>> A READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS. IN THE DAYS WHEN CHRIST WAS IN THE FLESH, HE OFFERED PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH LOUD CRIES AND TEARS TO THE ONE WHO WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, AND HE WAS HEARD BECAUSE OF HIS REVERENCE. SON THOUGH HE WAS, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM WHAT HE SUFFERED; AND WHEN HE WAS MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM. THE WORDS OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> IN YOU, O LORD, I TAKE REFUGE; LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME. IN YOUR JUSTICE RESCUE ME, MAKE HASTE TO DELIVER ME! >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> BE MY ROCK OF REFUGE, A STRONGHOLD TO GIVE ME SAFETY. YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS; FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE YOU WILL LEAD AND GUIDE ME. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> YOU WILL FREE ME FROM THE SNARE THEY SET FOR ME, FOR YOU ARE MY REFUGE. INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT; YOU WILL REDEEM ME, O LORD, O FAITHFUL GOD. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> BUT MY TRUST IS IN YOU, O LORD, I SAY, YOU ARE MY GOD. IN YOUR HANDS IS MY DESTINY; RESCUE ME FROM THE CLUTCHES OF MY ENEMIES AND MY PERSECUTORS. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. >> HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD, WHICH YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO FEAR YOU, AND WHICH, TOWARD THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN YOU, YOU SHOW IN THE SIGHT OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN. >> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. (ORGAN) >> ♪ STABAT MATER DOLOROSA JUXTA CRUCEM LACRIMOSA, DUM PENDEBAT FILIUS ♪ ♪ AT THE CROSS HER STATION KEEPING, STOOD THE MOURNFUL MOTHER WEEPING, CLOSE TO JESUS TO THE LAST ♪ ♪ THROUGH HER HEART, HIS SORROW SHARING, ALL HIS BITTER ANGUISH BEARING, NOW AT LENGTH THE SWORD HAD PASSED ♪ ♪ HOW SHE STOOD IN DESPERATION, UPWARD GAZING ON THE PASSION OF HER SANCTIFYING SON ♪ ♪ (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ BLESSED ARE YOU, O VIRGIN MARY; WITHOUT DYING YOU WON THE MARTYR'S CROWN BENEATH THE CROSS OF THE LORD ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM JOHANNEM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> STANDING BY THE CROSS OF JESUS WERE HIS MOTHER AND HIS MOTHER'S SISTER, MARY THE WIFE OF CLOPAS, AND MARY MAGDALENE. WHEN JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER AND THE DISCIPLE THERE WHOM HE LOVED HE SAID TO HIS MOTHER, WOMAN, BEHOLD, YOUR SON. THEN HE SAID TO THE DISCIPLE, BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER. AND FROM THAT HOUR THE DISCIPLE TOOK HER INTO HIS HOME. