Take a long look at the face of your Mother.
Here is a woman who gave her all, everything that was deep within her, in support of her beloved Son. Scripture tells us that she stood at the foot of the cross during Christ’s crucifixion. Yes, she stood, never wavering from her place beside her Son as the co-redemptrix of the world.
But when His three hours of suffering were through and He succumbed to death, she too, succumbed. Our pillar of strength collapsed in a swoon, a full faint of exhaustion after the terror of His torture was complete and His lifeless body was removed from the cross. Somehow she found the strength to stand with him during His suffering; the sword that pierced and penetrated His side deeply lanced her own heart as well, and now, after his death, her spirit also died with him; she could take no more.
Aren’t we so very often like the Blessed Mother, swooning under the pressure of too much worry, too much heartache, too much pain to bear? We wait for the loving hands of a St. John to lift us up, support us, and revive our fallen spirits so that we can carry on once again.
We’ve only to follow the example of Holy Mary who forever patterns strength and love so beautifully. We swoon, we fall, we struggle, but with the hope of the resurrection in our hearts and the help of a steady friend in our lives, we, too, can learn to stand strong through our trials and difficulties.
“Hail Mary, full of Grace…our dear and Holy Mary … pray for us, for we are miserable sinners and we swoon under the weight of our problems and our sin. Pray for us now, when we are most in need of your example of grace and strength…as well as at the hour of our death. Amen.”
(Reflection based upon Rogier van der Weyden’s Descent From the Cross)
**We had to redraw for the neckalce. Please check this post to see the winner.
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Simply beautiful Anne,
You truly convey the silence and the depth of those final moments. It is true that we “swoon, we fall, we struggle” but the hope of the resurrection is the ultimate triumph for us all.
Blessings,
Mary Anne
Thanks Mary Anne!
Very beautiful post! I am going to share this with someone who is going through some tough times right now. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks Rebecca!
Anne..Beautiful reflection..and the art that complements it as well. Who as a mother cannot share in understanding what it means to give all to our children…and then watch them struggle under the weight of some suffering? So many moments I was tempted to give up…but again the testimony of God’s grace alone, Our Blessed Mother and the saints..
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Caroline, thanks for your kind words. It would be wonderful if we could take all of the suffering away from our children and put it upon our own shoulders. How hard it is to let go when they endure life trials!
This is quite beautiful…this reflection on our Mother. It reminded me of a very difficult trial with my oldest son. Even though he was far from innocent, it still pierced my soul, so to speak, to watch him go through the consequences of his actions. I felt, at times, in a swoon…that I would collapse. I would have…if not for the grace of God and His Mother…and all the saints who interceded for us.
Thanks for this note, Theresa. That sword that Simeon prophesied has a way of finding the hearts of all mothers, doesn’t it? Thank God that we have so many heavenly helpers!
Anne, what a beautiful reflection on the last hours of Jesus Christ in through the eyes of His mother. That picture is amazing and it truly does speak a thousand words. I too am like the Blessed Mother at times. My youngest son has numerous food allergies and asthma and when he was first diagnosed with these it was so difficult to wrap my mind around, especially the asthma as that really scared me. There were times when he would be in great distress and it frightened me, but, I would do what we had to do (give nebulizer treatments) and trust in God that my son would be fine. When he began to feel better, then I would collapse (not literally), but, I would be exhausted from all of the mental anguish I endured while he was not well. Over a year into his asthma he is much better, and I am not swooning as much. I am trying my best not to succumb under the pressures of daily life.
Ann-Marie,
So glad that your son is doing better! I’m always amazed at how there is no trial we as mothers can suffer that She didn’t suffer first. We truly can turn to her in all things, can’t we?