The silent and faithful Mother
At the foot of the Cross, Mary stands. A discreet but essential presence, she accompanies her Son to the end of the path of suffering and self-giving. In this moment of extreme pain, she does not flee. She remains there, faithful and silent, offering herself in the oblation of her heart.
Mary experienced true compassion, "suffering with". She unites her pain with that of Jesus, thus becoming the Mother of all believers. Her presence on Calvary is a sign of hope for us: even in the deepest trial, faith can stand.
A Mother given to humanity
From the height of the Cross, Jesus utters these words, "Behold your mother." By entrusting John to Mary, Jesus offers the world a spiritual mother. Mary becomes the Mother of the Church, the Mother of each one of us.
To worship with Mary at the foot of the Cross is to acknowledge her maternal solicitude in our lives. It means allowing ourselves to be led by her towards her Son, in moments of joy as well as in times of distress. Mary teaches us to accept God's will with confidence, even when it is going through pain.
Learn to love like Mary
Mary, at the foot of the Cross, lives a pure, profound love, stripped of all selfishness. She does not seek to divert Jesus from his redemptive mission, but accompanies him in the mystery of salvation. Her love is a love that consents, that offers, that gives itself without restraint.
As we walk with Mary, we learn to love in this way. We discover that true love does not shun suffering but embraces it with courage, confident in the promise of life stronger than death.
Finding support in Mary in our daily crosses
In our own trials, Mary stands by our side. She knows the pain of separation, misunderstanding and loss. She knows what it means to place what we hold most dear in God's hands.
To pray with Mary at the foot of the Cross is not to remain alone in our trials. It means welcoming her tenderness as a mother, her powerful prayer, her faithful accompaniment. She always leads us to Jesus, to the light that springs forth even in the heart of the night.
The Cross, passage towards the Resurrection
With Mary, we understand that the Cross is not the final end, but the obligatory passage towards new life. She remains standing, not out of resignation but out of hope. She knows that God fulfils his promises, even through pain.
In her company, we learn to stand firm, to believe that the dawn of the Resurrection rises after the night of the Cross. Mary is for us the morning star that announces Christ's victory.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
At the foot of the Cross, you shared fully in the suffering of your beloved Son. You who remained faithful in trial, teach us to remain close to Jesus in our own ways of the cross.
Intercede for us when pain overwhelms us, when discouragement lurks. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, the source of our hope.
Sustain us with your maternal prayer, and lead us ever closer to the pierced heart of Jesus. May we learn from your example to love without measure, to offer our lives for the salvation of the world.
Amen.