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> TODAY WE CELEBRATE THIS BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSAL MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. AND YOU KNOW THAT AFTER MASS EVERY DAY WE PRAY LIVE THE ROSARY AND THIS MONTH FOLLOWING THE ROSARY WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING THE BEAUTIFUL LITANY OF OUR LADY OF THE 7 SORROWS. AN ABRIDGED VERSION. IT WAS WRITTEN BY POPE PIUS VII. TODAY IS THE MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. SEPTEMBER 15 IT CLOSES THE LITTLE OCTAVE OF THIS 8 DAY PERIOD BEGINNING WITH SEPTEMBER 8 OUR LADY'S NATIVITY. HER BEING BORN FROM HER MOTHER'S WOMB ST. ANNE. WHICH SHOWS HER ENTERING INTO THE WORLD BUT WE CELEBRATE HER IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN ST. ANNE'S WOMB 9 MONTHS BEFORE THAT WHICH IS DECEMBER 8, DECEMBER 8 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 8. NINE MONTH HUMAN GESTATION TIME. AND ON SEPTEMBER 8 WE CELEBRATE HER NATIVITY. THE BLESSED MOTHER'S NATIVITY ENTERING INTO THE WORLD. TODAY NOW 8 DAYS LATER ON THE 15TH WE CELEBRATE OUR LADY OF SORROWS WHICH IS REALLY THE FEAST DAY CELEBRATED AS A MEMORIAL. THE FEAST DAY THAT SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE OFFICE OF HER DIVINE ETERNITY. SHE STOOD AT THE CROSS. IT SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE OF HER OFFICE. CAPITAL O. THE OFFICE OF DIVINE MATERNITY WHICH WE CELEBRATE WHEN? JANUARY 1. THE 8TH DAY THE OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS. DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 8 DAYS LATER JANUARY 1 MARY MOTHER OF GOD. THE GREAT SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD. THE COLLECT PRAYER AT THE CLOSING OF THE PENITENTIAL RITE BEFORE THE 1ST READING IS SO BEAUTIFUL. IT CONTINUES THE THEME OF YESTERDAY WHICH IS THE FEAST DAY OF THE EXULTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS WHICH FATHER JOSEPH PREACHED ON SO BEAUTIFULLY YESTERDAY. IT CONTINUES THE THEME IN TODAY'S COLLECT PRAYER FOR OUR LADY OF SORROWS. THE WORDS OF THE COLLECT SAID GOD WHO WILL THAT WHEN YOUR SON WAS LIFTED HIGH ON THE CROSS HIS MOTHER WOULD STAND CLOSE BY AND SHARE IN HIS SUFFERING. IT IS RIGHT THERE. WHAT WE HEAR AFTER THE PSALM AND ITS RESPONSE BUT BEFORE THE GOSPEL? A BEAUTIFUL SEQUENCE CHANTED AND SUNG BY THE CHOIR, LITERALLY IN THE ENGLISH FROM THE LATIN 'STANDING MOTHER.' HELP ME OUT HERE. AT THE CROSS HER STATION KEEPING, STOOD THE MOURNFUL MOTHER WEEPING. NOW I KNOW I HAVE READ THIS BEFORE BUT ON TODAY'S MEMORIAL TODAY'S FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS IT IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE TO READ IT TODAY I BELIEVE. IT CONCERNS THE SO CALLED SWOON OF THE VIRGIN DEVOTION. THE LATIN RENDERED IT "SPASMUS VIRGINIS" SPASM OF THE VIRGIN. I MADE MENTION OF IT EARLIER IN THE WEEK. I DID NOT READ THE WHOLE THING BUT I MADE REFERENCE TO IT. IN THE PAST I BELIEVE I HAVE READ IT BUT IT IS WORTH READING AGAIN. IT IS SHORT CONCERNING THE SWOON OF THE VIRGIN DEVOTION. WE ALL KNOW WHAT A SWOON IS. YOU SWOON JUST BEFORE YOU COMPLETELY FAINT AND GO OUT. OR A SPASM. THE "SPASMUS VIRGINIS" SPASM JUST BEFORE COMPLETELY GOING OUT. LISTEN TO THIS. IN THE MIDDLE AGES THERE DEVELOPED A CURIOUS DEVOTION TO THE SO CALLED "SPASMUS VIRGINIS" OR SPASM OF THE VIRGIN OR THE SWOON OF THE VIRGIN. IT IS A THEME AND SOME MEDIEVAL CRUCIFIXION ICONOGRAPHY IN WHICH OUR LADY IS EXTREMELY GRIEF STRICKEN SPASMODICALLY SWOONING AND THEN LITERALLY FAINTING IN THE ARMS OF ST. JOHN OR 1 OF THE OTHER HOLY WOMEN. MARY MAGDALENE OR MARY. IN 1503, THE GREAT DOMINICAN THEOLOGIAN CARDINAL CAJETAN WROTE A TREATISE AGAINST THE SWOON OF THE