Our Lady of Sorrows –Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez
(CNA) The Feast of ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ commemorates the 7 great sorrows which Mary lived, in relation to her Son as they are recorded in the Gospels or through tradition:
- At the Prophecy of Simeon: (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also) that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. —Luke 2:35
- At the flight into Egypt: “Rise, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt and remain there till I tell you.” —Matthew 2:13
- Having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem: “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” —Luke 2:48
- Meeting Jesus on His way to Calvary.
- Standing at the foot of the Cross: “Standing by the Cross of Jesus were his mother and mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.” —John 19:25
- Jesus being taken from the Cross;
- At the burial of Christ
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, there were two Feasts devoted to the ‘Sorrows of Mary’ — The first was instituted in Cologne in 1413 as an expiation for the sins of the iconoclast Hussites;
The second is attributed to the Servite Order whose principle devotion are the ‘Seven Sorrows’ it was instituted in 1668 though the devotion had been in existence since 1239–Five years after the founding of the order.
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Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ Visit: -USCCB