Do This in Memory of Me: “Disciple, Behold thy Mother!”

By: Laura Worhacz

“Disciple, behold thy Mother!” When Mary heard these words from the lips of her dying Son, words which mean so much to us, her soul suffered inexpressible anguish. What! The disciple instead of the Master; John instead of Jesus; the creature instead of the Son of God! But our Blessed Mother lovingly accepts the substitution. She covered us with the Blood and the merits of her Divine Son, and began to love us with that boundless love which caused her to find happiness in tarrying here below…” – (St. Peter Julian Eymard, Eymard Library, Volume 7 page 980
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Dearest Eucharistic Family,

The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. What makes Mary still weep, what makes Mary still mourn, what makes Mary sad? And how could this be as our Blessed Mother rests in the Beatific Vision, the reality of Heaven? In today’s First Reading St. Paul refers to us as, “beloved ones” reminding us of our participation in the “Blood of Christ”.  We know the answer to the above question is the sin, sin and death, the denial to love. St. Peter Julian’s thoughts of Our Lady loving the creature over the Son of God bring to our minds the thought of loving the divine, the perfect, the sinless.  St. Peter Julian goes on to teach us that Mary began to love us with a boundless love. This was her happiness here below. If Mary is our example of perfect love, then our beholding of our Mother is the call to love others with a boundless love. Our happiness will be found in this. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us to rise and raise us to the hope that is found in service: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) Mary shows us the way to this salvation that St. Paul is hoping for us to find. At the foot of the cross Jesus gave us Mary; our Mother is beholding us as Jesus promised. Our Lady of Sorrows is a Memorial for us to rejoice in the reality that our sorrows are the sorrows of Jesus, He who takes away the sins of the world. Mary encapsulates every ounce of our sufferings as the good mother she is. We entrust all our intentions to you dearest mother, you who know the sorrows of sin and suffering. We trust in your Immaculate Heart. Please bring our intentions to the Eucharist where our living God is found, and the hope of everlasting glory is ours.

As you recite the following words remember your consecration promise:

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

Blessed are you, Mary exalted daughter of Sion!
You are highly favoured and full of grace, for the spirit of God descended upon you.
We magnify the Lord and rejoice with you for the gift of the Word made flesh, bread of life and cup of joy.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, our model of prayer in the Cenacle, pray for us that we may become what we receive, the body of Christ your son. Amen.