Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday in Passion Week, March 27

 We must recall to our minds this great truth: that God, in the designs of his infinite wisdom, has willed that Mary should have a share in the work of the world's Redemption. The mystery of the present Feast is one of the applications of this Divine law, a law which reveals to us the whole magnificence of God's Plan

THE SEVEN DOLOURS OF OUR LADY.

~ Dom Gueranger, Liturgical Year, Passiontide and Holy Week, edited.

This Friday of Passion Week is consecrated, in a special manner, to the sufferings which the Holy Mother of God endured at the foot of the Cross. The whole of next week is fully taken up with the celebration of the mysteries of Jesus' Passion; and, although the remembrance of Mary's share in those sufferings is often brought before the Faithful during Holy Week, yet, the thought of what her Son, our Divine Redeemer, goes through for our salvation, so absorbs our attention and love, that it is not then possible to honor, as it deserves, the sublime mystery of the Mother's Com-passion. It was but fitting, therefore, that one day in the year should be set apart for this sacred duty; and what day could be more appropriate, than the Friday of this Week?

That we may clearly understand the object of this Feast, and spend it, as the Church would have us do, in paying due honor to the Mother of God and of men, — we must recall to our minds this great truth: that God, in the designs of his infinite wisdom, has willed that Mary should have a share in the work of the world's Redemption. The mystery of the present Feast is one of the applications of this Divine law, a law which reveals to us the whole magnificence of God's Plan; it is also, one of the many realizations of the prophecy, that Satan's pride was to be crushed by a Woman. In the work of our Redemption, there are three interventions of Mary, that is, she is thrice called upon to take part in what God himself did. The first of these was in the Incarnation of the Word, who takes not Flesh in her virginal womb until she has given her consent to become his Mother; and this she gave by that solemn Fiat which blessed the world with a Saviour. The second was in the sacrifice which Jesus consummated on Calvary, where she was present that she might take part in the expiatory offering. The third was on the day of Pentecost, when she received the Holy Ghost, as did the Apostles, in order that she might effectively labor in the establishment of the Church. We have already explained on the Feast of the Annunciation, the share Mary had in that wonderful mystery of the Incarnation, which God wrought for his own glory and for man's redemption and sanctification. 

… We meet Mary, then, at the foot of the Cross, there to witness the death of her Son. He is soon to be separated from her. In three hours' time, all that will be left her of this beloved Jesus will be a lifeless- Body, wounded from head to foot. Our words are too cold for such a scene as this: let us listen to those of St. Bernard, which the Church has inserted in her Matins of this Feast. “O Blessed Mother, a sword of sorrow pierced thy soul, and we may “well call thee more than Martyr, for the intensity “of thy compassion surpassed all that a bodily passion “could produce. Could any sword have made thee “smart so much as that word which pierced thy heart, " reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit? “Woman, behold thy son!” What an exchange! — John, for Jesus, the servant for the Lord, the disciple for the Master, the son of Zebedee for the Son of God! A mere man, for the very God! “Thy most loving heart was pierced with the sound of these words, when even ours, that are hard as stone and steel, break down "as we think of them! Ah! My Brethren, be not surprised when you are told that Mary was a Martyr in her soul. Let him alone be surprised, who has forgotten that St. Paul counts it as one of "the greatest sins of the Gentiles, that they were "without affection.” Who could say that of Mary? God forbid it be said of us, the servants of Mary! (Sermon On the Twelve Stars.)

Amidst the shouts and insults vociferated by the enemies of Jesus, her last and fondest look at her Jesus, her own dearest Jesus, tells her that he is suffering a burning thirst, and she cannot give him to drink! His eyes grow dim; his head droops; — all is consummated! Mary cannot leave the Cross; love brought her thither; love keeps her there, whatever may happen! A soldier advances near that hallowed spot; she sees him lift up his spear, and thrust it through the breast of the sacred Corpse. "Ah," cries out St. Bernard, “that thrust is through thy soul, O Blessed Mother!” It could but open his side, but it pierced thy very soul. His Soul was not there; but thine was."

