The most lamentable event in world history: Mary, Day 317

The most lamentable event in world history

Which of the greatest tragedies in recorded history deserves most our pity? Most certainly, St. Alphonsus declares, the passion of Christ and the sorrow it caused his mother.

Who can ever have a heart so hard that it won’t melt on hearing   the

most lamentable event that ever occurred in world history? There was a noble and holy mother who had an only Son. This Son was the most lovable that can be imagined: innocent, virtuous, and beautiful. He loved his mother most ten- derly, so much that he had never caused her the least displeasure, but had always shown her all respect, obedience, and affection. So this mother had placed all her affections on earth in this Son.

Hear, then, what happened. This Son, through envy, was falsely accused by his enemies. The judge knew, and himself confessed, that her Son was innocent. Yet in order to avoid offending his enemies, he condemned him to the shameful death they had demanded. This poor mother had to suffer the grief of seeing that amiable and beloved Son unjustly snatched from her in the flower of his age by a barbarous death. Inflicted with torments and drained of all his blood, he was made to die on an infamous cross in a public place of execution. And all this took place as she watched.

Devout souls, what do you say? Isn’t this event, isn’t this unhappy mother, worthy of compassion? You already understand who it is I’m talking about. This Son, so cruelly executed, was our loving redeemer, Jesus; and this mother was the Blessed Virgin Mary, who for the love she bore us was willing to see him sacrificed to divine justice by the barbarity of men. This great torment, then, that Mary endured for us—a torment that was worse than a thousand deaths— deserves both our compassion and our gratitude. If we can make no other return for so much love, at least we should give a few moments this day to consider the greatness of the sufferings by which Mary became the queen of martyrs. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

Will I give a few moments this day, as St. Alphonsus urges me, to ponder the greatness of Mary’s sufferings?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. Paul of the Cross: O tender Mother, unutterable was your grief in finding yourself deprived of your dear Son, and then in beholding him dead in your arms!

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