Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Lk 2: 33-35
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Treasure the Message of Hope
How did Mary feel in this moment, as she heard more about her son’s important role and the suffering that would come along with it? This is one of many instances around the birth of Jesus that must have filled her with wonder and awe, and perhaps fear, too. Luke’s Gospel tells us, later in this chapter, that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51), and we can imagine her praying and meditating on these words as Jesus grew.
In today’s first reading, Paul writes, “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Let us remember, as we pray with Our Lady of Sorrows, that we have also received this important message: that Christ died and rose again, and that even in our sorrow, we can treasure this message of hope in Christ’s resurrection.
—Beth Franzosa is a Religious Studies teacher and the Director of Adult Formation at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis.
Prayer
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.
—Excerpt from the Stabat Mater Sequence for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows