Yesterday, according to the Anglican Breviary, was the feast of the Seven Holy Founders of The Servite Friars (one of the five original mendicant orders). Their patronal feast is Our Lady of Sorrows, traditionally on September 15th.
Its good to remind ourselves of our Lady's sorrow. Apparently the Seven Holy Founders' principle act of devotion was, in union with our Lady, to stand at the foot of the cross and share in her grief. Over time, there have developed seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. Losing the Holy Child in Jerusalem
4. Meeting our Lord on his way to Calvary
5. Standing at the foot of the Cross
6. Jesus being taken down from the cross (the "pieta")
7. The Burial of Jesus
4-7 seem to me especially poignant. Can you imagine a mother's grief at watching helplessly as her son is tortured and killed?
I think these are good Lenten thoughts.
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