September 15
Our Lady of Sorrows
Tuesday, week 24 in Ordinary Time
Africa : Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, known in French as Notre-Dame des Douleurs, invites the faithful to contemplate the deep suffering of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, particularly as she stood by the Cross. This memorial, rooted historically in popular devotion as early as the Middle Ages, is closely linked to the portrayal of Mary's compassion and her unique participation in the mystery of Christ's Passion. Tradition highlights the 'Seven Sorrows' which refer to key biblical moments of sorrow in Mary's life, such as the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of the Child Jesus in the temple, and most centrally, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The Church proposed this memorial to encourage Christians to unite their own sufferings with those of Mary, who is both a model of steadfast faith in adversity and an intercessor for all who suffer.
The feast also helps underscore Mary's spiritual motherhood over the Church. By meditating on her sorrows, Catholics are drawn more deeply into the redemptive mystery of Christ's suffering and learn to find meaning in their own pain. Though the precise origins of this devotion involve both local and universal developments across centuries, its spiritual fruitfulness has been recognized by the Church, making it an enduring source of consolation and inspiration.
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Questions about Our Lady of Sorrows (Novus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Africa — Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows
The liturgical day
Mass readings
Reading1 Co 12, 12-14.27-31a
Brothers,
let us use an analogy:
the body is one,
yet it has many members;
and all the members, despite their number,
form only one body.
So it is with Christ.
For in one Spirit, indeed,
we were all baptized to form one body—
Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men;
we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
The human body is not made up of one,
but of many members.
Now, you are the Body of Christ
and each one of you is a member of it.
Among those God has placed in the Church,
first there are apostles,
second, prophets,
third, those who have the task of teaching;
then, there are miracles,
then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance,
the gift of speaking different mysterious languages.
Not everyone, of course, is an apostle,
not everyone is a prophet or a teacher;
not everyone works miracles,
heals, speaks mysterious words,
or interprets them.
So, strive eagerly for the greatest gifts.
– The Word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 99 (100), 1-2, 3, 4, 5
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth,
serve the Lord with gladness,
come before him with joyful songs!
Know that the Lord is God:
he made us, and we are his,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Enter his house with thanksgiving,
his courts with songs of praise;
give thanks to him and bless his name!
Yes, the Lord is good,
his love is everlasting,
his faithfulness endures from age to age.
GospelStabat Mater. Jn 19, 25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
Jesus, seeing his mother,
and beside her the disciple whom he loved,
said to his mother:
"Woman, behold your son."
Then he said to the disciple:
"Behold your mother."
And from that moment,
the disciple took her into his own home.
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
OR
"Your heart will be pierced by a sword"
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke (Lk 2:33-35)
At that time,
when they presented Jesus in the Temple,
the father and mother of the child
were amazed at what was said about him.
Simeon blessed them,
then said to Mary, his mother:
"Behold, this child
will be the fall and rise of many in Israel.
He will be a sign of contradiction
– and you, your soul will be pierced by a sword – :
thus will be revealed
the thoughts of many hearts."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org