September: the Mater Dolorosa

September has begun, so you know what that means. It's the month dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows! Being a Mater Dolorosa devotee, this is a very significant and distinct month. We should take this whole month to especially remember and meditate on Our Lady's Sorrows, specifically the seven the Church has appointed, although the true number of her dolors are innumerable. Her Seven Dolors are:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
4. Mary meets Jesus carrying His Cross
5. Jesus dies on the Cross
6. Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms
7. The burial of Jesus

Our Lady promised St. Bridget of Sweden, that those who remember her sorrows and daily pray seven Hail Mary's in honor of them, will be granted seven promises. 

1. "I will grant peace to their families."
2. "They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries."
3. "I will console them in their pains and accompany them in their work."
4. "I will give them as much as they ask for, as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son and or the sanctification of their souls."
5. "I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."
6. "I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their mother."
7. "I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy."

While Our Lord suffered greatly during His Passion, His mother suffered a lifelong, grievous martyrdom which began at the First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Simeon. 

"And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." -Luke 2:34-35 (DR)

For this reason, Our Lady is the Queen of Martyrs, because no other martyr suffered like our dear Mother. In the images of Our Lady of Sorrows, her heart is usually depicted being pierced by either one, or seven swords. Each sword represents one of her sorrows, which traces back to Simeon's prophecy. One cannot fully fathom the intense pain Our Lady felt as each sword thrust deeper into her heart, as she anticipated her Son's dolorous Passion, until the moment of His burial. How desolate and afflicted Our Lady must have been. Yet, even through her acute sorrows, she never once despaired, but rather, she remained constant. The whole time, her hope was in her beloved Son. From her perfect resignation to the will of God, even in times of distress, Our Lady teaches us how to perfectly die to ourselves, for the sake of His Divine Providence.

Fr. Chad Ripperger gave a very contemplative and insightful talk on Our Lady of Sorrows. I spent two hours listening to this one hour talk, because I had to keep pausing to reflect on his words. In short, listen to this talk to further know and love Our Sorrowful Mother.

Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis,

St. Gabriel Possenti, ora pro nobis,

-Yvonne Gemma