Our Lady of Sorrows - September 15

I wanted to post something about Our Lady of Sorrows yesterday, but we had some internet problems and were "off line" nearly all day - so, a day late...

Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady has its roots in Sacred Scripture and in Christian piety, which always associates the Blessed Mother with her suffering Son. The memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows was introduced by the Servites in order to intensify devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows.  In 1817 Pius VII — suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession — extended the feast to the universal Church.

This memorial dates back to the 12th century.  It was especially promoted by the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church.  In 1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of "Our Lady of Compassion."  Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727 on the Friday before Palm Sunday.  In 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date on September 15.  The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" focuses on Mary's intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ.  "The Seven Dolors," the title by which it was celebrated in the 17th century, referred to the seven swords that pierced the Heart of Mary.  The memorial is like an octave for the birthday of Our Lady on September 8th. — Excerpted from Our Lady of Sorrows by Fr. Paul Haffner (Inside the Vatican, September 2004)

 

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus.  In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance.  

Reflecting on this memorial at Mass yesterday, I shared this thought: How could Mary be a co-Redeemer with Christ?  Remember that redemption was won through Christ's Sacrifice (and victory) on the Cross.  Mary, standing at the foot of the Cross, connected her suffering to that of her Son.  And because Mary was holy, she was able to love perfectly - which enabled her to offer and connect her sufferings to Christ in a way no one else can.  

May the numerous tears of the Mother of God be conducive to our salvation; with which tears Thou, O God, art able to wash away the sins of the whole world.

As Mary stood at the foot of the Cross on which Jesus hung, the sword of sorrow Simeon had foretold pierced her soul. Below are the seven sorrows of Mary:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)