Meditation on Our Lady's Sorrows - Day Six

Descent of Jesus from the Cross

"Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counselor, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen." – Mark XV, 43-46.
Meditation: Consider the most bitter sorrow which rent the soul of Mary, when she saw the dead body of her dear Jesus on her knees, covered with blood, all torn with deep wounds. O mournful Mother, a bundle of myrrh, indeed, is thy Beloved to thee. Who would not pity thee? Whose heart would not be softened, seeing affliction which would move a stone? Behold John not to be comforted, Magdalen and the other Mary in deep affliction, and Nicodemus, who can scarcely bear his sorrow.

Say one Ave Maria [Hail Mary]

Today strive to avoid sin, offer small sacrifices in amendment for the sins of mankind who blaspheme Mary and her Son. Amen+

The Thirteenth Station

Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently did you descend from the cross. The suffering and pain are ended Lord, and you are laid upon the lap of your holy mother. How tenderly did she press you to her heart. She wiped away the dirt and blood with the affection that only a mother has.

Assist us to live this day as if it were the last. Help me become a more gentle and loving person, patterning myself to thine Immaculate Mother.

O Mary, Mother most sorrowful, the sword of grief pierced thy soul when thou didst see Jesus lying lifeless on thy bosom; obtain for me hatred of sin because sin slew thy Son and wounded thine own heart, and grace to live a Catholic life - may my soul be spared the fire. Mary most sorrowful, be my salvation!

Meditation for the Month of Holy Souls VII

Mary Recieves the Dead Body of Her Son

"In order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow." (John 19:31-34;38. Lamentations 1:12)

When I am imploring some grace from God, the place I go to be heard by Him is at the feet of Mary as she holds the body of her Son in her arms. Surely the merits the Mother of God received at this time in her life shines amongst the heavens as the sun. Compassionate your mother's sorrows, bring your sorrows and place them at her feet. Ask her to intercede on your behalf - ask her to cover your requests with the tears she shed as she held her Son. God cannot refuse this of her if your request is in accordance with His holy will. Amen+

Meditation for the Month of Holy Souls VI

Piercing of the Side of Jesus

"But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water."

After witnessing the death of her Son, Mary now sees the soldiers approach to break the legs of those on the crosses to expedite their deaths. Imagine Mary seeing them come near, fearing more damage be done to His holy body, she along with the others present inform the soldier that Jesus is already dead. At this point to confirm this one plunges his lance deeply between the ribs of our Savior. At this point the blood and water of our redemption pour forth. Mary is sometimes depicted as not knowing of or anticipating this event. I'm often irritated by far too many who depict our Lady as being dull and unaware, some sort of unknowing victim of her circumstances. No, I believe firmly she was highly intelligent, very knowledgable and fully aware of her life and her role in salvation history. She knew who her Son was and why He was here. Despite this intense suffering, she willingly submitted to God's will, offering no reluctance whatsoever. This piercing of the heart of Jesus was perhaps His last "bodily" gift of sacrifice, that even after His soul has fled back to His Father, the very last He has is poured out for our behalf.

The Piercing of the Side of Jesus and His Descent from the Cross IV

"Return, you transgressors, to the heart"

(Isa 46:8)

According to St. Alphonsus, this is what Mary said as she sat with the body of her dead Son in her arms. How much pain continues to be inflicted upon the Immaculate Heart of Mary as men continue to pierce it with their sins? Let us resolve not to torment our dear Mother again. Let all us sinners return to Jesus, place our wounded souls in the spear wound of His Sacred Heart. Go there ~ sorry for your sins and He will welcome and pardon you. He will never spurn the contrite heart.

Mary revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden that as Jesus reposed in her arms: "she closed the eyes of her Son when He was taken down from the cross, but she could not close His arms." She also related that Jesus: "intended us to understand by this that He wanted to remain with His arms extended to receive all penitent sinners who return to him."

Hear your Sorrowful Mother speak: "Now that my Son has died to save you, it is no longer a time of fear for you, but a time of love; a time to show love to Him who, in order to show you the love He has for you, was willing to suffer much...if then my Son was pleased that His side should be opened through an excess of love so that He could give His heart to you, it is right, O man, that you should give Him yours in return."

Go with Mary, she will obtain for you the grace to not be rejected at the heart of Jesus.

Prayer

Have pity on me, O Mother, for I have not loved God and have offended Him so much. Your sorrow encourages me to hope for pardon. But this is not e nough. I desire also to love my Lord. And who can obtain this grace of love for me better than you who are the mother of fair love? O Mary, you are a consolation to everybody; console me also. Amen+

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

The Piercing of the Side of Jesus and His Descent from the Cross III

“My beloved was white and ruddy” (Canticle 5:10)

After our Lord’s side was pierced by the soldier’s lance, our Lady begged Joseph of Arimathea to obtain Pilate’s permission to remove His body, fearing He may be abused further. Joseph explained Mary’s wishes to Pilate and this permission was granted. According to St. Anselm, Pilate’s stone heart was softened with pity for the Mother of Jesus and, “so moved him to grant the request.”

Jesus was thus taken down from His cross. “Oh how many swords,” says St. Bonaventure, “pierced that poor mother’s soul” when she took the dead Jesus into her arms. She who held him in the stable, all pink, warm, beautiful and full of life…now she holds Him again, dead, beaten, broken and cold. We can imagine, perhaps as we pray the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, our Blessed Mother, standing there arms outstretched in order to receive Him.

