Mary watches as Jesus is buried, Mary: Day 251

Mary watches as Jesus is buried

St. Alphonsus imagines the scene as Jesus is laid in the tomb, and Mary looks on in unspeakable grief.

Mary, with the body of her Son locked in her arms, was absorbed in grief. The holy disciples, fearful that the poor mother might die of grief, approached her to take the body from her arms, to bear it away for burial. This they did with gentle and respectful force, and having embalmed it, they wrapped it in a linen cloth already prepared. On this shroud, which is still preserved at Turin, our Lord was pleased to leave to the world an impression of his sacred body.

The disciples then bore him to the tomb. They first of all raised the sacred body on their shoulders, and then the mournful procession set forth. Choirs of angels from heaven accompanied it. The holy women followed, and with them the afflicted mother also followed her Son to the place of burial. When they had reached the appointed place, “how willingly would Mary have buried herself alive there with her Son, had that been his will!”—this she herself revealed to St. Bridget. But that was of course not God’s will. Many authors say that she accom- panied the sacred body of Jesus into the sepulcher, and according to Baronius, there the disciples also deposited the nails and the crown of thorns. In raising the stone to close up the entrance, the holy disciples of the Savior had to approach our Blessed Lady, saying: “Now, Lady, we must close the sepulcher. Forgive us, look once more at your Son, and bid him a last goodbye.”

The afflicted Mother must have replied: “My beloved Son, shall I see you no more? Then, on this last occasion to see you, receive my last goodbye, the good- bye of your dear mother; and receive also my heart, which I leave buried with you.” “The Blessed Virgin,” writes St. Fulgentius, “would have fervently desired to bury her soul with the body of Christ.” And this Mary herself revealed to St. Bridget, saying: “I can truly say that at the burial of my Son, one tomb contained two hearts.”

—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What does it mean to say that when Jesus was buried, “one tomb contained two hearts”?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord of life, in death you remained hidden from the world. Teach us to hide ourselves there with you, grieving over our sins so that we may one day rejoice in our resurrection with you to eternal life.

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