Sep-15 Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

 September 15: Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15, the day after the feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross, to show the close connection between Jesus' Passion and Mother Mary's intense deep sufferings and sorrows. 

The principal biblical references to Mary’s sorrows are in Luke 2:35: “… and (he said to Mary) a sword will pierce through your own soul also that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”

The feast, also called "The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (Latin: Septem Dolorum Beatae Mariae Virginis), dates back to 1232 in Tuscany and the founding of the Servite Order. Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727.  In 1817 Pius VII — suffering grievously in exile in France but finally liberated by Mary's intercession — extended the feast to the universal Church. In 1913, Pope Pius X, in view of his reform giving precedence to Sundays over ordinary feasts, moved this feast to September 15, the day after the Feast of the Cross

Traditionally, the Seven Sorrows are:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:34-35): “And you yourself a sword will pierce” 

2. The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-21): “The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him’” 

3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem (Lk 2:41-50) : “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety’”

4. Mary's meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, the Fourth station of the Cross (Jn 19:17) : “And carrying the cross himself . . .” (Jn 19:17). “A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him” (Lk 23:27).

5. The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary (Jn 19:18-30): Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 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” 

6. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (Jn 19:39-40): After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body” 

7. The Burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea (Lk 23:55–56): “The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils” 

Focusing on the compassion of our Blessed Mother in 1980 Pope St. John Paul II, reminded the faithful, Mary Most Holy goes on being the loving consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows which afflict and torment humanity. She knows our sorrows and our pains, because she too suffered, from Bethlehem to Calvary. Mary is our Spiritual Mother, and the mother always understands her children and consoles them in their troubles. Then, she has that specific mission to love us, received from Jesus on the Cross, to love us only and always, so as to save us! Mary consoles us above all by pointing out the Crucified One and Paradise to us! 

We end with the prayer Stabat Mater, a hymn usually sung in Latin, telling of the sorrow of the Virgin Mary at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Here is the English translation:

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).