COMMEMORATION OF THE SORROWS OF OUR LADY. Friday of Holy Week

 COMMEMORATION OF THE SORROWS OF OUR LADY. Friday of Holy Week –

At the dawn of Holy Week, the Church invites us to pause before the pierced Heart of Mary, contemplating her sufferings as a prelude to the mystery of the Passion of her Son. This day, laden with symbolism and devotion, prepares us for the sacred drama we will soon experience. Let us reflect, then, on the origin of this feast, its meaning, the importance of Our Lady in Holy Week, and how we can approach her with fervor.

Origin of the Feast

The commemoration of the Sorrows of Our Lady on the Friday of Holy Week has its roots in medieval piety, particularly in the devotion to the seven sorrows of Mary, promoted by the Order of the Servants of Mary since the 13th century. Although it was not a universally obligatory feast in the Roman calendar, this Friday acquired great significance in certain local traditions, especially in Spain, Italy, and Latin America. In the traditional Roman liturgy, the Friday before Palm Sunday was observed as a day of penitential preparation, and the memory of Mary's Sorrows was intertwined with readings and prayers anticipating Christ's Passion. In Rome, the Station at St. Stephen's on Monte Celio, a church linked to the martyrdom of the first deacon, evoked sacrifice and suffering, resonating with the Virgin's sorrow at the foot of the Cross.

The cult of Mary's Sorrows became formalized over time, but already in the early centuries the Church recognized the Virgin's unique role as Co-Redemptrix. Texts such as the Stabat Mater, used in the ancient liturgy, and the meditations of saints such as St. Bernard and St. Alphonsus Liguori, emphasized the inseparable connection between Mary's suffering and that of her Son. This Friday, therefore, was an echo of that devotion, a moment to meditate on the seven daggers that pierced Mary's soul: Simeon's prophecy, the flight to Egypt, the loss of Jesus in the Temple, the encounter on the Way of the Cross, the crucifixion, the descent from the Cross, and the burial of Christ.

Symbolism of the Feast before Holy Week

This Friday of Sorrows, situated in the First Week of the Passion, is a sacred threshold. It symbolizes the prelude to the redemptive sacrifice, an invitation to enter into the mystery of the Cross through the eyes and heart of Mary. Our Lady of Sorrows is not a passive figure; she is the Mother who, in silence, offers her pain to the Father for our salvation. This day reminds us that Holy Week is not only the Passion of Christ, but also Mary's compassion, her "com-passion"—her suffering with Him. The ancient liturgy, with its sobriety and depth, prepares us for Calvary by placing us under the mantle of the grieving Mother, whose presence guides us toward the Resurrection.

In St. Stephen's Day, today's liturgical season, the saint's martyrdom is united with Mary's suffering, reminding us that following Christ implies taking up the cross. This Friday, then, is a call to penance, prayer, and contemplation, so that, when Holy Week arrives, our hearts are ready to accompany Christ and his Mother on the journey of suffering and glory.

The Importance of the Virgin Mary in Holy Week

The Virgin Mary occupies a central place in Holy Week, not as an isolated protagonist, but as an antagonist who remains alongside her Son. In the traditional liturgy, her presence is discreet but powerful: we see her in the Stabat Mater on Good Friday, in Marian antiphons such as the Salve Regina, and in the popular devotions that flourish during this time. Mary is the bridge between humanity and Christ; her pain teaches us to love the Cross, and her fidelity shows us the path to the Resurrection. During Holy Week, every season—from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday—is permeated by her maternal presence. She washes the path to Calvary with her tears, carries the cross with her silence, and awaits the Resurrection with unwavering hope.

Without Mary, Holy Week would be incomplete.

She teaches us to say "Fiat" (let it be done) in the face of suffering, to trust in God's will even in the darkness. Therefore, honoring her Sorrows today is preparing ourselves to live the Passion of Christ with an open heart, ready to share her pain and receive her redemption.

Exhortation

Let us approach the altars of Our Lady of Sorrows with reverence. May every candle we light, every flower we offer, be an act of love and reparation. May this Good Friday be for us a moment of conversion, to cast off sin and clothe ourselves with grace. As we pass by an image of the Virgin, let us pause for a moment, bow our souls, and offer her our company. And as we prepare for Holy Week, let us follow her example: let us remain steadfast at the foot of the Cross, trusting that Good Friday will give way to Easter Sunday.

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