Beneath the cross the Mother kept
Bleak vigil under darkened skies.
Upon the cross her Son hung nailed,
Stabbed through by crowds of hostile eyes.“And your own soul a sword shall pierce,”
The old man in the Temple said,
The Spirit’s sword, the word of God—
God’s word be done, was all she said.*
Whenever I find myself anxious and overburdened, I try to stop and ask myself, “Are you being selfish right now?” Almost always, my mental turbulence stems from pride.
This morning, for example, I thought it would be good to go to Mass. Today’s feast is so very beautiful—difficult to contemplate, certainly, but important to hold close in our hearts.
So we went. There is an historic chapel just up the road that offers daily Mass at 9:00 a.m. The reason we don’t go more often is that this chapel is small and, like Michelle, I feel extremely conspicuous with all my kids.
Because I am conspicuous with all my kids.
They were the only children in the chapel this morning.
It was fine for the most part and the young priest gave a great sermon on the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Still, at one point during the Mass I noticed an older woman across the aisle. Her lips were pursed tightly as she stared at my children—one of them in particular who was fairly quiet but a quite a bit fidgety—and I saw her shake her head as she looked away.
My pride rose up and you can bet that my thoughts kept returning to this woman for the rest of the Mass. “Doesn’t she know how much I need the grace of the Eucharist? Does she know how hard I worked to get here? Does she not remember what it’s like to have children?”
Even now, four hours later, I am still tempted to fret about her.
Silly, huh?
Given today’s feast day and all.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary are:
- The prophecy of Simeon;
- The flight into Egypt;
- Losing the Holy Child in Jerusalem;
- Meeting her Son on his way to Calvary;
- Standing at the foot of the Cross;
- Holding the body of her Son after He was taken from the Cross;
- The burial of her Son.
Our Blessed Mother knew real suffering. May she help us with all of ours.
*Taken from a hymn published in Magnificat magazine.
Margaret, it makes me so sad at mass when I see someone who obviously disapproves of a young child in mass! At my parish, I love to see the many families with young children at daily mass – no matter how noisy they are (and believe me, they get noisy!). What a blessing for both the mothers and the children. So don't mind the grouchy lip pursers!!!
Margaret, thank you for your post. It reminds me of the homily today. Fr. Bartunek talked about God giving us the gift of his mother, and just as Mary stood at the foot of the cross, so she will be standing with us during our suffering. It was so consoling to hear that we don't suffer alone.
Thanks for this wonderful post, as usual.
RE: Seven Sorrows-there's a beautiful Christmas song called the "Seven Rejoices of Mary" that I just love. Loreena McKennit has it on her Christmas album. It's a nice parallel to this feast day.
Doesn’t she know how much I need the grace of the Eucharist? Does she know how hard I worked to get here? Does she not remember what it’s like to have children?
She hasn't a clue. If she ever did, she has forgotten and you can not worry about it. Remember her in your chaplet today. How very sorrowful that she does not find the beauty in your children's adoring faces. Spend your energy praying and not fretting (and this is totally the pot calling the kettle black, but still).
Oh yes. Do not fret, but simply pray and be grateful for your own very soft, very tender heart. For what sorrow it must be to live in a "lips-pursed at the sight of lovely children at daily mass" kind of state.