September
Our Lady of Sorrows
As we honor the Holy Cross this month, we also stand beside the Mother of Sorrows at the foot of Calvary. September teaches us the value of redemptive suffering and offers consolation to all who are afflicted, reminding us that Mary’s compassionate presence is a constant support in our own trials.
"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother..."
John 19:25
As the summer heat begins to break and the days grow a little shorter, the Church draws us into a more somber and profound love: devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.
In Elmendorf and Saspamco, we know that life is not always a fiesta. Every family has its share of struggles, illness, and grief. In those moments, we don't need a distant queen; we need a mother who understands tears. La Dolorosa is that mother. She is not a figure of despair, but of immense strength. She teaches us that true love often means staying by the side of the one you love, even when it hurts.
The Teaching: Compassion
The word "compassion" literally means "to suffer with." Mary is the supreme example of this. She didn't suffer Jesus' physical pain, but she felt every blow in her heart.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights that her suffering was a key part of her role in God's plan.
She shows us that our own suffering isn't meaningless. When we unite our pain with Jesus, just as she did, it can become a prayer. It can be redemptive for ourselves and our families.
"Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering." (CCC 964)
The Scripture: The Prophecy
Mary’s sorrow didn’t start at the Cross; it began with a prophecy when Jesus was just a baby. When she presented Him in the Temple, the holy man Simeon gave her a hard truth amidst the joy.
This "sword of sorrow" pierced her soul, yet she never ran away from her calling. She walked the whole way to Calvary. This reminds us that God does not promise us a life without pain, but He promises that He (and His mother) will be with us through it all.
"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel... and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
Catholics meditate on these seven painful moments in Mary's life, often represented by seven swords piercing her heart:
Simeon's Prophecy
Flight into Egypt
Losing Jesus in the Temple
Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus Taken Down from the Cross
Burial of Jesus
Living the Faith: How to Observe this Month
Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is about presence and solidarity. Here is how we can live this out in our community:
1. The "Stabat Mater" Spirit
The Gospel says Mary stood (Stabat) by the Cross. She didn't faint; she didn't flee. When a family member or neighbor in Saspamco is going through a hard time (illness, divorce, job loss), don't stay away because you "don't know what to say." Just show up. Stand with them. Your presence is the prayer.
2. Pray the Seven Sorrows
There is a beautiful traditional chaplet called the "Seven Sorrows of Mary." This month, try to meditate on just one of her sorrows (like the Flight into Egypt or the Burial of Jesus) while praying a Hail Mary. It helps us realize that she truly understands our family struggles.
3. Visit the Cemetery
September is a good time to visit our local cemeteries or the resting places of your loved ones. Tidy up the gravesite, leave fresh flowers, and ask Mary, who watched her own Son be placed in a tomb, to comfort your heart and pray for their souls.
A Prayer for September
O Mother of Sorrows, You who stood by the Cross of Jesus, Teach us to stand by those who suffer.
When our hearts are broken, Remind us that we are not alone. When we see the suffering of others, Give us the courage to offer a hand rather than turn away.
O Mary, you who felt the sword of grief, comfort the sick, the lonely, and the mourning in our parish. Wrap your mantle around us, and lead us through every dark valley to the light of your Son’s Resurrection.
Amen.
A prayer for strength in difficult times.
Additional Discussion
September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) in Catholicism, stemming from devotion to Mary's suffering alongside Christ, formalized by Pope Pius VII after his release from Napoleon, and practiced through meditating on her Seven Sorrows (like the Flight to Egypt, Crucifixion, Burial) via prayers like the Seven Sorrows Rosary, offering strength for personal suffering, and seeing Mary as a spiritual mother and model of steadfast faith.
Co-Suffering and Spiritual Resilience
The Martyrdom of the Heart:
St. Bernard of Clairvaux famously said that Mary was a "martyr in spirit." The message is that one does not need to shed blood to be a martyr; the "sword" that pierced Mary’s soul (as prophesied by Simeon) shows that emotional and spiritual agony can be a holy sacrifice.
Compassion (Suffering-With):
The word "compassion" literally means "to suffer with." The devotion teaches that Mary’s presence at the Cross was not passive; she actively offered her Son to the Father. This calls believers to "suffer with" Christ and with one another, turning personal pain into a gift for the Church.
The School of Trust:
Even in the face of the ultimate loss (the death of her child), Mary did not despair. The core message is one of unshakeable hope—that even in the darkest "Friday," God is working toward a "Sunday" Resurrection.
Origins of the Devotion
Biblical Roots:
The devotion stems from Simeon's prophecy to Mary at Jesus' presentation, saying a sword would pierce her soul (Luke 2:35).
Medieval Foundations:
The devotion took deep root in the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly among the Cistercians and Franciscans. It was popularized by the Servite Order (Order of Servants of Mary), founded in 1233, whose primary charism was to meditate on the sorrows of Mary.
Medieval Growth:
The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" grew popular during the 14th-century Black Death, when people sought solace in Mary's shared suffering.
Formalization in 1814:
Pope Pius VII, after being imprisoned by Napoleon (1809-1814), instituted the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, on May 24th to thank Mary for his release and the Church's protection. Separately, the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows (Seven Sorrows of Mary) was already established, with the Servites promoting it and Pope Innocent XII authorizing a feast in 1714; Pius VII later extended this feast to the entire Latin Church in 1814, linking it to the Church's own "Calvary" experience during his captivity.
1913 Milestone:
The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was officially fixed on September 15th by Pope Pius X in 1913, making it a universal Church observance the day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Before this, it was celebrated on various dates, including the Friday before Palm Sunday, after Pope Pius VII extended the feast to the whole Church in 1814.
Current Catholic Practices in September
Prayer:
Catholics pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary (Servite Rosary), focusing on each sorrow with specific prayers and meditations, often using the hymn Stabat Mater.
Meditation and Acts of Compassion:
The month encourages reflection on Mary's steadfastness as a spiritual mother who experienced loss, betrayal, and suffering, inspiring faith and courage.
Catholics are encouraged to perform spiritual works of mercy, specifically visiting the sick, mourning with the grieving, or supporting those undergoing "silent" suffering.
Spiritual Strength:
The devotion teaches that sorrows can be united with Christ's passion, transforming despair into spiritual strength and hope, with promises of peace and protection for those who honor her sorrows.
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15):
The central event of the month. In 2025, it falls on a Monday and is observed as an obligatory Memorial. The "Stabat Mater" (a 13th-century hymn) is often sung or recited during Mass.
The Seven Sorrows Rosary (Chaplet):
Unlike the traditional Rosary, this chaplet consists of seven groups of seven beads. Devotees meditate on each of the seven sorrows while reciting Hail Marys.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14):
The month's focus is inextricably linked to this feast. By celebrating the Cross on the 14th and Mary's sorrows on the 15th, the Church emphasizes the union of the Mother and Son in the work of salvation.
Core Message
The core message of September’s devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is the transformative power of redemptive suffering and the profound solidarity between Mary and the afflicted. It teaches that by standing faithfully at the foot of the Cross, Mary became the model for all Christians on how to endure trials with grace and hope rather than bitterness. This devotion emphasizes that through compassion—sharing in the sorrows of Christ and the world—believers can find spiritual meaning in their own pain and participate in the healing of the human family. Ultimately, it reassures the faithful that no one suffers alone, as the "Mother of Sorrows" remains a constant, empathetic companion to all who carry heavy crosses.