Servite Friars: Our Lady of Sorrows

OUR LADY OF SORROWS

Paschal Mystery

Servants of Mary have safeguarded the role and message of Our Lady of Sorrows for the whole Church across many centuries. In a world of great turmoil, the presence of the Sorrowful Mother near the suffering Christ and his body, is as significant as ever. Here are some reflections on the Our Lady of Sorrows, faithful companion of the Servant-Messiah.

The whole Gospel ideal shows the Paschal Mystery as the Way of self abasement; in this Way Christ empties Himself, and shows us how "those whom God allows to suffer entrust themselves to the constancy of the creator and go on doing good" (I Peter 4,19).

The vocation of Our Lady, faithful companion "ever at His side" (Preface of Our Lady at the Foot of the Cross), has inspired people in every age, giving them comfort amid affliction, courage, sure Hope, strength to be involved in human anguish, and the generosity to put the needs of others before one's own.

Compassion

What seems particularly poignant is Our Lady's helplessness. In the four Calvary Sorrows of the Dolour Rosary and Via Matris, she is most obviously present, and yet quite unable to do anything, other than be there. Of course just "being there" could be taken as an excuse for "doing nothing" towards eradicating the causes of human anguish. But many "anti suffering" activities just create more sufferings, like starting one war to stop another one... No, the first requisite for genuine "activity against suffering" is actual compassion, an almost silent presence, which becomes part of the anguish long before being able to do anything about it.

It's easy to talk like this, but very difficult to truly suffer with those who suffer.

Emptying Himself…

Our Lady of Sorrows offers us the most encouraging demonstration of the supreme vocation of the Suffering Servant of God himself, who impoverishes himself for us, emptying himself until he has literally nothing left to lose. This is beautifully demonstrated in the episode of the Women taken in Adultery, when Jesus gets down on the ground, lowering himself and "looking up" to the woman (Jn.8,10), rather than looking down on her, in order to release here from whatever was wrong. One who has clearly "nothing to lose" may be well received by those who suffer, or are in trouble, or poor, distressed, guilty or abused.

The silent presence of Our Lady in the middle of human anguish, that of both Christ and the Body of Christ, is of great inspiration to her Servants.

Religious Vows

It is fairly obvious that the spirituality of "nothing left to lose" has a continual bearing on the religious Vow of Poverty. I wonder, though, can we see its bearing on the religious Vow of Chastity? If we substituted the word "helpless" with "impotent", then perhaps a new dimension to our Celibacy is opened up. The Virginity of Mary can "do nothing", "produce nothing" by human endeavour alone. The Word is made flesh but "not by urge of the flesh or will of man" (cf. Jn.1,13). the "impotence" or "helplessness" of Mary is as relevant in Bethlehem as at Cana or on Calvary. The Servants of Mary are led by the Holy Spirit to be caught up in the helplessness of the Virgin Mary. This is the vocation of the whole Church, which Religious in general and Servites in particular are privileged to represent.

Of course it is not neat and tidy, schematic and organised, any more than at Mary's presence at Cana and Calvary! Of course it is not simply "voluntary", as though you sat down one day and decided "I think I'll be single!", "I think I'll be helpless!". It is a calling, with all its questions, doubts, choices, frustrations, liberations and mysteries. And an on going call, at that.

Purify motives

But one thing is for sure: the silent presence of Our Lady in the suffering of Christ can reassure us when we feel powerless in the face of human suffering (our own or others). It will encourage us not to look away from the pain and sorrow of people, even if we can little or nothing. It will purify our motives when we actually do something for the alleviation and eradication of suffering, so that we don't replace one form of patronising oppression with another. And it will enhance in us that unique peace of Christ "which surpasses all understanding", successfully combining within us the gifts of humility, unlimited compassion and tenderness, great clarity in matters of justice, and firmness for doing whatever we can for others with detachment, with confidence and with far more Christ like zeal than we ever believed possible.

Of particular importance is our responsibility to present Our Lady of Sorrows to the Church in this way. Our celibacy, our service and our prayers can help people to be close to the suffering and glorious Saviour, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sorrowful Mother.

Fr Paul M. Addison OSM paul@servitefriars.org