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We can trace devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows back to apostolic times. St.
John the Evangelist, whom we can consider as one of the first devotees of
the Mother of Sorrows, witnessed first-hand and then recorded in his
Gospel that Mary stood by the Cross of her Son (Jn 19:25). There on
Calvary the Blessed Mother suffered—overwhelmed with grief at seeing her
Son, who is also her God, die an agonizing death by crucifixion. At
the Presentation of the Infant Jesus at the Temple, Simeon prophesied that
Mary’s soul would be pierced by a sword so that the thoughts of many
hearts would be revealed (Lk 2:35). Mary, as the first and greatest
disciple of her Son, participated in a most deep and profound way in the
redemptive work of Our Lord.
Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows flowered during the Middle Ages.
The well-known medieval hymn Stabat Mater beautifully expresses this
devotion to the sorrowing Blessed Virgin Mary at Calvary:
At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Our Lady of Sorrows is traditionally depicted in art dressed in black
with seven swords piercing her heart. These seven swords symbolize the
chief seven sorrows of Our Lady’s life. Devotion to the Sorrows of Mary
gave rise to the figure in Christian art of the Pietà, the sorrowing
Mother holding the dead Body of her Son who has been taken down from the
Cross.
Different sorrows of Mary have been honored in the Church’s
history, but since the 14th century these seven have come to be regarded
as the seven dolors (sorrows) of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon.
2. The Flight into Egypt.
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days.
4. Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary.
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.
6. Jesus Taken Down from the Cross.
7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb.
Note the Christological and scriptural foundation of the devotion to the
Seven Sorrows of Mary.
By commemorating Our Lady of Sorrows, we call to mind the
sufferings that Mary endured as part of her vocation as the Mother of the
Redeemer. No one is closer to Christ than Mary, consequently no one has
participated more intimately in the redemptive suffering of Christ than
His Mother Mary.
Mary suffered because of her intimate union with Christ, on account
of our sins, and in behalf of her spiritual children. Devotion to the
Mother of Sorrows and the Seven Sorrows of Mary encourages us to flee from
sin and inflames our desire to do penance and make reparation so as to
console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Traditionally, many Catholics have
said every day seven Hail Marys in honor of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.
O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to
thee.
by John O’Connell
http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Faith/1998-03-04/sorrows.html |
