Meditation on Our Lady's Sorrows - Day Three

The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple

"And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him." Luke II, 43-45.
Meditation: How dread was the grief of Mary, when she saw that she had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase her sorrow, when she sought Him diligently among her kinsfolk and acquaintance, she could hear no tidings of Him. No hindrances stayed her, nor weariness, nor danger; but she forthwith returned to Jerusalem, and for three long days sought Him sorrowing. Great be your confusion, O my soul, who has so often lost your Jesus by your sins, and has given no heed to seek Him at once, a sign that you make very little or no account of the precious treasure of divine love.

Say one Ave Maria [Hail Mary]

Pray heartily for this grace: On the occasion that the Blessed Virgin Mary

looks upon the earth, searching for those who compassionates her sorrows,

she finds you. Amen+

Meditation for the Month of Holy Souls III

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, They sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." He said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" Luke 2:41-50.

Anyone who is a parent can identify readily with Mary's suffering as she sought sorrowing her only child. Imagine also, St. Joseph, the head and protector of the holy family, his heart heavily laden with sorrow as he wondered why Jesus had left them. Have we done something wrong? Have we offended Jesus is some way? Why has He left us? Is it already His time? Joseph and Mary are exceedinly holy people, yet did they suffer such doubts?

When my youngest child was 4, I had all my children at the grocery store with me. My routine involved requiring the younger ones to have one hand on the cart at all times as we walked through the store. The little guy was fine, holding onto the cart and jabbering about something when I stepped only a few feet away to grab something out of the dairy section. I turned, came back to my cart and he was gone. His sisters were right there - "Where did your brother go?" They had no idea....

About 4 minutes later I found him at the opposite end of the store, looking lost and crying. He had panicked and ran. I'll never forget the thoughts that went through my mind as I searched for him. Did someone take him? Will they hurt him? Will I ever see him again? How could I have taken my eyes off him? How will I ever live without him?

Upon finding him, I remember kneeling down and wrapping my arms around him. I then grabbed his shoulders and through my tears and sobs saying "Never, never do this to me again! I thought I'd never see you again! Mommy was so worried about you!"

I am a sinner, a regular old person who feels alarm with a hardened heart that knows sin and concupiscence. Our Lady who never sinned, pure and immaculate, must have felt pain that was unimaginable to you or I. Let us go with her, compassionate her sorrows as she searches for her son. Amen+

Jesus Lost in the Temple II

"And the light of my eyes itself is not with me" (Ps 37:11)

Mary's sorrow at the loss of her son in the temple was made worse by not knowing the why of his loss. She was not informed as to the cause nor the purpose of her son's actions. According to Lanspergius: "Our Sorrowful Mother was grief stricken by the loss of Jesus because in her humility she regarded it as a sign that she was no longer worthy to remain with him or attend him on earth, or to be in charge of such a treasure." Perhaps she thought herself guilty of some negligence or fault that caused Jesus to leave her. "They looked for him," says Origen, "fearing he might have left them for good."

According to St. Alphonsus Ligouri, it was for fear of having offended Jesus that Mary complained to him, "Son, why have you done so to us? Your father and I have sought you sorrowing" (Lk 2:48). She certainly was not scolding him, whom she knew to be God, she was merely expressing her grief, not a rebuke, but rather a loving complaint.

This sorrow of Mary can serve for us as a consolation in times of pain and desolation. We may weep and suffer, but with confidence, with Mary as our example. Do not be afraid that you have lost divine grace during times of dryness and spiritual darkness when you are not aware of mortal sin. We can be encouraged and assured by the words of St. Teresa of Avila: "no one is lost without knowing it, and no one is deceived without wishing to be deceived." If His Majesty withdraws from us it is for the purpose of increasing our seeking, in essence to purify our desire.

If we desire to find Jesus, we would do well to search for him as Mary did. She searched for him amidst pain and tribulation, crosses and mortifications...not amidst comforts and worldliness. "We sought you sorrowing," Mary said to Jesus. "Learn then from Mary," says Origen, "how to search for Jesus."

Prayer

Mary, so you sigh after Jesus, you who love no one but Jesus? Leave sighs to me, and to so many sinners who do not love him, or have lost him by offending him. Most loving Mother, if it is my fault that your son has not yet returned to my soul, obtain for me the grace of finding him. I know well that those who seek him find him. The Lord is good to the soul that seeks him. Help me to search for him as I should. You are the gate through which all find Jesus. I too hope to find him through you. Amen+

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

Jesus Lost in the Temple

"Let patience have a perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing" (James 1:4)

The sorrow we consider today is one of Our Mother's greatest sorrows - the loss of her child in the temple. She was used to being in the the Divine Presence daily, one can assume at most times, excepting when duty required short separations. In a way this deprivation of Mary mimics the so-called dark night of the soul, in which one steeped in God's consolation is deprived of it in order to purify that soul's longing for God. Mary underwent a dark night that was very tangible and real.

In the second chapter of Luke, the story is told that the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, together with thier family would visit the Temple annually at the Pasch. Jesus was twelve years old when this occurred, but upon departing, Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. At some time during the return journey, Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with them nor thier relatives. They returned to Jerusalem and searched for three days before finding Him in the Temple, listening to the teachers and asking questions.

What an agony of fear and anxiety these holy parents must have underwent! The following scripture passages have been applied to thier lamentations: "Have you seen him whom my soul loves? (Cant 3:3). "My tears have been my bread day and night, while it is said to be daily: Where is your God?" (Ps 41:4). "The boy is not there, and I, where shall I turn?" (Gen 37:30). We can think about what anxiety any parents undergo at such a loss. We can safely assume that Mary and Joseph were not able to sleep nor eat during these three days. According to St. Bernard she frequently addressed Jesus during this time using the words of Canticles: "Show me where you feed, where you lie in the midday, lest I begin to wander" (Cant 1:6) Imagine her distress, perhaps she said: My son, tell me where you are, tell me that you are safe and unharmed so that I may find you and have peace. Let me no longer search for you in vain...

There are some who state that this sorrow was Mary's greatest of all. The most painful sword to pierce her heart through her entire life. This is the only sorrow during which she did not have Jesus with her. Now she suffers far from her Son: "And the light of my eyes itself is not with me" (Ps 37:11). Origin states that "because of Mary's love for her son she suffered more from this loss of Jesus than any martyr ever suffered in the separation of his soul from his body." These three days must have been exquisitely and abhorringly painful indeed. "Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water; because the comforter...if far from me" (Lam 1:16). Also we hear our Lady's words echoing with those of Tobias, "What manner of joy shall be to me who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven? (Tob 5:12)

Prayer

O Blessed Virgin, why do you afflict yourself, looking everywhere for your lost son? Is it because you do not know where he is? Do you not know that he is in your heart? Are you not aware that he feeds among the lilies? You yourself said: My beloved to me, and I to him, who feeds among the lilies (Cant 2:15). Your thoughts and your love- all so humble, so pure, and so holy- are the lilies which invite your divine Spouse to dwell in you. Amen+

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