Our Lady of Sorrows

Note: This is our 4,000th  post!

 Luke 2: 33-35

A Sword of Sorrow

Jesus' father and mother were amazed  at was said about him. ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Without going into detail, these two verses foretell the sorrows of Mary and serve as the basis of this Memorial and popular devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.  God knows our lives are filled with sorrow, some more intense than others, some experienced personally, or in union with a family member, a friend, or the world in general. Sorrow is part of the human condition and Mary was not exempt from it, rather she experienced it more keenly and accepted it in union with the suffering of her Son for our salvation.  We have the saying,  that greater love has no one except that they lay down their life for another...and that goes for suffering as well. Mary did not die on the cross, but seeing her Son die was like her own death.  She can identify with our sorrows, is the Mother of Sorrows, and our Hope that these sorrows will not have been experienced in vain. . There is joy beyond sorrow.

Bro. Rene.