Our Lady of Sorrows

"Our Lady of Sorrows," El Greco

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.   You may read a post with the full history of the feast (and a rarely seen Van Gogh Pieta) here.

The following comes from the Office of Readings for the feast, and is taken from a sermon by St. Bernard:

Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that he would not die?” Undoubtedly. “Did she not expect him to rise again at once?” Surely. “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely. Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary’s Son? For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his.


Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

May is Mary's Month (part 3)

"The Virgin of the Roses"  W. A. Bouguereau

For centuries, the Church has devoted the month of May to Marian devotions.  The following is taken from "The Glories of Mary" by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church:

"May the infinite goodness of our God be forever praised, says Saint Bernard, for having given us Mary as our advocate in heaven, that she, at the same time the mother of our Judge and a mother of mercy, may be able, by her intercession, to bring to a safe conclusion the great affair of our eternal salvation. . . . Saint Bonaventure exclaims: "Hear, O nations; all you who desire God's kingdom, serve and honor the Blessed Virgin and you shall certainly have eternal life."

Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.

"On the danger to which tepidity exposes the soul" (part 4)

"The Death of a Just Man/The Death of a Sinner"

The following is taken from a sermon for Passion Sunday by our Lenten guide, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church:

"St. Chrysostom asserts, that he himself knew many persons who were gifted with great virtues, and who, because they disregarded light faults, fell into an abyss of crime.  When the Devil cannot gain much from us, he is in the beginning content with the little; by many trifling victories he will make a great conquest.  No one, says St. Bernard, suddenly falls from the state of grace into the abyss of wickedness.  They who rush into the most grievous irregularities begin by committing light faults. . . . It is necessary also to understand that, when a soul that has been favoured by God with special lights and graces, consents to mortal sin, her fall shall not be a simple fall, from which she will easily rise again, but it will be a precipitous one, from which she will find it very difficult to return to God."

St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Part 12

Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We have been paying particular attention to devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the month of June.  See a review of previous posts here and here.

The following is taken from a meditation for the Feast of the Sacred Heart by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:

"Consider that Jesus Christ, who is the Source of all blessings, has condescended to remain always among us because He wishes to be present at all times in order to share His treasures with us.  And not only has our loving Saviour graciously consented to share with us in this august Sacrament all the blessing of which He is the Source, but by giving Himself to us, he has willed to give us the very Source of these blessings:  "I will show you every kind of blessing; but in what other place except in the Blessed Eucharist, can you find every kind of blessing!" (St. Bernard)."

Hail, Saintly Priest and Guardian of Pilgrims

                                     Yes, these are named in honor of the Saint


Today is the feast of St. Bernard (d. 1008 AD).  St. Bernard was Archdeacon of Aosta, and preached the Gospel for 42 years to the ignorant and idolatrous Alpine Lombards, effecting many conversions and working numerous miracles.  St. Bernard also established hospices upon what is now called the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Pennine Alps to care for and provide generous hospitality to pilgrims and other travellers to Rome.  He also established patrols to clear the mountain passes of robbers who preyed upon travellers.

St. Bernard, pray for us.