NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 9/15

September 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the temple, an old man, Simeon, told Mary:  Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Tradition holds that seven sorrows pierced Mary's heart in the course of her life with her Son: 1) Simeon's prophecy in the temple (Luke 2:34)   2) the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)   3) Joseph and Mary losing the young Jesus for three days  (Luke 2:43)   4) Mary meeting Jesus as he carried his Cross (Luke 23:26)   5) Mary standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25)   6) Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in Mary's arms (Matthew 27:57)   7: the burial of Jesus in the tomb (John 19:40) 

    Sorrowful Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does any heart know sorrow, Lord,

more deeply, more keenly,

than a mother's heart bearing sorrow

for her child?

What they say is true, Lord:

to give birth to a child 

is to let your heart forever

go walking around outside your body...

Not long after the joy of your birth, 

your mother learned, she knew that her heart

would be pierced with sorrow's arrow...

Every mother, Lord, anticipates and fears

what sadness might be her burden

when she finds her child in pain, in distress,

in trouble, lost or in harm's way...

So, tonight, Lord, we pray for mothers,

their hearts filled with sorrow

for the part of their heart walking around

forever, outside their bodies...

With own your Mother beside you, Lord,

come with comfort and healing,

with strength and blessing,

consolation and grace

to lighten the hearts of mothers

who are burdened with worry, 

with fear and with grief,

for the sake of the children they love...

Mother of Jesus, Sorrowful Mother, wrap these mothers 

in your mantle of grace: hold them close to your breast, 

deep in your heart, 'til they come to know, even in sorrow,

a taste of the joy of Jesus, your Son,

who lifts us up from worry and grief

to the promise of peace without end... 

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

In tonight's song, the composer names Mary's seven sorrows

as known in tradition - and adds an extra one...

 

Mother of Sorrows by Greg Mailloux

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

 

Mother of sorrows, you know our tears;
Comfort us in our need.
Mother of Hope, pray for us,
Now and at the hour of our death.

 
1.Your Son's life was in danger as a new born babe.

But you fled to Egypt. His life was saved.

 
2. Lost in the temple, your Son was hid.
You searched for three days until he was revealed.

 
3. Your spouse Joseph, chosen of God, was chaste, loyal, and true.
His death brought tears and loss to you.

 
4. Your Son was the innocent and spotless Lamb
Guilty and condemned to death at Pilate's hand.

 
5. Via Dolorosa, the sorrowful and saddest way,
Is where you met your Son on that mournful day.

 
6. The pounding of the nails into your Son's feet and hands
Was the sword of sorrow that you'd never planned.

 
7. Jesus died upon the cross as you mourned.
His life of love, by them was scorned.

 
8. His lifeless body was placed in the stone-cold tomb
She laid him there, the child of her womb.

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