How Did Mary’s Heart Bear Seeing the Suffering of Her Son?
When a Mother's Heart Bleeds
Mary witnessed everything: Jesus carrying the cross, being crucified, crying out for thirst, being mocked by all.
She witnessed His very last breath and how His heart was still pierced after that. After His removal from the cross, He was laid down upon her arms. As she received His lifeless body, she saw all His wounds: His pierced side, His nailed hands and feet, His bloody head that was crowned with thorns.
How could she have survived it all? How could her pure and loving heart witness everything and not die an instant death?
Perhaps if she were like us, she would have fainted just at the sight of Him carrying the cross. Or she would have died when they were nailing his hands and feet.
But she didn’t. She bore His martyrdom as though it was her own. She shared His sorrows and His pain.
Isn’t it true therefore that at that time, there was only one heart beating for Mother and Son?
One heart that loves? One heart desiring for our salvation?
So great was the love that has been poured upon Mary’s heart that she couldn’t bear to leave her Son suffering alone. No, she has to be with Him to the very end! And even long after the end when His lifeless body needs to be buried after the most excruciating tortures and sorrows.
Perhaps this is Mary’s role also with the Church. Even as the Church struggles, and even in persecution and pain, Mary is there. For isn’t her Son in the Church and the very Head of it?
Even now, she witnesses it all. The mockery of believers, the death of martyrs, and the burial of Christian beliefs.
And we do not lose hope even in all this darkness.
We know that Mary is there, and her heart is one with her Son. She will wait for Him. She will bear the dark night of pain, but she will never give up. She will look on until the morning and Jesus Christ finally comes again!
Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object.
Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen.
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” - Luke 2:34-35 (NABRE)
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