Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Father, as your Son was raised on the cross, his mother Mary stood by him, sharing his sufferings. May your Church be united with Christ in his suffering and death and so come to share in his rising to new life, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Daily Thought from The Saints
"Patience smooths away lots of.”
— St. John Bosco
Daily Scripture Verse
"How beautiful upon the Mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
Isaiah 52:7
Daily Meditation
"In this valley of tears, every Man is born to weep, and all must suffer, by enduring the evils that take Place every day. But how much greater would be the misery of life, if we also knew the Future evils that await us! ‘Unfortunate, indeed, would be the situation of someone who knows the Future’, says the pagan Roman philosopher Seneca; ‘He would have to suffer everything by anticipation.’ Our Lord shows us this Mercy. He conceals the trials that await us so that, whatever they May be, we May endure them only once. But he didn’t show Mary this compassion. God willed her to be the Queen of Sorrows, and in all things like his son. So she always had to see before her eyes, and continually to suffer, all the torments that awaited her. And these were the sufferings of the passion and death of her beloved Jesus. For in the temple, St. Simeon, having received the Divine Child in his arms, foretold to her that her son would be a sign for all the persecutions and oppositions of men. Jesus our King and his most holy mother didn’t refuse, for love of us, to suffer such cruel pains throughout their lives. So it is reasonable that we, at least, should not complain if we have to suffer something.”
— St. Alphonsus Liguori
Day by Day with Mary
Mary’s sorrow has made her not only the mother of Jesus, but also the mother of all her suffering children. She stood under the cross; she stands there still and looks into the eyes of those who are tempted to respond to their pain with revenge, retaliation, or despair. Her sorrow has made her heart a heart that embraces all her children, wherever they may be, and offers them maternal consolation and comfort.
Henri Nouwen
A Prayer from Notre Dame University
Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C.
God, grant us the patience to live as Our Lady of Sorrows did, a perfect model of hope at the foot of the cross. Thank you for providing us with such a profound example of love and acceptance of your will. We don’t have to bear our daily crosses alone, for you have given us your son, Jesus Christ, and his mother, Mary, to help us find our way. Please bless the Congregation of Holy Cross and all of its lay collaborators, benefactors, and friends as we celebrate our patroness today. Amen.