 Now, in all this, there is another mystery besides that of Mary's sufferings. Her sorrows at the Foot of the Cross include and imply a truth, which we must not pass by, or we shall not understand the full beauty of today's Feast. Why would God have her assist in person at such a scene as this of Calvary? Why was not she, as well as Joseph, taken out of this world before this terrible day of Jesus' Death? — Because God had assigned her a great office for that day, and it was to be under the Tree of the Cross that she, the second Eve, was to discharge her office. As the heavenly Father had waited for her consent before he sent his Son into the world; so, likewise, he called for her obedience and devotedness, when the hour came for that Son to be offered up in sacrifice for the world's Redemption. Was not Jesus her Child, her own and dearest treasure? And yet, God gave him not to her, until she had assented to become his Mother; in like manner, he would not take him from her, unless she gave him back.

But, see what this involved, see what a struggle it entailed upon this most loving Heart! It is the injustice, the cruelty, of men that rob her of her Son; how can she, his Mother, ratify, by her consent, the Death of Him, whom she loved with a twofold love, — as her Son, and as her God? But, on the other hand, — if Jesus be not put to death, the human race is left a prey to Satan, sin is not atoned for, and all the honors and joys of her being Mother of God are of no use or blessing to us. This Virgin of Nazareth, this noblest heart, this purest creature, whose affections were never blunted with the selfishness which so easily makes its way into souls that have been wounded by original sin, — what shall she do ? Her devotedness to mankind, her conformity with the will of her Son who so vehemently desires the world's salvation, lead her, a second time, to pronounce the solemn Fiat: — she consents to the immolation of her Son. It is not God's justice that takes him from her; it is she herself that gives him up; — but, in return, she is raised to a degree of greatness, which her humility could never have suspected was to be hers an ineffable union is made to exist between the two offerings, that of the Incarnate Word and that of Mary; the Blood of the Divine Victim, and the Tears of the Mother, flow together for the redemption of mankind.

We can now understand the conduct and the courage of this Mother of Sorrows. Does her matchless grief overpower her? Does she swoon? Or fall? No: the Evangelist says: “There stood by the Cross of Jesus, his Mother." The sacrificing Priest stands, when offering at the altar; Mary stood for such a sacrifice as hers was to be. St. Ambrose thus speaks of her position at the foot of the Cross: “She stood opposite the Cross, gazing, " with maternal love, on the wounds of her Son; and “thus she stood, not waiting for her Jesus to die, but “for the world to be saved."

Thus, this Mother of Sorrows, when standing on Calvary, blessed us who deserved but maledictions; she loved us; she sacrificed her Son for our salvation. In spite of all the feelings of her maternal heart, she gave back to the Eternal Father the divine treasure he had entrusted to her keeping. The sword pierced through and through her soul, — but we were saved; and she, though a mere creature, cooperated with her Son in the work of our salvation. Can we wonder, after this, that Jesus chose this moment for the making her the Mother of men, in the person of John the Evangelist, who represented us?  From that time forward, therefore, let this second Eve be the true Mother of the living! For time and eternity, Mary will extend to us the love she has borne for her Son, for she has just heard him saying to her that we are her children. He is our Lord, for he has redeemed us; she is our Lady, for she generously co-operated in our redemption.

Animated by this confidence, O Mother of Sorrows we come before thee, on this Feast of thy Dolours, to offer thee our filial love. O Queen of Mercy! O Refuge of Sinners! O untiring Advocate for us in all our miseries! Deign, sweet Mother, to watch over us, during these days of grace. Give us to feel and relish the Passion of thy Son. It was consummated in thy presence; thine own share in it was magnificent! Make us enter into all its mysteries that so our souls, redeemed by the Blood of thy Son, and helped by thy Tears, may be thoroughly converted to the Lord and persevere, henceforward, faithful in his service.