Letter from the Pastor
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September 15, 2024As in last Sunday, today is a feast day concerning our Blessed Lady. Last week we celebrated her birthday, and today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. This feast follows the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14th). However, since it falls on a Sunday, the feast is not observed this year.
Devotion to the Sorrows of our Lady originated in the German-speaking lands of Europe in the early 15th-century partly out of the popular devotion to every aspect of Christ’s Passion, including His Mother’s compassion.
The feast was known by several different titles, and kept on a wide variety of dates, usually before or just after Easter. Before the name “Seven Sorrows” became common, it was most often called “the feast of the Virgin’s Compassion.”
In fact, there were two different feast days of Our Lady of Sorrows. The second feast of the Seven Sorrows was promulgated in 1668 as the Patronal feast of the Servite Order, which was founded in the mid-13th century by seven noblemen from Florence. They received apparitions from Our Lady asking them to promote her seven sorrows, which are:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon.
2. The Flight into Egypt.
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
4. The Meeting of Mary and Jesus as He Carries the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.
6. The Removal of Christ’s Body from the Cross.
7. The Burial of Christ.
In the late thirteenth century, the traditional hymn, Stabat Mater (Standing Mother), was composed and quickly became well known. This prayer emphasizes the deep sorrow in Mary’s Heart as she stood before the Cross with tremendous strength and motherly compassion for her Son.
Our Blessed Lady continues being the loving consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows, which afflict and torment people. She knows our sorrows and our pains, because she too suffered, from Bethlehem to Calvary.
As we honor the Blessed Mother’s Sorrowful Heart, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between a sorrow and sadness. Sadness results from a form of self-pity, or an unhealthy attachment to some lost “thing”. Sorrow is one of the Beatitudes, and therefore one of the holiest qualities we can possess. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” To “mourn” is to have a sorrowful heart, a heart that loves. She reacted to her Son’s Passion with compassionate love.She felt holy sorrow—not so much because she felt bad for her Son, but because she grieved over the sins of humanity that caused that suffering.As we think about the Sorrowful Heart of Mary, it is an important opportunity to reflect upon your own sorrow or sadness. Is our sorrow self-centered, dwelling over the wounds you feel? Or is it selfless sorrow extended to others, grieving in a holy way over the sins you witness? When our sorrow is holy, we are filled with compassion. The Blessed Mother, suffered with her Son, but she rejoiced when He appeared to her on that first Easter Sunday. All our sorrows will turn to joy as well.
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us all!