dear friend, challenges in school, or even the consequences of a child’s own poor choices, mothers feel it all. It’s love that causes them to carry these burdens. And that’s where Our Lady of Sorrows can bring us hope.
Mary couldn’t flee. She couldn’t diminish her torment as she stood at the foot of the cross. And that’s the point. She didn’t try to. She accepted her own “cross” at Calvary: trusting that somehow God would bring salvation through the horror of her son’s death. By showing us what grace-filled acceptance looks like, Mary also shows us that it’s possible.
But Mary is more than just an example for us. She stands with us in our suffering. As our mother in heaven, she comes alongside us, supports us, and leads us through. As Mother of the Church, she is uniquely able to understand what we’re going through.
That makes the foot of the cross a good place to approach Mary. When we find ourselves staggered by sorrow, she can intercede for us. When our child is bullied and we hurt for them emotionally, she can help us trust that God will bring good from it somehow. When we are up all night with a sick child, she can keep vigil with us.
As she comes to our side, Mary brings us the gift of her motherhood. She helps us find consolation. Her sorrows can be a source of blessing for us.
“Holy Mary, thank you for your example of trust and abandonment to God’s will. Thank you too for the help of your intercession. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.”
1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
Psalm 16:1-2. 5, 7-8, 11
Daily Marriage Tip for September 15, 2017:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28) You may not need this Scripture right now, but you’ll need it sometime. Hang on to these words of comfort when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Be Jesus’s comfort to your beloved.