Our Lady of Sorrows
Memorial
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
People who want to carry out their mission in life often have a high price to pay. Jesus continued his mission of love of doing the Father’s will to save us and was nailed to the cross for it. Mary had been told by Simeon that she would suffer for and with her Son. When a child suffers, the mother suffers too. Yet she too was faithful to her mission of giving Jesus to the world. The closer one is to the Lord, the closer one often is to his cross.
Opening Prayer
Lord God,
we know that sorrow and pain
are inescapable in this life
for those who follow your crucified Son.
Give us enough trust in you
to remain faithful to you
and to believe and hope in your love
even in the depth of suffering.
Give us the courage
to face the hardships of life
and to bear one another’s crosses
in union with Mary, our sorrowing Mother,
inn the service of Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Christ, in the days of his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed to him who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his humble submission.
Although he was Son, he learned through suffering what obedience was,
and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey him.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 31:2 and 3b, 3cd-4, 5-6, 15-16, 20
R. (17) 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!
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Or
The Hour of the Ecclesial Community
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother:
“Woman, here is your son.”
Then he said to the disciple:
“Here is your mother.”
And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home.
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayer over the Gifts
God of our happiness,
with our human wisdom
we seek happiness without pain,
glory without sacrifice.
But in your divine wisdom,
or foolishness as Paul calls it,
give us here your Son Jesus Christ
to teach us again the value of the cross.
With Mary we want to serve him
who is our Lord who died and rose again,
and our Saviour forever.
Prayer after Communion
Our living and loving God,
in this holy meal we have celebrated
the death and resurrection of Jesus, your Son
and proclaimed suffering and death
as a painful, but necessary way
to lasting glory and happiness.
Let this Eucharist be our strength
to carry the burdens of life
and to learn from Mary
to stand by the side of all
in whom suffers your Son and hers,
Jesus Christ our Lord.