Our Lady of Sorrows

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When we think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we are glad to know that she is our mother as well. We often ponder the announcement of her pregnancy, her visitation to Elizabeth, the nativity of Jesus and what the wife of a 1st century carpenter would have been like.

But, today, we focus on another aspect of Mary's life, as we hold the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Reflecting on her sorrows is a good reminder to us that as a holy, human mother, she understands the challenges each of us goes through as parents.
 
When my children have faced struggles and I could not be with them, I offered them up to Mary's loving embrace, knowing that as our mother, she will always be present, especially when we cannot be.

Here is a list of her sorrows, which I offer you today to look over for your own reflection. Allow these sorrows to help you connect to Mary. I encourage you to pray as you do, perhaps repeating the Hail Mary prayer and asking Mary for the help you might need.

Look up the scripture passage associated with the sorrow and rest in it for awhile.

1) The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
2) The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-21)
3) The Loss of Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:41-50)
4) The Carrying of the Cross (John 19:17)
5) The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18-30)
6) Jesus Taken Down from the Cross (John 19:39-40)
7) Jesus Laid in the Tomb (John 19:39-42)

I selected this image because it reflects Mary a little older than the usual pictures we have of her, including the tears of a mother and the wounds to her heart.

Let us to remember to thank God for our holy, immaculate, mother.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.com

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