It is 15th September 2015. We celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The readings are from Heb.5:7-9 and the Gospel from Jn. 19:25-27. The seven sorrows of Mater Dolorosa are the Prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of the child Jesus for three days, Mary meets Jesus on His way to Calvary, The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross, and The Burial of Jesus. Pope Pius VII declared this devotion to the entire church in 1814. Reciting one Our Father and seven Hail Mary in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows is the oldest devotion. The first reading points out that by going through suffering Jesus proved his obedience to the Father. The perfection of Jesus came through His obedience to the Father who could always stood by Him. “Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” (Heb.5:7). The responsorial Psalm prays, “Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.” (Ps.31:2). The Gospel brings out the scene of the passion of Christ as our Mother Mary profoundly witnessing near the cross. We all have our Mother who showed us by her example how to be faithful to Jesus until the end even though the sorrows pierce our being. As long as we are walking in the path of suffering, the path of obedience to the will of God and in the path of humility we are sure to reach God. May the Lord bless you to obey and to suffer for Jesus in order to be perfect.