Suffering Servant <--> Mary?

[zgraf]

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back…
The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right…
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Today in Mass, the lector was proclaiming these words of the first reading, and was standing directly beneath a large statue of the Blessed Virgin.

That got me wondering, could any of the themes traditionally attributed to the “suffering servant” be applied to Mary also? Thoughts?

-john

 

[Ruthie_again]

I think they can. Not in a way that makes her another Jesus; she is not to be worshipped. But she certainly suffered, and she certainly served God!

I find the “Suffering Servant” thought to be a comfort when I am suffering. It helps me offer it up!

 

[nordskoven]

The Blessed Virgin Mary’s charism prophetically voiced by Simon, “pierced with a sword of sorrow that the thoughts of all may be revealed,” is a unique and horrific gift. We are all to unite our suffering with Christ’s suffering as part of the Body of Christ. It is something that is described by Paul, consecrating our suffering to perfect that of of Christ’s as part of the Body of Christ.

Yet here the Blessed Virgin is given a gift, a divinely-granted charism. Why? Mary Immaculate, sinless spouse of the Holy Spirit, was riven by that special suffering most like Christ’s, that of a wholly innocent person. Like the Good Thief, we may say we deserve to suffer and die. The Virgin Mary was like no other in her purity and unity with Christ’s innocent suffering. No suffering need be wasted, and the Virgin Mary’s is most richly blessed as most closely resembling that of the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ. May we avail ourselves of the fruits of this charism of the Virgin Mary, an endowment gained at such a devastating cost:

**Immaculate Heart, pierced with a sword of sorrow that the thoughts of all may be revealed, expose all thoughts; cleansing them in the abyss of love which is your Son Jesus Christ’s Sacred Heart. Thanks. AMEN **

 

[R_C]

The Blessed Virgin was the handmaid of the Lord, where handmaid is a kind name for servant. Which is why the prophet speaks these messianic words:

O Lord, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid

That our Mother suffered greatly - like the Son - is out of discussion. We honor her with the title of Mother of Sorrows and bring to mind the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Also in a booklet of the Way of the Cross have found the following psalm as a description of Mary encountering Jesus (4th Station of the Cross):

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Yes, even Scripture juxtaposes the solidarity of Mary’s suffering with Christ’s sacrifice:Luke 2:34-35 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”

 

[centurionguard]

Yes, even Scripture juxtaposes the solidarity of Mary’s suffering with Christ’s sacrifice:Luke 2:34-35 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

The Seven Dolors
DEVOTION APPROVED BY POPE PIUS VII IN 1815

catholictradition.org/Mary/7sorrows.htm