Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us..

There is a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows in the church in Pakil (Laguna province) which has been our go-to Marian pilgrimage destination for many years. It is the most striking image; heart breaking; a dagger through the heart, eyes flooded with tears and her eyes still lifted up, presumably gazing upon her Son on the cross.

I have prayed for miracles there and seen the power of Our Lady’s intercession and whilst I always understood her standing as the only perfect creature, uniquely related to the Trinity as handmaid, mother and spouse; I recently heard a very interesting talk with wonderful insights related to different events in her life and what they signify.

As she stood at the foot of the cross in perfect virtue; having carried that moment in her heart since Simeon revealed it to her at the Presentation, was her moment of greatest Glory. Aside from Jesus’s Death and Resurrection, that was the most glorious moment in history.

The second event was the Assumption which was her Triumph after a life without a single fall into sin and finally her crowning as Queen of heaven where her excellence is Honoured by God before the company of heaven. Hence God will refuse her nothing. What a gift to us who need her prayers !

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.