Mary at the Foot of the Cross (the Friday before the Start of Holy Week)


Of the various Saints and Memorials celebrated this week:

April 7 – Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest

April 11 – Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr

April 11 – Mary at the Foot of the Cross, memorial OSM

April 13 – SUN PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD


I’ve chosen to write about the Servite memorial of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, celebrated in the Servite Order as a special feast on the Friday before Good Friday.


The point of the feast day is to (1) underline St. Paul’s words that in our own sufferings “we complete the sufferings of Christ” (Col. 1,24) and (2) underline Mary’s truly special suffering at that moment.


Here it is useful to go back to the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), where its final chapter was entitled “the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.”


Regarding Mary’s role in the Mystery of Christ, Christ was able to enter the world because at Mary gave her consent to the redemptive project of God at the Annunciation: “Behold, I am the handmaid (servant) of the Lord, let it be done onto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).    


But even as she is giving her consent to the redemptive project of God, she is also giving an example to the Church of being a good, indeed, most perfect disciple of Christ.


So it is then at the Cross.  St. John the Evangelist puts Mary there at the Cross.  He also puts himself, as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” there as well.  From the Cross, Jesus gives Mary his disciple whom he loved: “Behold your son” and Mary to his disciple: “Behold your mother” (John 19:25-27)


So Mary becomes not only Jesus’ mother, but also mother of the Church.  


Then there is the question of Mary’s suffering at the cross.  Those of us who’ve been at the side of a loved one dying know the pain.  It is clearly not the same pain as that of the person dying.  However, there is a very real suffering to watch a love one go.


It can not be missed that the Servite Order (founded in 1233), and its devotion of Our Lady of Sorrows came into being in the time just before the Great Plague (1346-1353).  


Further, it can not be missed that those who could identify with Christ at that moment, that is helplessly facing their own death, died.  


On the other hand, those who could identify with Mary – watching helplessly a love one, or loved ones, fall ill and die – often were able to live to talk and reflect about it.


It’s both a legitimate and different experience, complete with, as we call it today, “survivor guilt.”  


And remembering (Jesus and) Mary in this way, helps us to connect with the Redemptive Mystery of Christ, that somehow, in some way, our sufferings are not in vain, that they can be transformed, and help the whole world to transform into something better, more closely aligned with God’s original project for the world.


What is important here is to remember, that we do matter, that our lives, famously do matter, and the sufferings that we fact do matter and will in fact contribute to the changing of the world for the better.


Our Lady of Sorrows, Mary at the foot of the cross, please pray for us!

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