In this powerful teaching, Fr. Chris Alar reflects on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, showing how deeply Mary was united to the Passion of Jesus. Scripture reveals her Seven Sorrows: Simeon’s prophecy, the flight into Egypt, losing Jesus for three days, meeting Him on the road to Calvary, the Crucifixion, receiving His body, and His burial. Mary gave birth to Jesus without the pains of labor according to a longstanding Christian tradition, but at Calvary she experienced the painful spiritual labor of becoming Mother of the Church. Jesus gave her to us when He said, “Behold, your mother.” If we are truly her children, we must ask a difficult question: Are our sins, divisions, indifference, and rejection of Christ continuing to pierce the heart of our Mother?
Mary continues to sorrow over the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, because a mother suffers when her children turn away from her Son. This call to repentance is powerfully connected with Our Lady of Kibeho in Rwanda, where devotion to the Seven Sorrows was emphasized in the Church-approved apparitions. Let us recommit ourselves to praying the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, asking Mary to obtain for us the grace to recognize our sins, sincerely repent, and experience true conversion. May we stop being children who add to our Mother’s sorrows and instead become children who console her heart by loving, following, and remaining faithful to Jesus. Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother of the Church, pray for us and lead us to your Son.
Readings for September 15th 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091526.cfm
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