‘‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel. (Luke 2:34)’

Yesterday was the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross. Today, we celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows. Today’s first reading is the kerygma in Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. Paul speaks of the obedience of Jesus in accepting death on the cross for eternal salvation. The Gospel takes us to the beginning and Simeon’s prophecy at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple that a sword will pierce Mary’s heart. Mary accepts this as a mystery. Her obedience to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation facilitates the incarnation. Mother and Son mirror humility and obedience, brought to fulfilment in the resurrection at Easter and Mary’s assumption celebrated on 15 August – exactly one month ago.

Traditionally, there are seven sorrows associated with this feast and Mary is often portrayed with seven swords piercing her heart. The Feast became universal only in 1913, but the devotions were widespread since the Middle Ages. Its sources are firmly grounded in the Gospels.

Our Lady of Sorrows is one of four liturgical feasts with a sequence – and the only Marian one. The sequences are ancient hymns before the Gospel, mandatory at Easter and Pentecost but optional at Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Sorrows. Today’s sequence is the Stabat Mater, a hymn often sung to the hauntingly sublime music of Pergolesi, reflecting on Mary as she follows Jesus to Calvary. It is often sung during Lenten devotions. All Marian feasts are essentially Christological. Today’s feast connects the hearts of Mother and Son. The breaking of their hearts brings about our restoration.