Sept 15: OUR LADY OF SORROWS MASS AND PROPER READINGS
This feast has its origin in that Christian devotion which associates her with the Passion of her Son. Pope Pius VII extended this devotion to the whole Church and, in 1912, St. Pius X fixed the feast on this day, within the octave of the Nativity of our Mother the Virgin. Our Mother the Virgin teaches us to live, together with her, beside the Cross of her Son. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous malice of sin and shows us the way of true repentance.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Dixit Símeon ad Maríam: Ecce, pósitus est hic in ruínam et in resurrectiónem multórum in Ísrael, et in signum cui contradicétur, et tuam ipsíus ánimam pertransíbit gládius.
Simeon said to Mary: Behold, this child is destined for the ruin and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign of contradiction; and your own soul a sword will pierce.
[–» Greeting]
COLLECT
O God, who willed that when your Son was lifted high on the Cross his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you.
Proper Readings
READING I
Heb 5:7–9
During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Save me, O Lord, in your steadfast love.
Salvum me fac, Dómine, in misericórdia tua.
In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free,
hear me and speedily rescue me.
R.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.
R.
Release me from the snares they have hidden
for you are my refuge, Lord.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your steadfast love.
Salvum me fac, Dómine, in misericórdia tua.
As for me, I trust in you, Lord.
I say: ‘You are my God. My life is in your hands,
deliver me from the hands of those who hate me.’
R.
How great is the goodness, Lord,
that you keep for those who fear you,
that you show to those who trust you in the sight of men.
R.
Sequence [–» short version]
At the cross her station keeping stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, all his bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword had passed.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed was that Mother highly blessed of the sole begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs, she beneath beholds the pangs of her dying, glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep, ‘whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, in that Mother’s pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender Child, all with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of his own nation saw him hang in desolation till his spirit forth he sent.
O sweet Mother! Font of love, touch my spirit from above, make my heart with yours accord.
Make me feel as you have felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ, my Lord.
[Short version]
Holy Mother, pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with you his pain, who for all our sins was slain, who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with you, mourning him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live.
By the cross with you to stay, there with you to weep and pray, is all I ask of you to give.
Virgin of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: let me share your grief divine.
Let me to my latest breath, in my body bear the death of that dying Son of yours.
Wounded with his every wound, steep my soul till it has swooned in his very blood away.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, lest in flames I burn and die, in his awful judgment day.
Christ, when you shall call me hence, be your Mother my defense, be your cross my victory.
While my body here decays, may my soul your goodness praise, safe in heaven eternally. Amen.
ALLELUIA
Felix est beáta María Virgo, quæ sine morte méruit martýrii palmam sub cruce Dómini.
Blessed is the Virgin Mary; at the foot of the Lord’s cross she earned the martyr’s crown without suffering death herself.
GOSPEL
Jn 19:25–27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Receive, O merciful God, to the praise of your Name the prayers and sacrificial offerings which we bring to you as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom you graciously gave to us as a most devoted Mother when she stood by the Cross of Jesus. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
[–» Preface I of the Blessed Virgin Mary]
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Communicántes Christi passiónibus, gaudéte, ut et in revelatióne glóriæ eius gaudeátis exsultántes.
Rejoice when you share in the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice exultantly when his glory is revealed.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Having received the Sacrament of eternal redemption, we humbly ask, O Lord, that, honoring how the Blessed Virgin Mary suffered with her Son, we may complete in ourselves for the Church’s sake what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Concluding Rite]