VIRGIN. AMONG OTHER THINGS HE POINTED OUT THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL. ST. JOHN CLEARLY STATES THAT JESUS'S MOTHER STOOD NEAR HIS CROSS. AGAIN THINK OF THE ANCIENT LENTEN HYMN, "STABAT MATER" STANDING MOTHER THAT SERVED AS THE SEQUENCE TODAY JUST BEFORE THE GOSPEL. THAT HYMN COMES TO US FROM AROUND 1275. THE 13TH CENTURY. CARDINAL CAJETAN AND OTHERS SOON LABEL THE SWOON DEVOTION BOTH SCANDALOUS AND DANGEROUS TO THE FAITHFUL. DO YOU NOT LOVE IT THAT THE CHURCH IS GUIDING US LIKE THAT? THE CHURCH IS OUR MOTHER AND GUIDING US TOWARD PROPER DEVOTION AND WHAT IS NOT PROPER DEVOTION. WHAT A GUIDE. WHAT A GUIDE. THE CARDINAL LABELED THE SWOON OF THE VIRGIN DEVOTION SUCH BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLY NOT CONSTANT CONSONANT WITH OUR BLESSED MOTHER'S COURAGEOUS BEHAVIOR THAT 1ST GOOD FRIDAY. DID SHE WEEP? YES. PROBABLY COPIOUS TEARS. YES. WAS SHE SORROWFUL? YES. TODAY'S FEAST DAY IS CALLED OUR LADY OF SORROWS. IT IS 1 OF HER 2600 + TITLES. BUT SHE DID NOT SWOON, SPASM, FAINT OR COLLAPSE OR GO OUT COMPLETELY. SHE DID NONE OF THOSE THINGS. DUE TO WORKS OF CARDINAL CAJETAN AND OTHER NOTABLE THEOLOGIANS, POPE JULIUS THE 2ND REFUSED TO ATTACH INDULGENCES TO THE DEVOTION. SOON THE CHURCH FORBADE ARTISTS TO DEPICT OUR LADY FAINTING BELOW THE CROSS AND SO IT WAS THEN THAT THE "SPASMUS VIRGINIS" DEVOTION DISAPPEARED ALTOGETHER. O GOD WHO WILLED THAT WHEN YOUR SON WOULD BE LIFTED UP FROM THE CROSS, HIS MOTHER WOULD STAND CLOSE BY AND SHARE THE SUFFERING. THIS TELLS US THAT SHE IS STANDING NEAR US WHEN WE HAVE OUR OWN PARTICULAR SUFFERINGS. IN THE PLURAL. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS BORN TO BE THE MOTHER OF GOD. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 8 TO BE THE MOTHER OF GOD. SEPTEMBER 15. STANDING AT THE CROSS. THE FULFILLMENT OF HER OFFICE. OF THE DIVINE MATERNITY. CAPITAL O. CELEBRATED ON JANUARY 1 EVERY YEAR. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS BORN TO BE THE MOTHER OF GOD. THIS BEAUTIFUL OCTAVE. REMEMBER I SAID NOT ONLY IS THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS THE FEAST DAY YESTERDAY ON THE 14TH BUT ALSO THE MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY CELEBRATED WITHIN THE OCTAVE ON 12 SEPTEMBER. USURPED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE 12TH WAS A SUNDAY. AND SUNDAY TOOK PRECEDENCE, THE 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FOR YEAR B OF THE THREE YEAR CYCLE OF SUNDAY READINGS. YEAR A, B AND C WERE AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE YEAR B. HOW ABOUT 9/11? FOLLOWING HISTORICALLY NOW ANNUALLY WITHIN THIS OCTAVE. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US? THE EVIL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, I THINK IT TELLS US OUR BLESSED MOTHER WANTS TO SHIELD US FROM EVIL. EVIL FROM WITHOUT OUR COUNTRY THAT COMES TO US FROM WITHOUT AND EVIL FROM WITHIN OUR COUNTRY LIKE THE CULTURE OF DEATH. WHAT ELSE FALLS HISTORICALLY ANNUALLY DURING THE OCTAVE? ON 13 SEPTEMBER? THE VERY VERY VERY 1ST REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO ST. FAUSTINA AS THE DIVINE MERCY. