Last Sunday was the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. If you haven't heard of Our Lady under the title "of Sorrows", here is one that will pierce your own heart. A devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is a way of meditating on Mary's experience as a mother in these mysteries of Christ's life. There is a "Seven Sorrows" prayer, much like the stations of the Cross, which I'd highly encourage you to pray or at least read over if you have the chance.
But what does this mean for us, this devotion? What can we learn from this Sorrowful Mother of Christ's and ours?
One thing is, even should we God-willing never have to experience the depth of sorrow that this beautiful Mother experienced, Mary teaches us how to embrace suffering. Suffering is an inescapable part of this life, at times deeper and more heart-wrenching suffering, and more often the tedious annoyances and inconveniences, or "pinpricks", of daily life. Father Jacques Philippe, in his book Interior Freedom, wrote regarding suffering, "we need to develop this kind of realism and, once and for all, stop dreaming of a life without suffering or conflict. That is the life of heaven, not earth. We must take up our cross and follow Christ courageously every day; the bitterness of that cross will sooner or later be transformed into sweetness." (49)
This is the secret Mary knew. She knew that Christ was not only present in every one of these mysteries, but she knew that Christ would in fact use every pinprick or sword that pierces our hearts as a means to mature, purify, and redeem us. Saint Paul writes that "this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Mary understood this, and teaches us how to embrace suffering. Mary, who not only knew the prophecies about her suffering Son, but heard them from the lips of Simeon as she was holding her little baby in her arms; Mary who had to flea to Egypt and live as a refugee to save her newborn Son's life; Mary who watched her Son be tortured, mocked, and killed, who never left His side, never lost her faith in His Word...this Mother will teach you and me how to embrace the sufferings or inconveniences and annoyances of our daily lives.
Ask Mary to show you how you can love Jesus courageously in your daily life.
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