Friday, September 27, 2019: The Face of Our Sorrowful Mother - Contemplative Meditations on the Seven Sorrows of Mary by Cami little handmaid
Dear friends in Jesus and Mary,
I just started a blog
to share some contemplative meditations
on the Seven Sorrows.
God's blessings,
The Face of Our Sorrowful Mother
1st Sorrow of Mary: Simeon's Prophecy
Luke 2:22-35
Jesus the Light in the darkness
The Scripture does not say much about the human infant
Jesus. He is presented to the Lord, like every other Jewish male infant.
"A Light that shines in the
darkness."
Yes, He is a human male infant, but He is also much
more. In that circle of people: His Mother, His Foster Father Joseph, the
Prophet Simeon, and others...He is the Light that every one, including His
Mother, contemplates. As Simeon says:
"...mine eyes have seen Thy salvation
...a Light of revelation to the Gentiles
and a glory for Thy people Israel"
("Our Father...")
His Mother was immaculately conceived, without original
sin, and yet her radiance is only a reflection of the Light of her Son, who is
also her Lord.
"My soul magnifies the Lord..."
(1st Hail Mary)
With each new revelation of her Son, she adores Him
more and more. It is through her Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart that we can see
the Light of Christ most clearly.
(2nd Hail Mary)
Then Simeon speaks of the darkness that will also be
revealed in His Light:
"Behold, this Child is destined for
the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be
contradicted.
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that
the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
The Light of Christ shines on everything, including our
hearts, to show us both our goodness ("made in the image of
God") and our sin, which damages God's image in us.
(3rd Hail Mary)
Mary's loving, maternal Heart embraces her Son,
comforting Him, as He experiences the coldness of the world. Surely, when she
left the temple that day, she held Him more closely, more tenderly, than ever
before that day. Likewise, she holds tenderly close each of her children who
are abused, assaulted, even murdered by the evil in the world and in our
hearts.
(4th Hail Mary)
Simeon the Prophet was given the light by the Holy
Spirit, along with His parents, to see that Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews
and the Savior of the world. In a temple full of people, they were a tiny
circle of Light in the darkness. In union with Our Lord, in the Sorrowful Heart
of His Mother, we are called to be a part of a small circle of Light in the
world's darkness. Our prayer is that the circle of Light and Love--the Flame of
Love--will become ever larger until it consumes the darkness.
(5th Hail Mary)
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother, cared
for and protected by St. Joseph, her chaste spouse, carried her Son Jesus from
the temple into the greater darkness of the world, where He shone, even most
brightly in His Passion and Death.
(6th Hail Mary)
The Holy Family, whose center is Jesus, is a circle of
Love that radiates Love to the world, like the sun light and heat upon the
earth. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please teach us, and pour out God's grace upon
our families, that we may spread Your Love to the world.
(7th Hail Mary)