Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/745



The Mother  of  sorrows.  Words  cannot  describe  what  Mary  suffered when she  heard  of  the  scourging  and  condemnation  of  her  Divine  Son; when she  saw  Him  dragging  the  Cross  along  and  heard  the  strokes of the  hammer  which  were  driving  the  nails  through  His  Hands  and Feet; and  when,  finally,  she  stood  beneath  the  Cross,  watching  His Precious Blood  trickling  down  to  the  ground,  and  heard  the  words  of blasphemy  which  were  hurled  at  Him. No mother’s  heart  has  ever suffered so  much  as  did  Mary’s,  for  never  did  mother  love  her  son  with such a holy  love  as  that  with  which  Mary  loved  her  Son,  who  was at the  same  time  her  God. To see  His  sufferings,  and  to  be  separated from  Him,  gave  her  unspeakable  pain. Truly Simeon’s  prophecy was  now  fulfilled:  “Thine  own  soul  a sword  shall  pierce”  (see chapter  VII).

Mary’s fortitude.  In  spite  of  the  furious  crowd,  raging  with  hatred and envy,  Mary  fearlessly  avowed  herself  to  be  the  Mother  of  the Crucified One,  and  was  eager  to  share  His  shame. She did  not  sink down, fainting  and  helpless,  but  “stood  by  the  Cross”,  and  with  a perfect resignation offered  up  her  Son  to  the  heavenly  Father. It was  as  if she  said  to  God:  “Take  Him,  even  if  my  heart  break! Only let  the world be  saved,  and  Thine  honour  restored!”  Under  the  Cross  Mary won the  title  of  Queen  of  Martyrs.

The love  for  parents.  Peter  and  John  were  the  two  Apostles  singled out and  most  confided  in  by  Jesus. To the  former  He  committed  the charge of  His  Church,  and  to  the  care  of  the  latter  He  consigned  her who was  to  Him  the  dearest  on  earth,  His  Mother. To the  last  moment of His  life  Jesus  observed  the  fourth  commandment,  and  left  an  example to all  children  how  they  are  to  love  their  parents  even  unto  death, and do  for  them  all  they  can.

Mary our  Mother.  In  the  person  of  John,  who  at  the  foot  of the  Cross  represented  the  apostles  and  the  whole  Church,  Jesus  gave Mary to  be  the  spiritual  mother  of  all  Christians,  of  the  whole  Church and of  all  its  members. In a far  higher  sense  than  Eve  she  is  the mother of  all  the  living,  for  she  is  the  mother  of  all  those  who  by the  Blood  of  Christ  are  born  again  to  eternal  life. We ought  therefore to  love  and  honour  Mary  and  turn  with  confidence  to  her  as our  mother.