Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother

Anonymous

Description

Many Catholics are unaware of our holy traditions on and powerful devotions to the Sorrows of Mary. Based on Scripture and the lives of the Saints, this little book will open eyes and hearts to the Sorrows of Our Lady.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Catholic Church

Informations

• Publié par: TAN Books
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781505107401
• Langue: English

Extrait

Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother
Including Prayers and Promises of The Seven Sorrows of Mary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nihil Obstat:
 
William J. Blacet, J.C.L.
 
 
Censor Librorum
 
 
 
 
Imprimatur:
✠
John P. Cody, S.T.D.
 
 
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
 
 
March 10, 1958
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originally published at Clyde, Missouri under the title “Devotion to the Mother of Sorrows.” 10th edition, December, 1951, 226,000.
Retypeset and republished in 2002 from the 1958 (revised) edition by TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC, with the addition of material on pp. 33–34, 38–46, 68.
ISBN: 978-0-89555-726-1
Library of Congress Control No: 2001-132406
Cover illustration: Detail of “Crucifixion” window photo. Photo © 1995 Alan Brown, Bardstown, Kentucky.
Cover design: Pete Massari, Rockford, Illinois.
TAN Books
Charlotte, North Carolina
www.TANBooks.com
2012
        “At the cross her station keeping ,
        Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last .”
— From the Stabat Mater
The Mother of Sorrows
“ Holy Mother, pierce me through, In my heart each wound renew, Of my Saviour Crucified .”
“ And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed .”
—Luke 2:35
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.”
— John 19:25-27
Contents
1. Devotion to the Mother of Sorrows
2. A Source of Grace and Consolation For All Christians
3. Prayers in Honor of the Sorrowful Mother
        “O thou Mother, Fount of love!
        Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord .”
— From the Stabat Mater
Chapter 1
Devotion to the Mother of Sorrows
Sanctioned by the Church
D EVOTION to the sorrows of Mary has always been a favorite devotion among Catholics. It has been sanctioned by the Church and introduced into the Missal and Breviary. In order to keep before our minds the inexpressible sufferings endured for us by the Mother of God while she lived here on earth with her Divine Son, the Church observes two feasts in honor of the Seven Dolors (Sorrows) of Mary: one on the Friday before Good Friday and the other on September 15. She enriched with numerous indulgences the Rosary of the Seven Dolors, as well as a number of other devotions to the Mother of Sorrows. How touching is the beautiful hymn, Stabat Mater Dolorosa (see page 35), which the Church intertwines with the public recitation of the Way of the Cross.
The Seven Sorrows
The Church spares no pains to induce her children to venerate the sufferings of their Heavenly Mother. Seven of her sorrows have been chosen for our special veneration . These are the ones selected for the mysteries of the Rosary of the Seven Dolors. (This is explained in detail on page 67.) They are:
        1.     The prophecy of Simeon.
        2.     The flight into Egypt.
        3.     The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
        4.     Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary.
        5.     Jesus dies on the Cross.
        6.     Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms.
        7.     Jesus is placed in the tomb.
Because of these Seven Sorrows which pierced her maternal heart, the Mother of God is often represented either as standing beneath the Cross , or as holding the lifeless body of Jesus on her lap, her heart transfixed by seven swords , as foretold in the prophecy of holy Simeon at the Presentation: “And thy own soul a sword shall pierce.” ( Luke 2:35).
Holy Church recalls to our mind only seven of Our Lady’s sorrows, but who could form an estimate of their real number! The sufferings of the Mother of God cannot be comprehended; they are inconceivable. But although her whole life was, like that of her Divine Son, a continuous series of sufferings and tribulations, the greatest woes and trials came to her during the week of the bitter Passion and Death of Jesus, when the storm of hatred and fury burst forth with all violence against Him.
During Our Saviour’s Passion, every glance at her suffering Son forced the sword deeper into Mary’s soul. Every sound of His voice brought special bitterness to her heart. Every increase of her love for Him—and it increased with every moment of His Passion—augmented her sorrows. The dearer and more precious Our Lord became to her, the more keenly she felt the heart-rending woe of His cruel and ignominious Passion!