Homily for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

When someone we love experiences suffering and pain, we often feel it too. This is especially true for parents; when their sons or daughters struggle physically, emotionally, or mentally, parents endure that pain as well, sometimes even more acutely.

Loving someone always carries the risk of heartache. All forms of love involve some degree of suffering. The only way to avoid that suffering altogether is to shut our hearts off to others. While it might be tempting to refrain from opening our hearts to prevent pain, doing so means living only half a life. To truly live, we must be willing to love and accept the suffering that inevitably comes with it.

As she stood at the foot of the Cross, watching Jesus die, Mary's heart broke. Many years earlier, Simeon had prophesied this connection between Jesus' suffering and that of his mother when he said, "And you yourself a sword will pierce."

When our challenges feel overwhelming, we can look to Our Lady of Sorrows for inspiration and support.