Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
September 15th
As we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (sometimes referred to as “The Compassion of Mary”), our thoughts go out to the whole Society and to our extended family of colleagues, associates, alumnae/i and friends. Especially in these days after the General Chapter, we are more aware of our “Cor Unum” and the sense of being “One Body” throughout the world.
On this feast, we recall that St. Madeleine Sophie was drawn to an image of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Villa Lante (in Rome) and in 1839 dedicated the Society of the Sacred Heart to her. We can only imagine the consolation Sophie felt in believing that Our Lady looked after the Society. In 1858, after a particularly trying time, she placed the “General Novitiate” under the protection of Our Lady of Sorrows. Sophie knew that we needed to unite our hearts with a loving heart greater than our own.
These days, as we remember the 15th anniversary of 9-11, the many refugees sailing at great risk to new lands, the earthquake in Italy and challenges in families and in our world, we let these realities enter our hearts where suffering opens out to even greater compassion. This is what we can learn from Mary. Suffering can be for us a doorway to deeper growth, loving awareness of others, and our own journey into God. Ultimately, this feast is about the pierced heart that becomes a welcoming space for others.
A few years ago, I read a wonderful piece on suffering and its transformative quality (“What Suffering Does” by David Brooks, New York Times, April 7, 2014):
“Recovering from suffering is not like recovering from a disease. Many people don’t come out healed; they come out different… Instead of recoiling from the sorts of loving commitments that almost always involve suffering, they throw themselves more deeply into them. Even while experiencing the worst and most lacerating consequences, some people double down on vulnerability. They hurl themselves deeper and gratefully into their art, loved ones and commitments.”
As I have been praying with this feast, what comes to my mind and heart is that Mary knew compassion because of her great love for her son and for the whole world. The heart of this mother is as large as the cosmos and as deep as the deepest ocean. With trust and confidence we ask you, Mary, to accompany us in the days ahead, as we enter more “deeply and gratefully” into LIFE and MISSION.
Ellen Collesano, RSCJ
