It's plain for us to see why motherhood is hard. Our kids are infuriatingly disobedient. It hurt like purgatory to push them out. Often these factors seem to be the defining and necessary characteristics of our vocational tentatio.
But one mother was famously spared these hardships, and is no less a mother for it. And the Blessed Virgin Mary, with her sinless Child, is yet Our Lady of Sorrows. What does this mean?
--That violence does not properly belong to childbirth. It is unnatural and God's alien work. Furthermore, that the injury does not make the mother, though our pride tempts us to believe otherwise.
--That the sinfulness of our children is not solely to blame for our maternal hardships; the imaginary obedient children we covet would not end our vocational sadness even if we were to get them.
Nothing new here, but I find the context informative.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
9 comments:
Profound. Thank you for that - and for furthering the kick.
Something I'm pondering in light of your post...
Is it possible that Our Lady of Sorrows endured sorrows only because of the sin of her Child? Granted, it was not the sin He committed, but the sin imputed to Him. If He had no sin to carry (and also if she had no sin of her own), would there have been any sorrow in her motherhood?
Exactly. Her Son was to die a horrible death for sins He never committed. Even if she didn't know beforehand the details, she surely must have known that things wouldn't be all roses for the Messiah and therefore His mother. (Think of Simeon's words about her soul being pierced as well.) Even if she were completely ignorant of what would befall Him, the sight of His death would have been more than enough to earn her the name Our Lady of Sorrows.
I often think of the parents of convicted criminals who are put to death. They have the agony of knowing their child actually deserves his/her punishment. How much worse for a mother who knows her Son doesn't?
I reckon the the only reason anyone endures sorrows is because of sin. ;) There seems to be more than enough to go around. Even if my kid never threw sand, someone else's would and I'd end up sad anyway.
Oh, and think of all the sorrows mothers endure because of their own sin ... like the punishments we dish out in anger (maybe even to the wrong kid) and then regret.
What a face!
Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and did His Mother cry. Gives perspective to my own tears; Christ redeems the suffering of mothers. Our sanctified labors count for something, indeed forever, for one day our children, too, will leave the tomb.
<< Furthermore, that the injury does not make the mother, though our pride tempts us to believe otherwise. >>
Yup. And to proudly and loudly complain about it too.
Susan, BIG time. Nice, Gauntlets.
I agree, those who witness the death of Christ. Also, feel the same with his mother. I believe angels was there too. Remember, when Jesus said, weep not for me but weep for your children. I believe He saw something that He cannot tell to other people. I believe all the angels was been there. To witness that Jesus is a perfect person.He nver complain while crucifixion instead "Forgive, they dont know what they have done. If only ordinary person is there, he will truly said bad words. As for Mama Mary, she endure the pain while witnessing to the death of His Son.That is why She made it PERFECT.She know it God's will to be obey.to be sacrifice.
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