OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Mary at the Foot of the Cross – September 15
Remaining Close When Love Cannot Take Away the Pain
Introduction
At a hospital bedside or after a funeral, there may come a moment when we have said all we can. We may wonder whether our presence still helps. Often, what a person remembers is that someone stayed when there was nothing more to say.
On September 15, the day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Church remembers Mary standing near her crucified Son. She could hear his words and remain with him as he died. Jesus, in the midst of his suffering, entrusted her and the beloved disciple to one another.
The memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows invites us to bring our own grief to Christ and to consider how we can remain close to people whose suffering we cannot take away.
Simeon’s Prophecy
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God. He recognized in Jesus the salvation God had prepared for all peoples. He also told Mary that her Son would meet opposition and that a sword would pierce her own soul.
Both words were spoken on a day of thanksgiving. Mary received the promise of salvation and learned that her part in it would bring sorrow. The years ahead would reveal what Simeon meant.
Families sometimes receive joy and difficult news in the same season. A child is born, and the parents learn that the child will need care they had never imagined. A loved one comes home after treatment, and the family begins to understand what recovery will ask of them. Mary’s example gives us room to receive the joy of such a moment and speak honestly to God about our fears.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
The traditional devotion to the Seven Sorrows invites us to accompany Mary through moments of suffering in the life and death of Jesus.
- Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce her soul.
- The flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
- The loss of the child Jesus and the search for him in Jerusalem.
- Mary’s meeting with Jesus on the way to Calvary, as recalled in the Stations of the Cross.
- Mary standing near Jesus at his Crucifixion.
- The taking down of Jesus’ body and its reception by Mary, a scene portrayed in the Pietà.
- The burial of Jesus.
The Gospels recount several of these events. The meeting on the way to Calvary and Mary receiving Jesus’ body are scenes handed down through Christian devotion. Praying with the sorrows can help us recognize experiences that families still face, including flight from danger, fear for a missing child, and grief at a burial.
Mary at the Foot of the Cross
John’s Gospel tells us that Mary stood near the Cross. Jesus saw her and the disciple whom he loved. He said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” To the disciple he said, “Behold, your mother.” From that hour, the disciple took her into his home.
Even as Jesus was dying, he attended to the people beside him and gave them to one another. The Church sees in this exchange an expression of Mary’s spiritual motherhood. The beloved disciple received a concrete responsibility as well. He was to welcome Mary into his life and care for her.
We can take that responsibility seriously in our own homes and parishes. After a funeral, a person may have plenty of company for a few days and very little in the weeks that follow. A regular call or an invitation to Sunday dinner can give lasting form to the care we expressed at the funeral.
Mary’s Faith in the Hour of Sorrow
The Second Vatican Council describes Mary’s life as a pilgrimage of faith that continued all the way to the Cross. There she remained united with her Son in his suffering. His sacrifice is the source of our salvation, and her faithful presence shows how a disciple can remain close to him in an hour of anguish.
Christian hope leaves room for tears. Jesus himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus. When we grieve, we can pray with what we actually feel. We may have questions, anger, or very few words. We can ask Mary to pray with us and entrust to Christ the person or situation we are struggling to place in his hands.
A Life Connection
Several weeks after a man’s funeral, a friend calls his widow and asks whether she would like company. When the friend arrives, the widow brings out a photograph and tells a story about her husband that she has told before. The friend listens and asks a question about the place in the photograph. Before leaving, the friend asks whether she would like another visit the following week.
The visit gives the widow time to speak about someone she loves. The promise to return gives her something to count on. Mary at the Cross helps us see the value of that kind of presence.
Eucharistic Connection
In the Holy Qurbana, we celebrate Christ’s saving death and Resurrection. His one sacrifice is made present sacramentally, and we receive his Body and Blood in Holy Communion. The Son beside whom Mary stood at Calvary is the risen Lord who gives himself to us at the altar.
We can bring to the Qurbana the people we mourn and those who are suffering now. After Communion, we might remember one person by name and ask Christ how we can stay close to them. Our thanksgiving may continue through a visit, a meal, or a willingness to listen when the person is ready to speak.
Messages and Call to Conversion
Our Lady of Sorrows invites us to give someone time to grieve in their own way. This week, we can contact a person who has suffered a loss, ask how they are doing, and listen without hurrying the conversation. Where practical help would be welcome, we can make an offer we are able to keep.
If we are carrying a sorrow of our own, we can spend a few minutes with the Gospel scene at Calvary. We can tell Jesus what hurts and ask Mary to help us receive the companionship he offers through the people around us.
Conclusion
Mary remained close to Jesus through his final hour. From the Cross, he entrusted her and the beloved disciple to each other. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows, may we bring our grief honestly before Christ and give those who suffer the patient companionship we would hope to receive ourselves.
