All Else Confusion

Today's Memorial commemorates the seven sorrow of Mary. The seven sorrows are:

* at the prophecy of Simeon;
* at the flight into Egypt;
* having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem;
* meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary;
* standing at the foot of the Cross;
* Jesus being taken from the Cross;
* at the burial of Christ.

The feast began in Colgne in 1413. It spread to the south of Europe at the end of the sixteen century and to France after the year 1600. The feast was extended to Spain and Tuscany in 1735 and 1807 respectively. Finally in 1814, Pope Pius VIIV extended the feast to the entire Latin Church.

For more information, go Ask Sister Mary Martha.

Collect:
Father,
as Your Son was raised on the cross,
His mother Mary stood by Him, sharing His sufferings.
May Your Church be united with Christ
in His suffering and death
and so come to share in His rising to new life,
where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Labels: Feast Day