The First Dolor – Of Saint Simeon’s Prophecy
St. Alphonsus Liguori
In this valley of tears every man is born to weep, and all must suffer, by enduring the evils which are of daily occurrence. But how much greater would the misery of life be, did we also know the future evils which await us! “Unfortunate, indeed, would his lot be,” says Seneca, “who, knowing the future, would have to suffer all by anticipation.” Our Lord shows us this mercy. He conceals the trials which await us, that, whatever they may be, we may endure them but once. He did not show Mary this compassion; for she, whom God willed to be the Queen of Sorrows, and in all things like His Son, had to see always before her eyes and continually to suffer all the torments that awaited her; and these were the sufferings of the Passion and death of her beloved Jesus; for in the temple Saint Simeon, having received the Divine Child in his arms, foretold to her that that Son would be a mark for all the persecutions and oppositions of men. “Behold, this Child is set . . . for a sign which shall be contradicted.” And therefore, that a sword of sorrow should pierce her soul: ” And thy own soul a sword shall pierce.”
The Blessed Virgin herself told Saint Matilda, that, on this announcement of Saint Simeon, “all her joy was changed into sorrow.” For, as it was revealed to Saint Teresa, though the Blessed Mother already knew that the life of her Son would be sacrificed for the salvation of the world, yet she then learnt more distinctly and in greater detail the sufferings and cruel death that awaited her poor Son. She knew that He would be contradicted, and this in everything: contradicted in His doctrines; for, instead of being believed, He would be esteemed a blasphemer for teaching that He was the Son of God; this He was declared to be by the impious Caiphas, saying, “He hath blasphemed, He is guilty of death.” Contradicted in His reputation; for He was of noble, even of royal descent, and was despised as a peasant: “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” He was wisdom itself, and was treated as ignorant: ” How doth this man know letters, having never learned?” As a false prophet: “And they blindfolded Him, and smote His face . . . saying: Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee?” He was treated as a madman: ” He is mad, why hear you Him?” As a drunkard, a glutton, and a friend of sinners: “Behold a man that is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners.” As a sorcerer: ” By the prince of devils He casteth out devils.” As a heretic, and possessed by the evil spirit: ” Do we not say well of Thee that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?” In a word, Jesus was considered so notoriously wicked, that, as the Jews said to Pilate, no trial was necessary to condemn Him. “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.” He was contradicted in His very soul; for even His Eternal Father, to give place to Divine Justice, contradicted Him, by refusing to hear His prayer, when He said, “Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me;” and abandoned Him to fear, weariness, and sadness; so that our afflicted Lord exclaimed, “My soul is sorrowful unto death!” and His interior sufferings even caused Him to sweat blood. Contradicted and persecuted, in fine, in His body and in His life; for He was tortured in all His sacred members, in His hands, His feet, His face, His head, and in His whole body; so that, drained of His blood, and an object of scorn, He died of torments on an ignominious cross.
When David, in the midst of all his pleasures and regal grandeur, heard, from the Prophet Nathan, that his son should die–“The child that is born to thee shall surely die,” he could kind no peace, but wept, fasted, and slept on the ground. Mary with the greatest calmness received the announcement that her Son should die, and always peacefully submitted to it; but what grief must she continually have suffered, seeing this amiable Son always near her, hearing from Him words of eternal life, and witnessing His holy demeanour! Abraham suffered much during the three days he passed with his beloved Isaac, after knowing that he was to lose him. O God, not for three days, but for three and thirty years had Mary to endure a like sorrow! But do I say a like sorrow? It was as much greater as the Son of Mary was more lovely than the son of Abraham. The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to Saint Bridget, that, while on earth, there was not an hour in which this grief did not pierce her soul: “As often,” she continued, “as I looked at my Son, as often as I wrapped Him in His swaddling-clothes, as often as I saw His hands and feet, so often was my soul absorbed, so to say, in fresh grief; for I thought how He would be crucified.” The Abbot Rupert contemplates Mary suckling her Son, and thus addressing Him: “A bundle of myrrh is my Beloved to me; He shall abide between my breasts.” Ah, Son, I clasp Thee in my arms, because Thou art so dear to me; but the dearer Thou art to me, the more dost Thou become a bundle of myrrh and sorrow to me when I think of Thy sufferings. “Mary,” says Saint Bernardine of Sienna, “reflected that the strength of the Saints was to be reduced to agony; the beauty of Paradise to be disfigured; the Lord of the world to be bound as a criminal; the Creator of all things to be made livid with blows; the Judge of all to be condemned; the Glory of heaven despised; the King of kings to be crowned with thorns, and treated as a mock king.”
Father Engelgrave says, that it was revealed to the same Saint Bridget, that the afflicted Mother, already knowing what her Son was to suffer, “when suckling Him, thought of the gall and vinegar; when swathing Him, of the cords with which He was to be hound, when bearing Him in her arms, of the cross to which He was to be nailed; when sleeping, of His death.” As often as she put Him on His garment, she reflected that it would one day be torn from Him, that He might be crucified; and when she beheld His sacred hands and feet, she thought of the nails which would one day pierce them; and then, as Mary said to Saint Bridget, “my eyes filled with tears, and my heart was tortured with grief.”
The Evangelist says, that as Jesus Christ advanced in years, so also did “He advance in wisdom and in grace with God and men.” This is to be understood as Saint Thomas explains it, that He advanced in wisdom and grace in the estimation of men and before God, inasmuch as all His works would continually have availed to increase His merit, had not grace been conferred upon Him from the beginning, in its complete fullness, in virtue of the hypostatic union. But since Jesus advanced in the love and esteem of others, how much more must He have advanced in that of Mary! But, O God, as love increased in her, so much the more did her grief increase at the thought of having to lose Him by so cruel a death; and the nearer the time of the Passion of her Son approached, so much the deeper did that sword of sorrow, foretold by Saint Simeon, pierce the heart of His Mother. This was precisely revealed by the angel to Saint Bridget, saying: “That sword of sorrow was every hour approaching nearer to the Blessed Virgin, as the time for the Passion of her Son drew near.”
Since, then, Jesus, our King, and His most holy Mother, did not refuse, for love of us, to suffer such cruel pains throughout their lives, it is reasonable that we, at least, should not complain if we have to suffer something. Jesus, crucified, once appeared to Sister Magdalen Orsini, a Dominicaness, who had been long suffering under a great trial, and encouraged her to remain, by means of that affliction, with Him on the cross. Sister Magdalen complainingly answered: “O Lord, Thou west tortured on the cross only for three hours, and I have endured my pain for many years.” The Redeemer then replied: “Ah, ignorant soul, what dost thou say? from the first moment of My conception I suffered in heart all that I afterwards endured dying on the cross.” If, then, we also suffer and complain, let us imagine Jesus, and His Mother Mary, addressing the same words to ourselves.
Prayer
O my Blessed Mother, it is not one sword only with which I have pierced your heart, but I have done so with as many as are the sins which I have committed. O, Lady, it is not to you, who are innocent, that sufferings are due, but to me, who am guilty of so many crimes. But since you have been pleased to suffer so much for me, by your merits obtain me great sorrow for my sins, and patience under the trials of this life, which will always be light in comparison with my sins; for I have often deserved hell. