"The Sorrowful Mother stood"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday I began a thread pondering the Lenten Hymn "Stabat Mater’ (roughly translated as “The sorrowful Mother stood”) and posted a link to the 20 verses hoping to post each day a verse or two from yesterday on to Holy Saturday. Today I’ll add the next two verses to the one I posted yesterday:

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 blest,
Of the sole begotten One!

How many Catholics have sung that hymn! How many of us have pondered the words and sought the Holy Spirit’s help to unite ourselves with the sufferings of Jesus and Mary? I wonder how many of us stand with Mary (in our hearts and minds) at the Consecration of each Mass and offer ourselves, with Jesus and Mary. I wonder how many of us are willing to die to ourselves to live, remaining in Jesus, as Mary did on this earth both before and after His Death and Resurrection.

Mary shared all His bitter anguish – how often have I turned from suffering to seek my own comfort? How willing am I to have my own heart pierced and emptied of self-love? Am I truly and deeply "sad and sore distressed " to see Jesus suffering in others? How can I say I love God if I do not love my brothers and sisters?

Come, Holy Spirit, help me to open my heart wide to receive the graces I need as we come close to the end of this season of Lent. As we approach Holy Week, help us to continue hearing Jesus tell us, as He told John:

Behold your Mother

 

[Peonies]

It is very hard to ponder what the Blessed Mother went through in watching her Son suffer on the cross. Her anguish must have been extremely difficult to bear.

I do have a devotion to the Sorrowful Mother. In praying the rosary of the seven dolors, I’ve asked Mary to consider each Hail Mary a comforting hug. I should make time to do that more often.

@MariaChristi Your post was very thought provoking. I am glad you shared this.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Peonies,

Thanks for your “heart” letting me know you liked the post, but even more for your reply which lets me know you love our Blessed Mother. In today’s culture, Mary is not loved as much as in former times and I believe satan’s lies have succeeded with some among us who have come to think Mary is not that important. God help us! How can people think that way when God Himself told satan in the Garden of Eden:

I will put enmity between you and the Woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel. (Gen 3:15)

Some translations differ but this translation from the USCCB has the plural “They” which I hear as the New Adam, Jesus, and the New Eve, Mary. I also hear in that plural “They” all those baptized into the Body of Christ, for by God’s Grace we too are called to defeat satan.

Thank you for wanting to ponder the great gift of Mary whom Jesus gave to us to be our Mother and Model for the Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church so beautifully teaches in paragraph 971:

II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

971 “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs… This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

The word “intrinsic” is significant - meaning “essential”!!! We cannot do without Mary whom God chose from the beginning. We cannot worship God truly if we dishonor her, ignore her, or consider her less than the Holy Mother of God – never equal to God but His humble handmaid, whom He has made holy and above all the angels and saints. In loving her, we imitate God who loved her first and continues to love her for all eternity.

Thanks again for loving her who loves us all so much she gave herself completely to the Father’s Will standing at the Cross of Jesus.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear “Disorienting Sneeze” and Mark,

Thank you both for your “hearts” to let me know you liked the post. Thank you for the love of Mary which prompted you to read and agree with the need we all have to Love and honor our Mother more. Please let us pray for one another and for the Church, that we may look to Mary and learn from her as she kept all Jesus said and did, pondering all in her heart.

Beholding our Mother, may we learn from her, as she learned from Jesus. May we stand with her on Calvary, keeping our eyes on Him. Thanks again.