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US? WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT THE MERCY OF GOD? HOW ABOUT OUR LORD TELLING FAUSTINA THAT I'M GIVING YOU THIS DEVOTION MY DAUGHTER TO PREPARE FOR MY 2ND COMING. HOW ABOUT THAT? RIGHT THERE IN THE DIARY. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OCTAVE, MY FRIENDS. SEPTEMBER 8 THROUGH THE 15TH. FROM THE 1ST MOMENT OF MARY'S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN HER MOTHER'S WOMB OUR LADY HAS LED US TO HER SON. AT THE WEDDING FEAST OF CANA FOR EXAMPLE SHE SAYS, DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. JOHN 2:5. FROM THE CROSS CHRIST COMMANDS US, BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER. TODAY'S GOSPEL. JOHN 19:26 - 27. AS THE SAVIOR'S DYING GIFT TO US, HE GIFTS US MARY. HE GIFTS HER TO US. HE LEADS US BACK TO MARY. AND SHE LEADS US TO HIM. FOR HE KNOWS WE NEED THE MATERNAL CLOSENESS OF THE SORROWFUL MOTHER TO SUSTAIN US WHEN WE OVERCOME BY THE TERRIFYING TRIALS, SUFFERINGS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF WOUNDEDNESS OF THIS LIFE BECAUSE OF ORIGINAL SIN. THROUGH MARY'S COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE OF THE CROSS THAT EVENT AS IT RECURS IN OUR OWN LIVES, THE CROSS OUR CROSSES, BECOMES MORE DEEPLY HUMAN, WE COULD SAY, FILLING US WITH THE COURAGE TO FACE LIFE SUFFERINGS, CERTAIN IN THE SECURE EMBRACE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. OUR LORD GIFTS US TO MARY BUT THEN SHE GIFTS US BACK TO HIM AND LEADS US BACK TO HIM. WHENEVER WE LET MARY LOVE US SHE GIVES US JESUS. AND BY OBEYING THE LORD AND OUR DEVOUT BEHOLDING OF THE MOTHER OF GOD WE GIVE MARY A WELCOME AS A SON OR DAUGHTER THEREBY FULFILLING WHAT OUR LORD ASKED OF HIS BELOVED DISCIPLE, JOHN. BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER. HE IS TELLING YOU AND YOU AND ME, BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER. DO YOU NOT LOVE THE CATHOLIC TEACHER THAT SAYS CALL YOUR MOTHER? SHE HAS NOT HEARD FROM YOU IN DECADES. AND SURROUNDED WITH THE ROSARY. THE DECADE OF THE ROSARY. CALL YOUR MOTHER. SHE HAS NOT HEARD FROM YOU IN DECADES. WE NEED TO LOVE THE BLESSED MOTHER. THE DEVIL HATES HER BY THE WAY. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? THE DEVIL HATES HER. DIARY OF AN AMERICAN EXORCIST BY FR, OR MSGR STEPHEN ROSSETTI MAKES THAT POINT VERY CLEAR. THE DEVIL CANNOT STAND THE BLESSED MOTHER. MORE REASON TO TURN TO HER IN THIS CULTURE OF DEATH IN WHICH WE LIVE. I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THIS. 2 VIRTUES. WE TALKED ABOUT VIRTUES THIS WEEK EARLY ON. TWO VIRTUES THAT OUR BLESSED MOTHER EXHIBITED, I CLOSE WITH THIS. THE VIRTUE OF CONSTANCY AND THE VIRTUE OF LONGANIMITY. REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT THESE VIRTUES ON THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM. ALSO ON THE 13TH. HE IS THE ST. THAT FALLS DURING THE OCTAVE THAT WE JUST CELEBRATED NOW THIS 8 DAY TIME. THE OCTAVE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FROM HER NATIVITY TO HER SORROW CELEBRATION. HOW LUCKY IS HE TO HAVE HIS MEMORIAL FALL DURING THE OCTAVE? HE ALSO JOHN CHRYSOSTOM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHER HAVING THE VIRTUE OF CONSTANCY AND LONG SUFFERING. THE OLDER TEXTBOOKS YOU SEE LONGANIMITY AND IN THE NEW ONES YOU SEE THE PHRASE LONG SUFFERING. LONG SUFFERING OR LONGANIMITY. THE