We are the children of Mary’s sorrows, Mary: Day 320

We are the children of Mary’s sorrows

St. Alphonsus reminds us that Our Lady’s cooperation in our redemption, as she suffered at the Cross, allowed her to bring us forth as her children.

Blessed Simon of Cascia writes: “All who saw this mother silent at the cross, and not uttering a complaint in the midst of such great suffering, were filled with astonishment.” But if Mary’s lips were silent, her heart was not so, for she unceasingly offered the life of her Son to the divine Justice for our salvation. So we know that by the merits of her sorrows, she cooperated in our birth into the life of grace, and we are the children of her sorrows. “Christ was pleased,” says Lanspergius, “that Mary, the one cooperating in our redemption, whom he had determined to give us for our mother, should be present there. For it was at the foot of the Cross that she was to bring forth us, her children.”

If any consolation entered the sea of pain that was the heart of Mary, the only one was this: She knew that by her sorrows she was leading us to eternal salvation, as Jesus himself revealed to St. Bridget: “My mother, Mary, because of her compassion and love, was made the mother of all in heaven and on earth.” And indeed, these were the last words with which Jesus bid her farewell before his death—this was his last act of entrustment, in the person of St. John, leaving us to her to be her children: “Woman, behold your son” (Jn 19:26).

From that time forward, Mary began to perform this benevolent role  of a mother for us. St. Peter Damian attests, “By the prayers of Mary, who stood between the cross of the good thief and that of her Son, the thief was converted and saved, and in this way she repaid a service he had done for her before.” For according to an old tradition, this thief had been kind to Jesus and Mary on their journey to Egypt. The Blessed Virgin has ever since continued to perform this same intercessory role for others.

—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

Is perhaps the cross of the “good thief ” my cross, where I suffer for my sins and look to Jesus crucified for forgiveness? If so, do I see Mary standing there, praying for my salvation?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: Sweet mother, let your sorrows obtain for me par- don, perseverance, and heaven, where I hope to rejoice with you, and to sing the infinite mercies of my God for all eternity.

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