Here are links to our readings for the day:
English: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091520.cfm
Spanish: http://usccb.org/bible/lecturas/091520.cfm
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Maybe you have not heard or known about Our Lady of Sorrows. Or maybe the title sounds somewhat familiar as the church in Ladysmith is known as Our Lady of Sorrows. This memorial seeks to help us remember what Mary experienced in her lifetime.
We can never quite understand what her experiences were but as human beings we can reflect on our thoughts as we think about the experiences in her life.
There have been seven specific events in Mary’s life. Each event would fill volumes but here I will give you an overview for reflection. They are known as the Seven Sorrows of Mary. And, there is even a Rosary used to help with your meditation.
The First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus (Luke 2:34) – remember it was Simeon who proclaimed that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart.
The Second sorrow: The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family (Matthew 2:13) – Herod seeks to kill the child Jesus, a family must flee as refugees.
The Third Sorrow: The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:43) – have you ever lost a child in a shopping mall, then think if the loss was over three days.
The Fourth Sorrow: The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross (Luke 23:26) – Jesus has been scourged, when your child lies sick or hurt remember how you feel.
The Fifth Sorrow: The Crucifixion, where Mary stands at the foot of the cross (John 19:25) – has there ever been a time where you wanted desperately to console your child but could not do anything?
The Sixth Sorrow: The Descent from the Cross, where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms (Matthew 27:57) – parents who have lost a child known well this sorrow.
The Seventh Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus (John 19:40) – the loss any loved one allows us this reflection.
If you are interested, here is a link to the Servite Rosary: https://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-to-pray-servite-rosary-chaplet.html
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Fr Ed Anderson
Email: fatheredanderson[at]gmail.com
Phone: 715.817.3736
St. Joseph Church – Rice Lake
Holy Trinity – Haugen
St. John the Evangelist – Birchwood
Our Lady of Lourdes – Dobie
