We have Marian Octave in August, from the Solemnity of Assumption (August 15) to the Memorial of the Queenship (August 22). There is another Marian Octave in the following month, from the Feast of Mary’s Nativity (September 8) to the Memorial of Our Lady of the Sorrows (September 15). The Marian Octave of August reflects the consummation of Mary’s mission, her service to God the Father as the Theotokos (God bearer, the Mother of God, the Ark of the New Covenant), resulting in the heavenly coronation as the Gebirah (Queen-Mother) of the Christ the King in his Kingdom, upon her Assumption into heaven. In contrast, the Marian Octave of September focuses on Mary’s life on earth, from her birth to her Assumption. And it reminds that her life on earth was challenged by many sorrows, represented with the Seven Sorrows, because of her Son, who suffered and died but rose from the dead to save and redeem us. In other words, Mary was born to bear many sufferings and to grieve because of her Son’s sufferings and death, reflected on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, as revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) and on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, based on the revelation to St. Dominic Guzman (1170–1221).
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Seven Sorrows of Mary |
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary |
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I.
The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35) |
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II.
The Flight Into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14) |
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III.
The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43-45) |
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1.
The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46) |
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2.
The Scourging at the Pillar (John 19:1-7) |
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IV.
Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary (Luke
23:27-29) |
3.
The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31) |
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4.
The Carrying of the Cross Matthew 27:31-33) |
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V.
Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27) |
5.
The Crucifixion and Death ((John 19:18-30) |
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VI.
Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross (John 19:32-34) |
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VII.
The Burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42) |
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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).
Simeon made this prophecy of Mary’s sorrows as her First Sorrow, when she and her husband, Joseph, brought baby Jesus to the temple for the presentation of the firstborn son to be consecrated (Exodus 13:2), upon her completion of postpartum purification (Leviticus 12:2-4) (Luke 2:22-38). Because the Presentation of the Lord is the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary, it is quite interesting to find the First Sorry of Mary in this context. And this first Sorry of Mary is Simeon’s prophesy for other Sorrows of hers, because her Son, Jesus, was destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel (Luke 2:34), meaning that he was to bring a sward for the division: those who believe in him and those who do not (i.e. Matthew 10:34-36). And this division brought by Jesus is to reveal thoughts of many hearts: yearning for the truth found in Jesus’ teaching and repugnance to his teaching. Mary was to suffer and bear sorrows because of the division brought by her Son, Jesus, and how people react to him and his teaching, as she was to be pierced by a sword.
Jesus said to bring a sward for making the division
between those whose hearts’ thought to long for his truth and those who reject
it (Matthew 10:34). And Mary was prophesized to be pierced by a sword by Simeon
(Luke 2:35).The sword of Jesus to divide the believers and non-believers is μάχαιρα/machaira (Matthew 10:34), while
the sword that pierces Mary is ῥομφαία
/rhomphaia (Luke 2:35). The former is a short sword that can be easily
carried. It is also what Peter used in cutting the ear the high priest’s
servant when Jesus was arrested (John 18:10). On the other hand, the latter is
a sabre, long and wide blade sword of the Thracian origin. But it also figuratively
refers to a war, as well as, grief. Therefore, Simeon’s prophesy on Mary’s
suffering with sorrows, as being pierced by ῥομφαία
/rhomphaia may also be symbolically referred to Satan’s attack on a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of
twelve stars, pregnant with a son (Revelation 12:1-18).
The Gospel Reading of the Memorial of Our Lady of
Sorrows (John 19:25-27) reflects the Fifth Sorrow of Mary and a part of the
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. In this Gospel text, we see Mary,
together with Mary Magdalene and other women, and John, at the foot of the
Cross, on which Jesus was lifted. And we hear Jesus saying to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son” (John 19:26),
prompting her to look at John, whom he loved, and saying to him, “Behold, your mother”(John 19:27),
prompting him to look at Mary.
Before expiration, out of his excruciating agony,
Jesus mastered up to make sure his mother, Mary, in sorrow, is well-taken care
by John, who did not desert him, as Peter and other disciples did. Jesus must
have found John to be the fitting one to care for Mary. And John in this scene
represents us, those who believe in him and follow him, carrying our own
respective crosses (i.e. Matthew 16:24).
According to the Jewish tradition, it was for Jesus,
the firstborn son, to care for Mary, who has become a widow by that time, after
Joseph’s death. But, he was dying on the Cross, as watched by his mother, Mary.
Jesus sensed not only her sorrow but also her concerned of a possibility to be
a lone widow, after his death. So, he wanted to assured her that John, who
remained as faithful as her in following him to the foot of the Cross, would
care for her in his place. This was how Jesus loved and cared for his mother, Mary,
in his last hour on the Cross.
The First Reading of the Memorial of Our Lady of
Sorrows (Hebrews 5:7-9) describes Jesus’ psychospiritual agony in the Garden of
Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46//Mark 14:32–42//Luke 22:39–46). And it is
reflected on the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.
Though she was not physically present in the scene,
Mary sure saw her Son, Jesus, was already in deep anguish. At that dark hour,
Mary shared Jesus’ agony, though Peter, James, and John, who were physically at
the scene, did not seem to feel his pain, as they were asleep. Following this,
Jesus began walking his destined path to Calvary, known as Via Dolorosa, punctuated with the 14 Stations of the Cross. And Mary
walked on this path of sorrows with her Son, Jesus, as reflected on her Fourth
Sorrow on.
Yes, Mary is the Most Blessed Virgin, which goes with
her holy name, which is celebrated during the September Marian Octave, on
September 12. But, being most blessed among all humans also came with
unfathomable sorrows, because of the passion and death of her Son, Jesus, for
our salvation and redemption. By bearing her sorrows, being pierced, for her
Son, and for us, her spiritual children, offspring, Mary has become the prime
collaborator to God’s scheme of our salvation and redemption. Our salvation and redemption have been made
possible, because Mary has suffered, as her Son, Jesus, has gone through
suffering and death.
The sufferings of Jesus and his mother, Mary, have not
ceased. Both Jesus and Mary continue to suffer because we have not stopped
sinning and apostatizing. Our sins and apostasy continue to keep both Jesus and
Mary in suffering and sorrow.
That is why Mary’s Seven Sorrows were revealed to St.
Bridged by Jesus. That is why she has been speaking to the world to repent and
to return to her Son in her apparitions. If we do not listen to Our Lady of
Sorrows, who has been warning us of catastrophic consequences of our sins,
keeping her Son and her, in suffering and sorrow, we might turn Christ’s
suffering and death, as well as, the sorrows of Mary, meaningless.
As we reflect on Mary’s sorrow, along with the suffering
and death of her Son, Jesus the Christ, contemplating on her messages in making
apparitions, let us show our love and care for the sorrowful Immaculate Heart
of our mother, Mary, by repenting and converting our hearts, so that our hearts
may be worthy to be united with the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. And that is when all the sorrows of Jesus, of Mary, and of
ours, will cease and be turned into joy, as prophesized (e.g. Isaiah 35:10; 51:11;
65:19; 66:10) and in an eschatological vision (Revelation 21:4).
Maria, Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis mediatrix nostrum. Amen.
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