From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Putting our Entire Trust in God  [IV]   
      
   The witness of men is often false, but my judgement is true : it shall   
   stand, and shall not be set aside. It is hidden from many, and   
   revealed in its fullness only to few. Nevertheless, even though it may   
   appear unjust to the foolish, it does not and cannot err. Therefore,   
   always come to Me for justice, and put no trust in personal opinions.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 46   
      
   ============   
   September 15th - Mother of Sorrows   
      
   Also known as:• Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens• Beata Vergine Addolorata•   
   Dolorosa• Maria Santissima Addolorata• Mater Dolorosa• Our Lady of the   
   Seven Dolours• Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows• Sorrowful Mother.   
      
    This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of   
   God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus.   
   In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil   
   of sin and shows us the way of true repentance. May the numerous tears   
   of the Mother of God be conducive to our salvation; with which tears   
   Thou, O God, art able to wash away the sins of the whole world. This   
   feast dates back to the 12th century. It was especially promoted by   
   the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th   
   centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. In   
   1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of “Our Lady of   
   Compassion.” Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727   
   on the Friday before Palm Sunday. In 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date   
   on September 15. The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” focuses on Mary’s   
   intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ. “The Seven   
   Dolors,” the title by which it was celebrated in the 17th century,   
   referred to the 7 swords that pierced the Heart of Mary. The feast is   
   an octave for the birthday of Our Lady on September 8th.   
      
   The Seven Sorrows:   
   • The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus (Luke 2:34)   
   • The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family (Matthew 2:13)   
   • The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:43)   
   • The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross (Luke 23:26)   
   • The Crucifixion, where Mary stands at the foot of the cross (John 19:25)   
   • The Descent from the Cross, where Mary receives the dead body of   
   Jesus in her arms (Matthew 27:57)   
   • The Burial of Jesus (John 19:40)   
      
   The day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Holy   
   Mother Church has us look at Christ’s Mother beneath the Cross.  The   
   voice of the liturgy invites us to consider her sorrow: “Ó all ye who   
   pass by the way, attend and see if there be any sorrow like to my   
   sorrow.” Above all, this solemn day shows us Mary on Calvary and   
   reminds us of that supreme sorrow among all the sorrows that ran   
   through the life of Our Lady. The Church gave this feast the title of   
   Seven Sorrows because this number (7) expresses the idea of totality   
   and universality.   
      
   As the octave of the Nativity of Our Lady ends, the consideration of   
   her suffering would not normally come to the mind of the faithful. But   
   if someone would ask about the future of this child, we would recall   
   that before being proclaimed blessed by all nations, Mary would suffer   
   with her Son for the salvation of the world.   
      
   The sorrow of Our Lady is a work of God. He was the One who destined   
   her to be the Mother of His Son. Therefore, He indissolubly united her   
   to the Person, life, mysteries and sufferings of Jesus in order to   
   make her His faithful companion in the work of Redemption. Suffering   
   has to be a great gift, because God gave it to His Son and to the   
   creature He loves more than any other after Him, Our Lady. He gave it   
   as a most precious gift.   
      
   For Mary the suffering did not start at Calvary, but with Jesus, “that   
   incommodious child,” as Bossuet called Him, because wherever He went,   
   He entered with His Cross and with His thorns which He distributes to   
   those He loves.   
      
   The prophecy of the aged Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of   
   the Divine Child in Jerusalem, to see her Son carrying the Cross, His   
   Crucifixion, the taking down from the Cross, and the burial of Jesus:   
   these are the 7 mysteries into which are grouped the almost infinite   
   sufferings which made Our Lady the Queen of Martyrs, the first and   
   loveliest rose in the garden of the Spouse.   
      
   To understand the extent and intensity of the suffering of Our Lady,   
   we need to understand the extent and intensity of her love for Jesus   
   because her love increased her suffering. Nature and grace concurred   
   to produce in Mary’s heart profound impressions. Nothing is stronger   
   by nature than the love a mother has for her son, and by grace the   
   love one has for God.   
      
   St. Bernard wrote, “Truly, O Blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your   
   heart…. He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known.   
   She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since His”. (De   
   duodecim praerogatativs BVM).   
      
   Focusing on the compassion of our Blessed Mother, St Pope John Paul   
   II, reminded the faithful, “Mary Most Holy goes on being the loving   
   consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows which   
   afflict and torment humanity. She knows our sorrows and our pains   
   because she too suffered, from Bethlehem to Calvary. ‘And they soul   
   too a sword shall pierce.’ Mary is our Spiritual Mother and the mother   
   always understands her children and consoles them in their troubles.   
   Then, she has that specific mission to love us, received from Jesus on   
   the Cross, to love us only and always, so as to save us! Mary consoles   
   us above all by pointing out the Crucified One and Paradise to us!”   
   (1980).   
      
   Therefore, as we honour our Blessed Mother, our Lady of Sorrows, we   
   honour her as the faithful disciple and exemplar of faith. Let us pray   
   as we do in the opening prayer of the Mass for this feast day:   
   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. Looking to the example of Mary, may we too unite our sufferings   
   to our Lord, facing them with courage, love and trust.   
      
   Patronages – Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers, Congregation of   
   the Holy Cross, Slovakia, Mississippi, USA, 13 cities. Attributes –   
   heart surrounded by a wreath of roses and transfixed by a sword• heart   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)