“Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus his Mother...” ~John 19:25Ave Maria! Today, Friday before Palm Sunday, in the Traditional Latin Mass we commemorate the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast is also celebrated on September 15.
A little note in my 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal notes that today's celebration "especially commemorates the Compassion of Mary."
The word "compassion" comes from the Latin: cum, meaning with, and pati, meaning to suffer.
Our Lady suffered with her Crucified Son. Mount Calvary was the culmination of all of her sufferings, seven of which are recalled in the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon, Lk 2:34-35
2. The Flight into Egypt, Mt 2:13-21
3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days, Lk 2:41-50
4. The Ascent to Calvary, Jn 19:17
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, Jn 19:18-30
6. Jesus Taken Down from the Cross, Jn 19:39-40
7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb, Jn 19:39-42
"Mount Calvary is the mount of lovers," St. Francis de Sales declared at the end of the Treatise on the Love of God (Book 12, Chapter 13). Mary suffered as any mother would suffer with her beloved child. But over and above, she suffered as a lover of God, a lover of the One whom He sent as Savior of the World. She suffered because of love, by love, for love, in love, and with love. Our Lady fully embraced Christ's suffering, His Life, Passion and Death, and entered so deeply into the mystery of Ineffable Love that she was consumed by It.
Incarnate Love lay down His life for us upon the Cross -- and there stood His Mother.
Mother of Sorrows, lead me to the Cross that I might forever stand there with you. Amen.
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