Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa - Mother of Sorrows) became widespread in the Church around the 14th century. It was revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) that devotion to Our Lady's Seven Sorrows would bring great graces. Mary, in a unique way, willingly suffered alongside her Divine Son as he gave his life to save the world, and she felt the bitterness of his passion as only a mother can. This devotion is especially remembered during September, the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows, and during the season of Lent. The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Prophecy of Simeon, the Flight into Egypt, the Loss of Jesus for Three Days, the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus Being Taken Down from the Cross, and Jesus Laid in the Tomb. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) is September 15th.
† Quote of the Day ""If we have any distinct concept of blessedness connected with mourning, it could likely have been that it is a blessed thing to be rid of it. Are not mourners by widely accepted definition the unhappy ones? Obviously, if a mourner is blessed, then it has to mean that he is blessed to have gotten out of this painful predicament, to have escaped from this sorrowful situation, to have fended off suffering. And so we might well have written the third Beatitude like this: Blessed are they who enjoy the comfort of not having anything to mourn about. But then we run up against the hard fact that this is just not what Christ said...We shall have to deal with the words that our blessed Savior uttered and not with the words that we think He ought to have uttered." —Mother Francis, PCC, p.36
An excerpt from Blessed Are You Today's Meditation ""I see clearly with the interior eye, that the sweet God loves with a pure love the creature that He has created, and has a hatred for nothing but sin, which is more opposed to Him than can be thought or imagined." -St. Catherine of Genoa Daily Verse "Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to thy word! Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me. I cleave to thy testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of thy commandments when thou enlargest my understanding!" -Psalm 119:27-32 | St Catherine Of Genoa St. Catherine (1447–1510) was born into an aristocratic family in Genoa, Italy. She was a quiet, obedient, physically beautiful, and holy child who devoted herself to prayer and penance. At the age of 13 she made an attempt to enter a convent, but was rejected. At the age of 16 she consented to a marriage arranged by her family for political and financial gain. Her husband was faithless and violent, and their marriage was miserable. Catherine did not bear any children, and for the first five years lived as a hermit in her fine home. After this time, upon her family's rebuke of her solitude, she began to engage in the kind of social activity expected for her state in life. This only increased her weariness and depression, and led to the loss of her religious fervor. Catherine prayed earnestly for assistance in her trouble. Taking the advice of her sister, who was a nun, Catherine went to confession, and through the sacrament had a profound mystical experience in which she clearly saw the depth of her sinfulness contrasted with the depth of God's love. From that point on she renewed her commitment to rigorous prayer, penance, and works of mercy, and God continued to favor her with mystical visions. Catherine later won the conversion of her husband, and they were received into the Third Order of St. Francis. Together they cared for the poor and sick in the Genoa hospital, over which Catherine became administrator. St. Catherine's mystical visions were recorded by her confessor toward the end of her life, the most famous being her Treatise of Purgatory. Her feast day is celebrated on September 15th. | Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows • Readings for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows Reading 1 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Beloved:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.
This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God.
There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time.
For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 28:2, 7, 8-9 R. (6) Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.
Hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you,
lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine. R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.
The LORD is my strength and my shield.
In him my heart trusts, and I find help;
then my heart exults, and with my song I give him thanks. R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.
The LORD is the strength of his people,
the saving refuge of his anointed.
Save your people, and bless your inheritance;
feed them, and carry them forever!
R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer. Sequence (Optional) — Stabat Mater 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 had passed. Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole begotten One! Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son. Is there one who would not weep,
'Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold? Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that mother's pain untold? Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent. For the sins of his own nation
Saw him hang in desolation
Till his spirit forth he sent. O sweet Mother! font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord. Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord. Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified. Let me share with you his pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died. Let me mingle tears with you,
Mourning him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live. By the cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give. Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine. Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours. Wounded with his every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In his very Blood away. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In his awful judgment day. Christ, when you shall call me hence,
Be your Mother my defense,
Be your cross my victory. While my body here decays,
May my soul your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally.
