Most Sorrowful

Perhaps chief among redemptive virtues demonstrated in the Blessed Virgin Mary's painful pilgrimage of maternal discipleship stands the enactment of holy agony or sacred sorrow intimately united to her son's Passion. Like Christ's "suffering servant," Mary Most Sorrowful mutely suffers with God's self-emptying grace while also modeling for followers the radical obedience required in sacrificial service. 

​

Compassion flows two ways, and Mary's passion participates in the greater Passion of Christ through shared travail as prophets foretold of righteous souls suffering redemptively to alleviate human fallenness.

​

This solidarity of divine suffering poignantly culminates at Calvary where Mary is depicted in Pietas severed to her core witnessing the Son's anguish. As a 4th sword penetrating her soul, Christ draws his weeping mother into active role as ongoing mater dolorosa, sorrowful Mother. In John's Gospel, Jesus directly addresses his mother from the Cross charging her care to the disciple John, thereby transferring spiritual maternity of Christ's followers - the Church - into Mary's broken hands. 

​

Mary's sorrow teaches believers the importance of embracing and finding meaning in their own experiences of pain and suffering. Her example invites us to unite our sorrows with the redemptive suffering of Jesus, finding hope and transformation in the midst of our trials.

​

Through the intercession of the Most Sorrowful Virgin Mary, believers can seek the grace to find solace and strength in times of sorrow. They can learn from Mary's example of perseverance and faithfulness, trusting in God's plan even in the darkest moments.

​

Scriptural Reference for Most Sorrowful 

(Luke 2:35)

35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 

​