A SOURCE OF GRACE AND CONSOLATION FOR ALL CHRISTIANS

(from the booklet "Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother")

Devotion to the sorrows of Mary is a source of great graces because it is

so pleasing to our Divine Lord. Many holy writers say that through her

sufferings Mary placed an obligation, as it were upon her Son, which

constrains Him to grant her whatever she asks of Him. As soon as we

sympathize with the sorrows of His Mother, we draw our Saviour to

ourselves. "He is," says St. Bernard, "at the disposal of those who

devoutly meditate on the sufferings of His Mother." Our Lord once said to

Bl. Veronica of Binasco: "My daughter, the tears which you shed in

compassion for My sufferings are pleasing to Me, but bear in mind that on

account of My excessive love for My Mother, the tears you shed in

compassion for her sufferings are still more precious."

There are, indeed, few devotions for which our Saviour has made greater

promises that for this one, and there are few that are more pleasing to

Him.

THE COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED

Through her martyrdom, Mary has become in a special way the comforter of

the afflicted. It was by her own experience of sorrow that she was taught

the sympathy which enables her to comfort her children in all their

afflictions. God gave her a mighty and a sympathetic heart for this great

task.

For all God's children, the way to Heaven leads across the mount of Calvary

-- the way of trial and suffering. In the company of our Sorrowful Mother,

we walk more easily, fight more courageously, and suffer more patiently,

perseveringly and joyfully; for she holds up before us not only the example

of the sufferings and death of her Divine Son, but also the victory, the

joy and the glory which He has won through His sufferings.

How often do we grow impatient, fainthearted, despondent and inconstant in

suffering . . . how often without endurance, without resignation, full of

complaints and murmurings! Oh, let us deeply engrave in our hearts the

sorrows of Mary! May she, our Sorrowful Mother, ever be our model in

suffering, in the patient endurance of trials, and in the humble acceptance

of sorrows and afflictions. When the hand of God lays a heavy cross upon

our shoulders, let us turn to Mary Sorrowing, and we shall obtain

consolation and strength to carry the cross patiently and meritoriously.

The above is taken from Chapter 2 of the booklet "Devotion to the Sorrowful

Mother" published by TAN Books