Highlights of September are the Blessed Virgin Mary’s feast days. Mary’s birth, September 8th, Mary’s name day, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, September 12th, and Our Lady of Sorrows September 15th. Immense joy and then great sorrow.
September 15th, Our Lady of Sorrows, is emblematic of Mary’s intense suffering and grief at the foot of the Lord’s Cross. However, Mary’s suffering comprised other sorrows, including, the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, taken from the Cross Mary’s holding of Jesus, and his burial.
Through this immense suffering Mary Scanlon writes, “that Mary had great joy in her life too” despite her immense sorrow at Calvary because “her life in union with God was a life of Joy.”
Our lives also may have extraordinary joy and great sorrow. This is why we can so easily relate to Mary. In her life, my grandmother experienced great loss, suffering and joy. She received solace and support in her devotion to Mary and living a life in union with God. My grandmother was always there for her family and others, any day or time, mirroring Mary in her devotion to us. She lived her life with great dignity and grace.
As Affiliates and Associates of the Greater Company of Mary we have wonderful role models; Mary, Venerable Mary Potter, the LCM sisters, and many others, and for me personally, my grandmother.
Mary Scanlon writes “Mary Potter’s words challenge us anew. Mary was spared no human pain but sin. Can I stand with her at the foot of the Cross?”
What are our challenges today?
Can we “Be for Others” who are suffering, who need support and solace, through prayer, or in any other way like Mary, Venerable Mary Potter, and the countless others before and coming after us?
Mission of Love – Mary Scanlon, Little Company of Mary.