Saturday, October 06, 2007

Saturday - Day of Our Lady

QUEEN OF MARTYRS, PRAY FOR US

Our Immaculate Mother is the Queen of Martyrs. She suffered so much and because of that she consoles the martyrs and all those carrying their heavy crosses: "O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to mine sorrow" (Lam 1:12). Mary suffered deeply in her spirit exactly as the holy man, Simeon foretold: "And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed" (Luke 2, 35). Mary suffered as mother and Co-Redemptorix, she desired and suffered with her Son without any consolation unlike the martyrs souls filled by the merciful power of God with consolations in the moments of their gravest tortures: "According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul" (Ps 93, 19). Our Immaculata long-suffering made her the Queen of Martyrs. Mary suffered for years when one after another, seven sword of sorrows pierced her heart. She could said with the prophet: "For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs" (Ps 30, 11). Let us show compassion to sufferings of our Queen of Martyrs! Let us imitate her patience in carrying the crosses God's providence grants us. Let us suffer in the spirit of holy resignation so prominent in Our Lady, who in the middle of the most grievous spiritual pain was most patient and resigned. And if we think we are not going to endure the pain anymore, let us fly into the compassionate arms of the Mother of Sorrows and look at the seven swords piercing: "forget not the groanings of thy mother" (Ecclus 7:29)