Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Mother of Sorrows or Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is one of many titles by which the Catholic Church venerates the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The title emphasizes the unity of the mother to her suffering son, who sacrificed himself to give people a new life. Mary remains strong and steadfast despite the pain as she accompanies Jesus in his mission as Redeemer.[1]
Emilie Tavernier Gamelin sums up the principal events of her life wherein Our Lady of Sorrows manifested herself in an especial way to her: death of her husband, of her children: assistance to the poor and suffering: “[The image of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows] impressed me deeply… I will therefore like to pray very often at the feet of that good Mother. I will beg her to have pity on me… I will consider that as she particularly has chosen me to be her daughter, I am obliged to console and honor her in this world and to propagate devotion to her, as far as lies in my power, wherever they may be Sisters of Charity…”
Mother Gamelin found in Our Lady of Sorrows: “the secret of a tender compassion and constant devotedness to the suffering members of Christ !”
In their service to the poor, the daughters of Mother Emilie Gamelin daily encounter the Cross of Christ. Who could, better than Our Lady of Sorrows, inspire the proper attitude to those who wish to imitate and resemble her, so that this encounter serves both their own spiritual good and that of the poor they want to relieve?[2]