OUR MOTHER OF SORROWS
During the liturgical year, the Church often celebrates related feasts on successive days. For example, we celebrate successively the feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus & the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Saint Monica and her son, Saint Augustine. This year we celebrate The Exaltation of the Cross on Wednesday, September 14 and Our Lady of Sorrows on Thursday, the 15th.
On Calvary, Our Blessed Mother united her sufferings with those of her crucified Son, as He offered His life for our redemption. The Opening Prayer for the Mass of Our Lady of Sorrows reads: “Father, as your Son was raised on the Cross, His Mother Mary stood by Him, sharing His sufferings. May your Church be united with Christ in His suffering and death and so come to share in His rising to new life, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.”
The Alleluia Verse of the Mass proclaims: “Blessed are you, O Blessed Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beside the Cross of the Lord.” Our Lady never suffered physical martyrdom. Yet, the Church honors her as the Queen of Martyrs. Saint Alphonsus says that if we combined the sufferings of all the Church’s martyrs, they would not equal the suffering of Our Lady as she “stood” at the foot of the cross.
The Prayer Over the Gifts is: “God of mercy, receive the prayers and gifts we offer on this feast of the Virgin Mary. While she stood beside the Cross of Jesus, you gave her to us as our Loving Mother.” At that moment, Mary gave birth to each of us in the order of grace. You and I can point to the Virgin Mother of God and say: “Behold my mother!”
As we reflect on the feasts of the Exaltation of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows, let us ask Our Blessed Mother to grant us the grace to accept our crosses and carry them joyfully. Our Divine Savior said that unless we take up our crosses daily and follow Him, we cannot be His disciples. Standing at the foot of the Cross, Our Mother of Sorrows gives us the example of uniting our sufferings with the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, which is the Church.”
Father Richard J. Rego
THE SEVEN DOLORS OF MARY ARE:
1) THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
2) THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
3) THE THREE DAYS’ LOSS
4) THE MEETING ON THE VIA CRUCIS
5) THE CRUCIFIXION
6) THE TAKING DOWN FROM THE CROSS ON CALVARY
7) THE BURIAL OF JESUS
On Calvary, Our Blessed Mother united her sufferings with those of her crucified Son, as He offered His life for our redemption. The Opening Prayer for the Mass of Our Lady of Sorrows reads: “Father, as your Son was raised on the Cross, His Mother Mary stood by Him, sharing His sufferings. May your Church be united with Christ in His suffering and death and so come to share in His rising to new life, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.”
The Alleluia Verse of the Mass proclaims: “Blessed are you, O Blessed Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beside the Cross of the Lord.” Our Lady never suffered physical martyrdom. Yet, the Church honors her as the Queen of Martyrs. Saint Alphonsus says that if we combined the sufferings of all the Church’s martyrs, they would not equal the suffering of Our Lady as she “stood” at the foot of the cross.
The Prayer Over the Gifts is: “God of mercy, receive the prayers and gifts we offer on this feast of the Virgin Mary. While she stood beside the Cross of Jesus, you gave her to us as our Loving Mother.” At that moment, Mary gave birth to each of us in the order of grace. You and I can point to the Virgin Mother of God and say: “Behold my mother!”
As we reflect on the feasts of the Exaltation of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows, let us ask Our Blessed Mother to grant us the grace to accept our crosses and carry them joyfully. Our Divine Savior said that unless we take up our crosses daily and follow Him, we cannot be His disciples. Standing at the foot of the Cross, Our Mother of Sorrows gives us the example of uniting our sufferings with the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, which is the Church.”
Father Richard J. Rego
THE SEVEN DOLORS OF MARY ARE:
1) THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
2) THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
3) THE THREE DAYS’ LOSS
4) THE MEETING ON THE VIA CRUCIS
5) THE CRUCIFIXION
6) THE TAKING DOWN FROM THE CROSS ON CALVARY
7) THE BURIAL OF JESUS
posted by Fr. Richard J. Rego at 3:22 PM
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