On September 15th, the Catholic Church honored Mary as “Our Lady of Sorrows.” When we are suffering, and especially when we are grieving the death of a loved one, such as the loss of an unborn child through abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth, we can join our sorrows with those of Mary at the foot of the Cross.
When Jesus Christ suffered and died for our salvation, He did not suffer alone. Those who loved Him suffered along with Him. The Gospel according to John tells us that there were three people in particular who stayed with Jesus during His Crucifixion: St. John, St. Mary Magdalene, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. John and Mary Magdalene were disciples of the Lord, chosen, in different ways, to follow Him and to help spread His Gospel to the world after His death and resurrection. But Mary was more than a disciple: she was also His Mother. Any mother would grieve the loss of her child — how much more would Mary grieve the death of her Divine Son, the absolutely pure and holy Son of God? So when we are suffering, let’s not try to “handle it alone.” Go to Mary, and contemplate her at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. Unite your sorrows with hers, and ask her to help you to come through your sorrows, like she did, to the joy of the Resurrection!
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