Mary Meets Jesus

"Weeping, she has wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her" (Lam 1:2).

"The more tenderly she loved, the more deeply she was wounded. The greater her love for him, the greater her grief at the sight of his sufferings, especially when she met him on that dolorous way, dragging his cross to the place of execution. This is the fourth sword." St. Lawrence Guistiniani.

The Blessed Virgin Mary revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden that as the time of her son's Passion came near, she wept continually. She also described how she was covered in a cold sweat due to fear as she pondered the sufferings Jesus was to undertake. Jesus went in tears to his mother to say goodbye on that terrible day. After this Mary was plunged into sadness, as St. Bonaventure describes: "You spent that night without sleep. And while others slept, you kept watch." In the morning the disciples brought her news of Jesus' arrest and questioning. Later they would bring her news of his condemnation, as St. Leo says "this unjust judge condemned him to death with the same lips with which he had declared him innocent." "O sorrowful Mother," exclaimed St. John, "your son has now been condemned to death; he has already set out on the road to Calvary, carrying his own cross. Come, if you desire to see him and say farewell to him, as he passes through the streets."

Mary goes with St. John, following the trail of his sacred blood, as she described to St. Bridget: "I knew from the footsteps of my son that he had already passed by, for the ground was stained with his blood." She may have taken a shortcut in order to see Jesus, the sorrowful mother went to meet her sorrowful son. It is commonly believed that as she waited, she was recognized by many who derided her, saying dreadful things against her and her beloved son, in effect now turning the sword which pierced her Immaculate Heart.

Prayer

My sorrowful Mother, by the merit of the sorrow you felt at seeing your beloved Jesus led to his death, acquire for me the grace to be able to bear with patience the crosses God sends me. I shall really be very happy if I can only learn how to accompany you with my cross until my death. Amen+

(Source: The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Ligouri)