Today we remember Mama Maria, our Mother of Sorrows. In the 12th century, monks of two congregations, the Cistercians and the Servites, celebrated this day in their own unique way. But in the 14th century, it became known among many Catholics. In the year 1482, it was incorporated into the liturgical practices of the Church. In 1727, Pope Benedict XIII included it in the Church calendar. In 1913, Pope Pius X officially fixed it to be celebrated on September 15th, and it remains so to this day.
We see how Mama Maria grieved and suffered.
- The first sorrow: Simeon’s prophecy that the heart of Mary would be pierced by a sword of sorrow (Luke 2:25-35).
- The second sorrow: The Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph fled to Egypt by night to hide the child Jesus so that He would not be killed by Herod (Matthew 2:12-18).
- The third sorrow: The Virgin Mary felt great anguish when her Son Jesus was lost in the Temple (Luke 2:41-51).
- The fourth sorrow: The Virgin Mary was deeply pained when she met her Son carrying the cross (Luke 23:26-31).
- The fifth sorrow: The Virgin Mary suffered greatly seeing her Son nailed to the cross and die there (John 19:25-30).
- The sixth sorrow: The Virgin Mary suffered greatly when the body of her Son Jesus was placed in her arms after being taken down from the cross (Luke 23:50-54).
- The seventh sorrow: The Virgin Mary suffered greatly as she witnessed the body of her Son Jesus being laid in the tomb (Luke 23:55-56).