Our Lady of Sorrows

Today, the Church invites us to contemplate the heart of Mary, pierced with sorrow yet steadfast in faith. Placed right after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, this celebration reminds us that Mary did not run from the Cross of her Son but stood firm beneath it, sharing in His suffering with love and courage.

Devotion to Mary’s sorrows began in the 13th century with the Servite Order, which encouraged the faithful to meditate on her grief. Not to dwell in sadness, but to learn how sorrow, when united with Christ, becomes redemptive. Mary’s tears are not of despair but of love, a love that suffers with and for the beloved.

The Church highlights seven sorrows in particular:
1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25–35)
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15)
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–50)
4. Mary meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary (Luke 23:27–31)
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:25–30)
6. The body of Jesus placed in Mary’s arms (Luke 23:55–56)
7. The burial of Jesus (Luke 23:55–56)

Each sorrow shows us Mary’s deep union with her Son. She teaches us that love often costs something; that to truly follow Christ, we must be ready to carry the cross with Him. Yet she also teaches us hope: that what Jesus touches, He transforms. Just as He turned the Cross from shame into salvation, so too He can turn our sorrows into sources of grace.

Friends, when life pierces our hearts with suffering, let us look to Our Lady of Sorrows. She understands. She walks with us. She reminds us that suffering is never the end, for beyond the Cross lies resurrection, and beyond sorrow lies joy.

O Mother of Sorrows, faithful at the foot of the Cross, teach us to stand firm in faith when trials come. Help us to unite our sufferings with Christ, and may our hearts, like yours, be transformed into fountains of compassion, love, and hope. Amen.