Historically, the Friday before Good Friday has been dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, but the Church also celebrates this feast day on September 15.
During one of the most powerful Holy Weeks I’ve ever experienced, I discovered that Our Lady of Sorrows is depicted all week. In Seville, Spain, “Semana Santa” includes several city-wide processions taking place from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. In each procession, Our Lady of Sorrows is prominently portrayed.
Semana Santa
Typically, during Semana Santa, each church has two large, very heavy scenes that they carry through the city, to the cathedral, and back to their church. One scene portrays an image from an event during Christ’s Passion and the second scene is one of the Blessed Mother, with her face grief-stricken and sorrowful.
Penitential Processions
Each scene is placed on a sturdy platform, which takes dozens of men to support as they process through the city. This tradition, which is considered to be penitential, can take eight hours. It took two hours for the procession of one church just to make it out of their front doors! This slow, meditative walk is led by penitents, followed by a Passion scene, more penitents, and then the scene of the Blessed Mother, with more penitents following behind. The procession is not meant to be rushed. Several of the people walk through the city barefoot, as they hold tall candles with hot wax dripping onto their hands as they proceed. These penitents are also known as nazarenes, who are members of a brotherhood or fraternity. They wear robes and hoods to cover their face in order to offer their suffering up with contrition and humility.
While waiting for the scenes to approach, the sound of music and pounding drums from the band that accompanies them becomes louder and louder. The beating of the drums is meant to be a reminder of the pounding of nails into Jesus’ flesh, as well as the seven swords which spiritually pierced His Mother’s heart. It is not uncommon to see both men and women wiping tears from their eyes as they watch the images of Jesus and Mary pass below their balconies.
The Seven Sorrows
The seven swords which pierced Mary’s heart are also known as her Seven Sorrows, and we can read about each of them in the Bible.
1. The Prophecy of Simeon
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present their Son to the Lord. It was here that the prophet Simeon spoke over 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” (Luke 2:34-35). Mary’s role as Jesus’ Mother was no doubt a blessing, but it was not without great suffering.
2. The Flight To Egypt
“ . . . [T]he angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him’” (Matthew 2:13). The Holy Family stayed there until Herod died. Through their own experience they lived their own kind of exodus, just like the Israelites did.
3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days
It wasn’t until after a full day of traveling that Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus was not with them on their way back home from celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem. Then, after three days of searching for Him, they finally found Him in the temple. Mary said to Him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety” (Luke 2:48). As Jesus answered Mary’s question, telling her that He must be in His Father’s house, it must have been a great reminder to her that Jesus was not hers alone. That her Son had a call which would strike her heart with yet more swords of suffering.
4. Mary Meets Jesus on The Way of the Cross
“A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him” (Luke 23:27). This verse calls to mind the scene in The Passion of the Christ when Jesus falls as He carries His Cross. In the film, as His Mother is there to touch His face, He touches hers in return and says, “See, mother, I make all things new.” Yet there are still three more swords to pierce Mary’s heart.
5. Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death
Standing by Jesus’ Cross, at the hour of His Death, was His Mother. In His last moments of agony, He said to her, “Woman, behold, your son” (John 19:26), and to His disciple John, “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). Here, Mary had to watch her Son take His last breaths, and on that same day, accepted a new son as her own.
6. The Body of Jesus Being Taken From The Cross
In Luke, we read that Joseph of Arimathea “went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth” (Luke 23:52-53). In this sixth sorrow of Mary, I imagine Michelangelo’s Pietà, the marble statue of Mary holding the body of her Son as His warmth leaves His body.
7. The Burial of Jesus
There was a group of women who followed Joseph of Arimathea to the tomb. Luke tells us that “when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils” (Luke 23:55-56).
At the Foot of the Cross
Standing with Mary at the Foot of the Cross is the image which pierces my heart most sharply. When I listen to friends sharing about their tragedies, this is the sorrow which they most frequently relate to and describe experiencing. A feeling of deep sorrow, yet also acceptance. A question in the mystery, but also the recognition that it is indeed a mystery. Most of all, though, what I notice and admire in these women I know who suffer so well, is that they seem to share a real kinship with Mary. They share a knowingness as they stand together in pain, ultimately suffering out of love.
With Mary as our guide and Mother, let us walk along with her and stand beside her as we approach these final days of Lent.
Susanna Parent is a regular contributor to the BIS blog, speaker and a freelance writer. While a Wisconsin native, she now begins her mornings brewing French press coffee in the home she shares with her husband and children in the Twin Cities. When the sun sets, you’ll find her with friends enjoying a glass of red wine, preferably outside underneath twinkly lights. When not exploring all that the Twin Cities has to offer, she is indulging her wanderlust spirit by brainstorming their family's next new adventure. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Susanna's posts here.
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