Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows September 15

All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. 1 Corinthians 9:23

“Woman, behold, your son.” John 19:26

Piety

Let us pray: Here I am Lord, at the foot of your cross. I come to do you your will. You have done so much for me, forgiving my sins and opening wide the gates of heaven. If you but give to me a thimble full of the strength you drew upon hanging on the cross, then I will have the reserves needed to run for you so as to win for you. Deliver us from evil and grant us peace today. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/091506.shtml

What mother would not grieve endless tears to see her innocent son, born of her own flesh and blood, executed like the Romans did to Jesus?

Mary provides us with the role model for commitment to the mission God lays out for us. Through her piety and action, she draws us closer to her son. She intercedes on our behalf.

On this first day of the Cursillo Weekend, we start off with talks on Ideal and Layperson in the Church. Mary sets for us the highest Ideal possible for how we should pray, study and act? Her eternal “Yes” sets us on a path to say, “Here I am Lord. I come to do your will.”

Now, her work with Jesus at her side is done. Jesus commissions her to a new task. Her eternal “Yes” does not even need to be uttered aloud. At the foot of the cross, Mary adopts us all. She becomes mother of all of God’s children.

In one unspoken “yes,” Mary takes on not just the sorrows of the cross but the sorrows of all of our lives. The deaths. The illnesses. The wars. The famines. The storms. The anger. The fighting. The killing.

Jesus also binds us to Mary as our mother. A mother who shares all she has with us. She picks us up when we fall. She wipes away our tears when we cry. She sets us off in life to school, to work so that we have all she can offer to support our race. So we can run so as to win with her intercessions.

Action

The next time you approach the altar to receive communion, as you bow down, try reciting this little prayer inspired by Our Lady of Sorrows.

“Here I am Lord. I come to do your will.”

Stand and take communion. With Christ dwelling within you, now is the time to act – to run – to love so as to win.

Note: Today the men of the 113th Cursillo will receive the Palanca from the community supporting them. Keep supporting them in your prayers. In a fitting parallel, today also marks the 200th consecutive installment of "Your Daily Tripod" which began as palanca for the team in formation for this weekend. De colores!