“Standing by the Cross” by Peter Sonski (@29sonski)

“Standing by the Cross” by Peter Sonski (@29sonski)

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Let me share with you his pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

-          Stabat Mater

Piety

“How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12)

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25)

Study

Today’s liturgical memorial originates from an ancient Christian devotion commemorating the seven dolors (Latin: pain, grief), or sorrows, or Mary: The prophecy of Simeon at Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple; the flight into Egypt; the loss of Jesus in the Temple; Mary’s meeting of Jesus on his way to Calvary; Mary’s standing at the foot of Jesus’ during the crucifixion; her holding of Jesus’ body when he was removed from the cross; and Jesus’ burial.

The feast dates from the 11^th or 12^th century and was one placed officially in the Roman Missal as the memorial of Our Lady of Compassion (compassion, from its Latin roots, means to suffer with). In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read, “the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart” (964).

Action

Each of Mary’s sorrows were experienced with the person of Jesus. She united her torments and grief with his suffering, trusting in God. Reflect on the two lines above from today’s readings. How can we follow Mary’s example today in our distress? How may we be spiritually united with her, standing by the cross?