Our Lady of Sorrows
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2017 J.M.J. September 15, 2017 Our Lady of Sorrows Dear Family of Mary! On this day we honor Our Lady for all the sorrows she bore in her life, sorrows at the suffering of her Son. Traditionally, there are seven sorrows that we commemorate: The Prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2:22-35) The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-21) The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-50) Mary Encounters Jesus on the Way of the Cross (John 19:1; Luke 23:26-32) Jesus Dies on the Cross (Mark 15:22; John 19:18, 25-27; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46) Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross (John 19:31-34, 38; Lam 1:12) Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (Matthew 27:59; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:46; Luke 27:55-56) Of course these are the major events that brought suffering to Mary, because they were the sorrows of a mother! The suffering of Jesus was the sorrow for Mary. And there were countless everyday events that were also tough for Jesus and Mary, moments when they were misunderstood or marginalized by family and friends, and all the sad encounters with the leaders of the Jews during Jesus’ public ministry. But we shouldn’t be discouraged by these sorrows of Our Lady. She isn’t. One thing we do know is that Mary was victorious over all these sorrows because she loved with God’s love. She always loved and never excluded anyone from her love. And this is what she is trying to teach all of us. Jesus was the first to love, and Mary followed Him perfectly. Now she wants us to follow them both on the way of love, even in sorrow. Love conquers sorrow and actually turns it into joy! We can use this day to allow Our Lady to show us how to turn our sorrows into joy. She shows us the way in her messages. Mary does not discount sorrow but she is not afraid of sorrows. Her love is more powerful. But she is afraid that our sorrows will damage us. She wants us to give them to her, and to turn to Jesus with trust that our sorrow can become redemptive and we can become joy! February 25, 1999 “Dear children! Also today I am with you in a special way contemplating and living the passion of Jesus in my heart. Little children, open your hearts and give me everything that is in them: joys, sorrows and each, even the smallest pain, that I may offer them to Jesus; so that with His immeasurable love, He may burn and transform your sorrows into the joy of His resurrection. That is why, I now call you in a special way, little children, for your hearts to open to prayer, so that through prayer you may become friends of Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.” November 25, 1991 “Dear Children! This time also I am inviting you to prayer. Pray that you might be able to comprehend what God desires to tell you through my presence and through the messages I am giving you. I desire to draw you ever closer to Jesus and to His wounded heart that you might be able to comprehend the immeasurable love which gave itself for each one of you. Therefore, dear children, pray that from your heart would flow a fountain of love to every person both to the one who hates you and to the one who despises you. That way you will be able through Jesus’ love to overcome all the misery in this world of sorrows, which is without hope for those who do not know Jesus. I am with you and I love you with the immeasurable love of Jesus. Thank you for all your sacrifices and prayers. Pray so I might be able to help you still more. Your prayers are necessary to me. Thank you for having responded to my call.” March 25, 2005 “Dear children! Today I call you to love. Little children, love each other with God’s love. At every moment, in joy and in sorrow, may love prevail and, in this way, love will begin to reign in your hearts. The risen Jesus will be with you and you will be his witnesses. I will rejoice with you and protect you with my motherly mantle. Especially, little children, I will watch your daily conversion with love. Thank you for having responded to my call.” September 25, 2009 “Dear children, with joy, persistently work on your conversion. Offer all your joys and sorrows to my Immaculate Heart that I may lead you all to my most beloved Son, so that you may find joy in His Heart. I am with you to instruct you and to lead you towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call.” And there is the most recent message, September 2, 2017. Our Lady calls us to accept pain, endure it with love. These are the words of a strong woman, who did not respond to pain and sorrow with fear, but stood firm in faith, hope and love throughout all her sufferings. And her sorrow became great, amazing, unending joy! September 02, 2017 “Dear children, who could speak to you about the love and the pain of my Son better than I? I lived with Him; I suffered with Him. Living the earthly life, I felt pain because I was a mother. My Son loved the thoughts and the works of the Heavenly Father, the true God. And, as He said to me, He came to redeem you. I hid my pain through love, but you, my children, you have numerous questions. You do not comprehend pain. You do not comprehend that through the love of God you need to accept pain and endure it. Every human being will experience it to a lesser or greater measure. But with peace in the soul and in a state of grace, hope exists; this is my Son, God, born of God. His words are the seed of eternal life. Sown in good souls they bring numerous fruits. My Son bore the pain because He took your sins upon Himself. Therefore, you, my children, apostles of my love, you who suffer, know that your pain will become light and glory. My children, while you are enduring pain, while you are suffering, Heaven enters in you and you give a piece of Heaven and much hope to all those around you. Thank you.” Let’s live this feast day with great hope, for the promise of victory over this world of woes is ours. Mary, teach us to love, teach us how to turn our sorrows and pains into the joy of love! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2017