Compassion and the Standing Mother: Reflections on Calvary · Sep 14, 2026

We reflect on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, which honors Mary standing beside Jesus at the Cross. Its central message is compassion: the ability to enter into another person’s suffering instead of focusing only on ourselves. In John’s Gospel, the women who stayed with Jesus during the crucifixion show great courage and faithfulness. When Jesus entrusts Mary to the beloved disciple, the Church sees this as Mary being given to all believers. Ultimately, we are invited to face our own suffering with faith and offer it to God as a path to spiritual growth.