Our Lady of Sorrows

In the prophecy given to Mary by Simeon at the temple, it was foretold that "a sword shall pierce your heart too". This prophecy implied that another heart had already been pierced. Standing at the foot of the cross, witnessing Jesus' pierced body, it became clear to Mary that Jesus’ heart was the first to be pierced. The profound pain of torture and suffering pierced Mary's heart.

Mother Mary endured many sorrowful experiences in her life, perhaps more than most of us. These included being an unwed mother, fleeing to Egypt, losing her child, her son's crucifixion, and finally, holding her son's lifeless body in her lap. The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows doesn't simply highlight Mary's grief over tragic events. Instead, its central message is to show us how she navigated sorrow in her life.

Firstly, Mary never allowed her circumstances to become an excuse for sin. In difficult times, people often make excuses, grumble, argue, curse, fight, or even resort to violence. Consider the simple example of unappetising food: some complain, others argue with the cook. While we can try to change such situations, why do we let them lead to sin? It is important to note that May stood by the cross, knelt before her God. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone and anything.

Secondly, Saint Ambrose depicted Mary as a sorrowful yet immensely powerful woman at the foot of the cross. Mary stood fearlessly while others fled, because she believed in God's plans. Believing in God's plans and power is an act of faith. Having faith allows divine grace to flow into our lives.

Our lives, whether in families, communities, or societies, are a mix of joys and sorrows. We readily accept happiness, but how do we face sorrows and misfortunes? These sorrows can arise from relational friction, doubts, misunderstandings, failures, accidents, or the death of a loved one. In response, we sometimes punish ourselves or others, even to the point of self-harm or violence. Mary is an example for us. Mary intimately participated in Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Life's trials, when met with hope, can strengthen what is best within us. Thus, Mary was never shattered. The essence of this feast is not merely to acknowledge her sorrows, but to emphasize that she stood firm with her God in the face of them.

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