Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. How appropriate that we celebrate this feast the day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The Church gives parishes an option of two different readings for the Gospel. The first is from John 19, the scene at the foot of the cross where Jesus gives his mother to John. The other is from Luke 2 where Simeon tells Mary, “you yourself a sword will pierce,” prophesying about her coming sorrows.
I think that one of the hardest things in the world is for a parent to bury their child. My mother has now had to bury three of her six children. I’ve seen first hand how painful this is. How much greater must Mary’s sorrow have been? Watching her only son, who she knew was the innocent and holy Son of God, brutally beaten, scorned, laughed at, spit upon and left to die on a cross. Even if she knew God’s big grand plan, the hurt must have been immense. So, whenever you feel great sorrow, ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows. She knows what you’re going through.
Father, thank you for giving Mary the strength to endure so many hardships. Through her intercession, may we do the same with the same grace. Amen.
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