In preparation for reading at this morning’s Mass, I used the texts from the lectionary for my meditation. In reflecting on the “alleluia verse,” I was struck by the relationship between love and sorrow.

I realized that Mary, who is now invoked as “Our Lady of Sorrows,” probably loved more than any other human person ever had, more than any of us. Her great love for her Son must have been a cause of great, corresponding sorrow.

She had to see Him be treated cruelly and put to death. If you see someone you love suffering, it causes you suffering and sorrow as well. Since Mary, whose love was so great, saw her Son suffering so terribly, her sorrow must have been tremendous as well.

I know that I have sufferings and sorrows in my own life, but I doubt I’ll ever have any that compare to what Mary went through.

If we ever get tempted to fall into self-pity, we have only to look to our sorrowful, suffering Mother to see that we don’t have it so bad after all.

As Franciscan Sisters, we are encouraged by our directives to keep the example of Mary “ever before [our] eyes.” An integral part of this example was her willingness to cooperate in God’s plan, even when it meant intense suffering.