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September 15
Our Lady of Sorrows
For a while there were two feasts in honor of the Sorrowful Mother: one going back to the 15th
century, the other to the 17th century. For a while both were celebrated by the
universal Church: one on the Friday before Palm Sunday, the other in September.
The principal biblical references to Mary's sorrows are in Luke
2:35 and John 19:26-27. The Lucan passage is Simeon's prediction about a sword
piercing Mary's soul; the Johannine passage relates
Jesus' words to Mary and to the beloved disciple.
Many early Church writers interpret the sword as Mary's sorrows,
especially as she saw Jesus die on the cross. Thus, the two passages are
brought together as prediction and fulfillment.
St. Ambrose (December7) in particular sees Mary as a sorrowful yet powerful figure at
the cross. Mary stood fearlessly at the cross while others fled. Mary looked on
her Son's wounds with pity, but saw in them the salvation of the world. As
Jesus hung on the cross, Mary did not fear to be killed but offered herself to
her persecutors.
Comment:
John's account of Jesus' death is highly symbolic.
When Jesus gives the beloved disciple to Mary, we are invited to appreciate
Mary's role in the Church: She symbolizes the Church; the beloved disciple
represents all believers. As Mary mothered Jesus, she is now mother to all his
followers. Furthermore, as Jesus died, he handed over his Spirit. Mary and the
Spirit cooperate in begetting new children of God—almost an echo of Luke's
account of Jesus' conception. Christians can trust that they will continue to
experience the caring presence of Mary and Jesus' Spirit throughout their lives
and throughout history.
Quote:
"At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword has passed."
(Stabat Mater)
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