Amen. (Alleluia) Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 19:25-27 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. or Luke 2:33-35
Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: John 19:25-27 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother . . . (John 19:25) In 1814, Pope Pius VII established the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which we celebrate today. This feast commemorates the union of Mary's heart with the heart of her Son. Through this union, Mary experienced the sorrows of Jesus' entire mission and, in a particular way, as she remained "standing by the cross," she shared in the suffering of his passion and death (John 19:25). Have you ever seen a picture of Mary, with seven swords piercing her heart? St. Luke tells us that when Mary and Joseph went to present Jesus in the Temple, Simeon prophesied that "a sword [would] pierce" Mary's heart (2:35). The seven swords in this image represent the "piercings" and reflect the Seven Sorrows of Mary: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of Jesus in the Temple, Mary meeting Jesus on the road to Calvary, Mary at the crucifixion, Mary receiving her son's body, and Jesus' burial. In today's Gospel, we find Mary standing by the cross and watching as Jesus dies in agony. From the cross, Jesus sees his mother and John, his disciple, beside her. He tells his mother, "Woman, behold, your son" and tells John, "Behold, your mother" (John 19:26, 27). Through these words, Mary became our Mother of Sorrows. In the same way that Mary stood beside Jesus, she now stands beside you. If your marriage is in trouble, if your child has abandoned her faith, if you are experiencing financial hardship, if a parent is dying at the hospital—whatever sorrow you are facing, you are not alone. Mary is with you. So take heart! Just as Mary shared Jesus' suffering, your heavenly Mother shares your suffering, too. She is there to help you with her prayers and her words of comfort. Loving mother that she is, Mary gathers all your needs and presents them to Jesus in heaven. As she interceded to him on behalf of the married couple at Cana, she now intercedes for you (John 2:3). So ask for Mary's help, and know that she will never abandon you. "Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!" 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Psalm 28:2, 7-9 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."...." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez: "This teaches us that suffering, lived with love and faith, can be fruitful. From Mary's pain springs the spiritual motherhood of the whole Church. From Christ's sacrifice springs the salvation of the world. How many times can our crosses, united to that of Jesus, also be a source of life for others? Pain accepted in faith is not sterile: it can be redemptive, it can generate new life.
Let us look at Mary today at the foot of the cross and learn to stand firm in trials. Let us welcome her as a mother in our lives. She comforts us, protects us, and teaches us to follow Jesus faithfully. And let us remember that our sufferings, united to Christ, can also be a place of fruitfulness and hope for the world. Mary, sorrowful Mother,
You who stood by the cross,
Teach us to stand firm in the faith
when the evidence arrives.
You who were given as a mother to the disciples,
Accept today as your children
and always lead us to your Son Jesus.
Grant that our sufferings, united to the cross of Christ,
become a source of life and hope for all.
Amen..." end quote.
From Bishop Barron:
"Immaculate Mary, the Mother of God, assumed body and soul into heaven, is not of merely historical or theoretical interest, nor is she simply a spiritual exemplar. Instead, as "Queen of all the saints" (another of her titles), Mary is an ongoing presence, an actor in the life of the Church. In entrusting Mary to John, Jesus was, in a real sense, entrusting Mary to all those who would be friends of Jesus down through the ages."
They say Mother Mary suffered tremendously on earth, ever since the Christ's birth. Already, before He was born, they had to be on pilgrimage. Already, there would be rejections, no room for them, the Holy Family. Already, as He was born, before He was born, King Herod asked for his location so he could "take care of this nuisance" that threatened his power.
Already, our Lord as a toddler had to "go on the run" to save their lives. Pains. Pains all the time. Hardships, all the time.
Mother Mary suffered all of these things and was warned of all these things as what should've been the most glorious moment of the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple. But no, Simeon foretold that sword was going to pierce her heart, as if it had not already. And we know the rest of the story, that leads up to the death of our Lord on the cross, when a cross pierced her heart, the love of her life, Jesus, the Christ, flesh of her flesh.
And we would think that today, as we speak, everything is ok with her in Heaven. It is NOT. She still suffers. I have a statue at my house of the Blessed Mother, and it has tears that formed before Covid. And the tears are back. Sometimes, some days more than others. Jesus suffers still. Why? How? We are the body. We suffer, and so our Lord suffers. And because Jesus suffers, Mother Mary suffers. And she suffers tremendously, for who likes to see their child suffer? NOBODY. It is one of the worst pains, amen?
Today, is Our Lady of Sorrows day.
I was in Mass before writing, and a sad thought hit me, a worrisome one and you will be thrown aback by it, but we must consider it: "what if there is free will in Heaven?" Where has free will got us today? Was not the prince of lights, a tremendous super angel in Heaven, was he not using free will? Then, how can we stand a chance at remaining true and loyal and faithful to God our Father, always?
We are created different. Take heart. If God is with us, who can be against us? If God is in us, why should there be any other way, of loving, living, and being? Mother Mary, hide us in the mantle of your divine Holy Will and love of God. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 30:4 "Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name."
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