The Seven Sorrows of Mary

     I take it upon myself to try to be led by God in all I say and do. Many times I ignore our Lord and do not listen to His leading voice. I speak when I should be silent. He constantly tells me to move aside so that He can do his work. It's embarrassing. Thinking that I know the better way. Forgive me my Lord. My constancy to not listen has delayed my process of the narrow path many times. But, He gently takes my hand and sets me up again upright pointing me in the right direction. 

     Our Mother Mary, never hesitated to believe. She fully understood the meaning of surrender and love of God. Having the Incarnation of God within her, makes Her an Immaculate Conception. She is the vicar of Eve. The first created woman. Only with Mary, She did it perfectly. Mary's life was not rosy all the time. I'm sure the constant meaning of the reason for the Birth of Jesus was always on the back of her mind and seated deep within Her soul. Knowing one day, this beloved child of Hers was to suffer and die for the Salvation of the world. She studied as a child in the Temple, constantly reading what was to be and what was to come. Yet, She willingly gave of herself, Body and Soul. The Joys were plentiful, but oh! the Sorrows were intense. The prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of Jesus in the temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the taking down of Jesus's body from the cross and then His burial. All Seven of these events, actually pierced Her Soul with Swords of Sorrow.

     Her Soul is still being pierced. By the horrible acts of abortion. By the falling away of the baptized. By the announcements of war. By the persecution and martyrdom of those who speak and try to spread the Faith of Jesus. By the taking down and erasing of God's Holy Name in schools and public areas. By death being ignored and not sanctified in ritual burial. Our Blessed Mother is Our Hope. She loves us as dearly as God does. She is "our" Mother. She is "His" Mother. 

     I know it's the Holiday Season, edging closer and closer to Christmas and I should be feeling holly and jolly, but this year seems different. I don't want to ignore the reason why we do celebrate Jesus's Birth. So in doing so, we can unite our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary totally. We cannot do this, I believe, if we don't remember the sufferings that Jesus and His mother Mary had to endure to make Christmas truly complete. 

     Meditate on the whole picture and you will truly come to a deeper meaning, a deeper love of the true reason Christ came to us in a stable and the Mother who was chosen to stand by His side.

     Oh Queen of Heaven! Oh Mother of the world for all Eternity, Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!