When one sees the icon of Our Lady of Sorrows where her immaculate heart is exposed, seven daggers or swords pierce her heart. Each blade will represent each sorrow which we enumerate below:
1. The Sorrowful Prophecy of St. Simeon
St. Simeon, the officiating priest when our Lord was presented at the temple prophesied the passion of the Baby when he comes of age. Meditate on the fact that what should have been a joyous occasion had been transformed into one of sorrow when he mentioned that the Messiah had to suffer a cruel death in order that mankind can live.
This prophecy foreshadowed what Caiaphas, the high priest mentioned that the Lord had to die so that many will be uplifted during the time of the Lord’s passion. This would also be the time when the most precious blood of Jesus would be shed for the first time since as a Jew it was tradition that he had to be circumcised. Of course, the Virgin Mary would vicariously feel the pain of his being cut in line with Jewish tradition. (Luke 2:34-35)
2. The Flight into Egypt
The second dagger plunged into the Immaculate Heart when the Holy Family had to abandoned the peace of their home in Nazareth for Egypt. Herod, having realized that the Magi deliberately did not return to tell him about the newborn Baby who he mistakenly identified as a threat to his throne ordered the slaughter of the Holy Innocents just to make sure that the prophesied future King will be eliminated. Our Lady naturally would be scandalized by such heinous action but was helpless would not go against such destiny to fulfill her Son’s passion. At a very tender age, the Son of Man would experience being a fugitive, a refugee and a homeless infant who is exposed to the many dangers of travel. This would be the reason why Egypt is also close to the Immaculate Heart as evidenced by the Virgin’s apparitions in Zeitoun which was witnessed by so many people; both believers and infidels. (Matthew 2:13-21)
3. The Boy Jesus Went Missing
For three days, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph had no idea where Jesus, their Son went prompting them to seek Him out where He could be. This event became the third dagger or sword which pierced Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Imagine any parent whose child goes missing even for just one day and you have no idea where He went. Besides, He was no ordinary Child, He was the Only-Begotten Son of God, and therefore, the responsibility of taking care of Him was not just an ordinary responsibility given by God Himself to the couple. Anti-climactically, upon finding Him, He would just remind them that He is supposed to be in His Father’s House which is of course, the Temple of Jerusalem where He was engaging with the most learned men of Israel, a frightening situation because He was just a Child before these learned and aged men who are even members of the Sanhedrin. (Luke:46-50)
4. Our Lady meets Her Son Carrying the Cross
The fourth sword which pierced Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart occurred when She along with the women of Jerusalem met Him on the Via Crucis. One can vicariously call to mind how dolorous it would be for the Virgin to see her beloved Son whom she had taken cared of since He was a Baby now bloody and from head to foot with multiple wounds of suffering and torture. And he would even admonish the women not to cry for Him but rather weep for their children for what was going to happen to Jerusalem prophesying the cruel siege to be staged by the Romans. Indeed, the Virgin could help but feel the sorrow for her Son when she meets Him at the Via Dolorosa as a Victim on His way to His Great Sacrifice. Here, the Christ’s Via Crucis and Our Lady’s Via Dolorosa becomes One Way of Suffering for the redemption of mankind. (John 19:17)
5. The Crucifixion and Death: the Crucified Christ’s Sacred Heart is pierced
Not only did the Blessed Virgin Mary witnessed how her son suffered on the way to Calvary but she was right there at the foot of the cross having to witness how He was crucified, humiliated and mocked. She saw everything even when the thieves engaged Him and was given vinegar and spleen close to His death. And yet, she still had to witness Longinus, the centurion, using the spear to pierce his heart just to make sure that He is already dead. Ask any mother how she would feel when someone makes sure that your child who had already suffered terrible victimhood would still be pierced to make sure that He is dead.(John 19:18-35)
6. The Body of Christ is Deposed from the Cross
The sixth sword which pierced the Immaculate Heart of Mary is none other than when she received the Christ’s deposed Body from the cross. Most Catholics when they are shown by the picture or sculpture of the Virgin Mother holding the Body of Christ from the cross could not help but feel the sadness of the scene. This in fact is the inspiration for “La Pieta” which depicts the sorrowful scene. Imagine the great sorrow of the Most Loving Mother who bestowed her utmost care to the Ony-Begotten Son of God from the moment He was born the Immanuel up to the time He fulfilled His role as the Savior of Mankind. She would remember her tender years as a Baby when she nurtured her into childhood and up to the time of His public life as a rabbi. This time, his flawless skin will be filled with all kinds of wounds. The abrasion of his falls, the lacerations of the scourges, the cuts and bruises of the blows inflicted and even the puncture of the thorns aside from the nails of crucifixion and the piercing of a spear. How do you think the Virgin Mother will feel? (John 19:39-40)
7. The Burial of Our Lord
The last sword which pierced the Immaculate Heart of Mary happened during the entombment of Our Lord in the garden that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea As a mortal woman, the Virgin Mary shared in the grief that anyone whose beloved had departed from this world as it finally dawned on her that the closing of the rolling stone of the tomb meant their separation; she who had shared His Life with her had finally left her and had caused such grave sorrow. It was one of the most painful moments because it was a real separation as she had been told to be mother to all mankind represented by St. John and that a mere mortal will now be taking care of her as a substitute for
her Divine Son. (John 19:39-42)
Now, beloved reader, you can take note of all these wonderful subjects of contemplation which are meant to make wonders for your soul making it more sublime and therefore attuned to heavenly things. Having at least vicariously shared the agonizing experience of Our Lady, one now becomes a little bit like St. John, the Beloved, who had become closer to our Queen Mother and therefore, have grown more beloved by Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Catholics however should take note that each of these sorrowful events are equalized by an equivalent joyous occasion for our faith such that His internment is equalized by His resurrection. Our Lady’s feast day as the Dolorosa is celebrated on September 15. She is celebrated in Dolores, Quezon which has now become a national shrine.
Jude Missa
Simon Fe Dolor
Ricardo de los Santos
