There is something about the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows that has always appealed to me. Since I started seriously considering being received into the Catholic Church around 2015, I feel that she has been a constant and comforting presence. The devotion to the Mother of God was one of the aspects of the Catholic faith that initially drew me to the Church, as I felt that Catholicism had the greatest appreciation for her, and the fullest understanding of her importance. It seemed like a good sign that the church where I started attending Catholic Mass regularly, and would eventually be officially received into the Church, would be under the patronage of Blessed Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows. Another personal connection was that the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows is two days after my birthday, which gave me even more of a sense of an affinity for her under this title. September is a special month when it comes to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the feast of her own nativity is celebrated on the 8th, exactly nine months after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, when tradition holds that Our Lady was conceived without inheriting the stain of original sin. One week after the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she is honoured as Our Lady of Sorrows, the compassionate mother lamenting for her crucified Son and our Redeemer. From her, the Word of God took flesh, and that flesh had been nailed to a cross. It is no wonder that sorrow pierced her own soul when her divine Son was crucified, making her a martyr without dying.O Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world doth not contain, beareth this punishment of the cross; He the author of life made man.
(From the gradual for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Virgin of all virgins best, Listen to my fond request: Let me share thy grief divine.
(From the Stabat Mater)
At the Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering, ON, retreatants of all ages can encounter a God of surprises.
In June, 2024, the domed roof and interior of St. Anne's Anglican Church in Toronto tragically burned down. However, the parish community continues to stand strong and serve its neighbourhood.
Pope Francis invites us to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
Pope Francis invites us to pray for the right to an education for migrants, refugees and those affected by war; that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, may always be respected.
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with the CND sisters and enjoy a special lunch of soup, pizza, salad, and dessert. While I was there, I thought it would be a great opportunity to ask the sisters about what they were looking forward to this Christmas.