VIRTUE OF CONSTANCY AND LONG SUFFERING WAS PRACTICED AND LIVE BY THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. CONSTANCY. THE VIRTUE ENABLING ONE TO PERSEVERE IN SUFFERING OR TRIALS WITHOUT GIVING INTO DESPAIR AND OR APATHY. NO. WITH THE ACQUIRED VIRTUE OF CONSTANCY, TRIALS AND DISTRESS ARE ABLE TO BE WITHSTOOD WITH WHAT? STOOD AT THE CROSS OR STATION KEEPING, STOOD THE MOURNFUL MOTHER WEEPING. WITH THE ACQUIRED VIRTUE OF CONSTANCY TRIALS AND DISTRESS ARE ABLE TO BE WITHSTOOD WHEN ONE PRAYS FOR PATIENCE AND COURAGE AND RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS OFTEN. WITH THE VIRTUE OF LONG SUFFERING, WE HAVE THE GOOD HABIT OR VIRTUE RELATED TO THE VIRTUE OF HOPE THAT GRANTS PERSEVERANCE IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS FOR EXAMPLE SUFFERING AND DISTRESS, AND BECAUSE IT IS GEARED TOWARD HOPE IT GEARS ITSELF ULTIMATELY TO THE FINAL END THE BEATIFIC VISION. ONE WITH LONG SUFFERING IS BLESSED WITH EQUANIMITY. THE VIRTUE BY WHICH ONE POSSESSES A BALANCED AND POSITIVE OUTLOOK OR ATTITUDE WHEN CONFRONTING OBSTACLES. SO LONGANIMITY AND I LIKE THAT PHRASE BETTER THAN LONG SUFFERING IT IS KIND OF POETIC. LONGANIMITY LEADS TO EQUANIMITY. IT IS A SEPARATE VIRTUE BY WHICH ONE POSSESSES A BALANCED AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE WHEN CONFRONTING OBSTACLES. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WANT TO ASK OUR BLESSED MOTHER IF I CAN GROW IN CONSTANCY AND LONGANIMITY AND EQUANIMITY. IN THIS CULTURE IN WHICH I LIVE AND IN WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH; SO MUCH DO I LOVE THE MODERN DAY CULTURE I WANT TO SANCTIFY AND MAKE IT HOLY AND I WANT TO LEAD IT TO JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HIS BLESSED MOTHER. AND THAT IS THE ATTITUDE WE NEED TO TAKE ON. SUFFERING IS GOING TO COME BECAUSE OF THAT BECAUSE WE STAND FOR TRUTH. WHAT A GIFT WE HAVE IN OUR BLESSED MOTHER MARY OUR LADY OF SORROWS. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY SISTER SUSIE'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY. LET US PRAY FOR OUR LADY OF SORROWS TO GUIDE US AND BLESS US TO LEAD US TO HER SON AND TO HELP US TO GROW IN THE VIRTUES OF CONSTANCY, LONGANIMITY, LONG SUFFERING, AND EQUANIMITY. TO LIVE OUR VOCATIONS - SINGLE, MARRIED OR AS CONSECRATED RELIGIOUS OR DIOCESAN PRIEST OR BISHOPS OR WIDOWS OR WIDOWERS TO THE BEST ABILITY AND WAY THAT WE CAN. TRULY BEING LIGHTS OF HER SON WHOSE NAME WE ARE BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED IN. WHO WE RECEIVE IN THE EUCHARIST. IN HIS REAL PRESENCE, BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY. TO MAKE US THAT BEST VERSION OF SELF THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE HIS LIGHT IN THE MODERN WORLD SO THAT WE CAN BE INCARNATIONS, IF YOU WILL, INCARNATIONS OF 2 THINGS. NUMBER 1, BE AN INCARNATION OF JESUS TELLING JOHN BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER. BE AN INCARNATION OF THAT. THAT YOU EMBRACE MARY. AND SECONDLY THAT YOU WILL BE A PERSONAL INCARNATION OF WHAT MARY TOLD THE CHIEF WINE STEWARD AT CANA. DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU TO DO. AMEN? >> AMEN. >> GOD BLESS YOU. OUR LADY OF SORROWS, PRAY FOR US. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.