The scene is best related to us by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, quoting one Bernardine de Bustis: “She embraced Him and then sat down at the foot of the cross. His mouth was open, his eyes were dim. She examined His mangled flesh and his exposed bones. She took off the crown and gazed at the wounds the thorns had made in His brow. She saw the gaping holes in His hands and feet. Then she said to him: “O my Jesus, your love for men has brought You to this. What harm did you ever do them that they should treat you so cruelly? You were my father, my brother, my spouse, my delight, my glory. You were everything to me! O my dear Son, see how desolate I am! Look at me and comfort me. But you can no longer look at me. Say only one word and comfort me. But you cannot speak any more, for you are dead. O cruel thorns, O cruel nails, O merciless spear, how could you possibly torture your Creator? But why do I speak of thorns and nails? It is you, O sinners, who have treated my Son so cruelly!”

Prayer
O most Holy Virgin, now that you have given your Son to the world with such great love and for our salvation, behold, the world now give Him back to you. But, O God, what a condition He is in! My beloved was white and ruddy (Cant 5:10), Mary says to the world, but you return Him to me blackened with bruises and red from His wounds you inflicted on him. He was beautiful, but now He is no longer beautiful, but all disfigured. His appearance used to make people happy, but now he excites only horror in those who look upon Him. O Mary, Mother most sorrowful, please accept our prayers, offered to compassionate thy sufferings and weepings…be comforted in some small way by our prayers and help us to grow in holiness so we may not longer inflict wounds on your Son. Amen+

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

The Piercing of the Side of Jesus and His Descent from the Cross II

"One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water" (Jn 19:34)

The followers of Jesus, including His Most Holy Mother, were Jews. Being thus, they wanted the body of Jesus taken down from His cross in order to prepare for and celebrate the Sabbath which was fast approaching. The bodies of those crucified could not be removed until they were dead. So, the soldiers stepped up to the scene in order to make death a reality - quickly. They made fast work of the criminals to Jesus' right and left, they then approach Our Lord.

According to St. Bonaventure, Mary at this time, begged the soldiers to not break her Son's legs. Trembling with fear she says: "My Son is already dead. Do not harm Him any more; I am His poor mother." While she was saying this, a soldier "rode up, brandishing a lance and plunged it through the side of Jesus. The cross shook when the lance pierced the body of the Savior and, as was later revealed to St. Bridget, the heart of Jesus was divided in two." Blood and water gushed forth - even these, perhaps the last drops of precious blood which remained to Him - He was pleased to shed for us. He had no more to give.

Jesus, His soul having fled His spotless body, did not experience the pain of this blow. Mary, his grieving Mother bore the pain of the lance. "Christ shared this wound with His mother. He received the hurt; his mother endured the pain."

Church Fathers maintain that this is the actual sword foretold by St. Simeon in his prophesy at the Presentation. This was a sword not of iron, but of grief. The soul of Jesus was one with the soul of Mary. Thus says St. Bernard: "The lance which pierced His side passed through the soul of the Blessed Virgin, a soul that could never leave her Son's heart." Mary indeed spoke of this to St. Bridget of Sweden: "When the spear was drawn out, the point was red with blood. It was then, when I saw the heart of my own dear son pierced, that I felt as though my own heart were also pierced." An angel later revealed to the same Saint: "Mary's sufferings were so great that it was only by a miracle on God's part that she did not die from them." Only now, she no longer has a Son to share her sorrow with. She is alone in the world for the first time in her holy life.

Let us go often to the foot of the cross with Our Lady and ask her to offer our small sufferings and sacrifices together with her sorrows to the Eternal Father. He is highly pleased with souls who honor His Mother's sorrows.

Prayer

O sorrowful Virgin! O soul great in virtue but also in sorrow, for both were born of that mighty flame of love which you have for God, your heart can love no one but God and Him alone. Pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Be our salvation! Amen+

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

The Piercing of the Side of Jesus and His Descent from the Cross

"My beloved children, I do not ask you to comfort me, for my soul is no longer capable of being consoled now that my Jesus has died. But if you wish to commiserate with me, look at me and see if there has ever been a sorrow like mine in the world, for the one I love so much has been torn from me with such great cruelty."

~St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Let us consider carefully the words St. Alphonsus puts on the lips of our Sorrowful Mother. Sadly, Mary's suffering does not end with the death of her Son....no, yet another sword of sorrow shall pierce her Immaculate Heart.

Let us now consider the sixth sorrow which transfixed Our Lady's soul - we ought to ponder and weep. According to St. Alphonsus Mary's sorrows up until now have tortured her one by one, but now they "converge, as it were, to assail her all at once." When Jesus died, Mary's first desire was to travel in spirit with Him to the Eternal Father, in order to there present Jesus to Him. "I present to You, O my God," he imagines her saying, "the immaculate soul of your and my Son. He has obeyed You to death. Receive Him therefore in Your arms. Your justice has now been satisfied, Your will accomplished. The great sacrifice to your eternal glory has now been consummated." Then our Suffering Mother turns to the lifeless body of her Son: "O wounds, O wounds of love, I adore you, and I am happy because of you. By means of you, salvation has been given to the world. You will remain open in the body of my Son and be the refuge of all who have recourse to you. How many will be pardoned for their sins through you! How many will be inflammed by you with love for Jesus!"

Prayer

Jesus, through Your holy wounds you have saved the world. I bring to the foot of your cross, then to the feet of your holy Mother, in whose arms you now lifeless lay. Have mercy on us O Lord, grant us refuge in your wounds. Shelter us, O Lord for the wickedness and snares of the spirit of the world and bring us unto You in the light of endless song. Amen+