Our Sorrowful Mother

                         
When we look at statues of the Blessed Mother under the cross, we see her with a sword in her heart, although most statues have 7 swords – 7 moments when the heart of Mary was broken. And these are:

1.    The prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, when he told her a sword will pierce her heart.

2.    The escape into Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod who wanted to kill all boys 2 years and younger.

3.    When Jesus, 12 years old was lost in the temple and found 3 days later.

4.    Mary meets her son on His way to Calvary to be crucified.

5.    Mary sees Jesus crucified and dies on the cross.

6.    The dead body of Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid on her lap, the famous image of the Pieta’.

7.    The dead body of Jesus is buried in the tomb lent by Joseph of Arimathea.

But while recollecting these 7 sorrows that Mary felt during her life, I would like to highlight today 7 modern mothers who are presently experiencing some form of sorrow. You probably would know some of them personally, for which we ask you to pray for them.

1.   Mothers who have lost a child at a young age. This could be through an accident, or a sudden illness. We remember also many mothers who lost many babies because of lack of medicine and health education in years past.

2.   Mothers who have been abandoned by their husbands, and were  left to raise 3 to 5 children alone.

3.   Mothers who stay up waiting for their children to return home from Night Clubs and Disco Dances at 3 AM and 4 AM.

4.   Mothers whose children are in the army defending their country, never knowing if they will ever return home safely.

5.    Mothers who sit by a hospital bed all night long waiting for a miracle, with a child or husband, a sibling or a parent who is terminally ill.

6.   Those who have been abused by domestic violence and find it very difficult to get help, often being ignored and neglected by the authorities.

7.    Prospective mothers who would love to get pregnant but they cannot, hoping they can adopt a child without going through so much red-tape and paperwork. And those who are a carrying a child right now that they will continue with their pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

8.   Mothers in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and other countries affected by senseless wars and conflicts, those who were separated from their husbands and children, and are now homeless and unsure about their future.

Just as Mary raised infant Jesus in her humble home at Nazareth and see him grow as a teenager and into his late 20s, until he left home to start His public ministry, may we ask her for her intervention on our lives and the lives of those closest to us, especially our children and youth. May we never experience what she went through in seeing her Son being arrested, tried and killed.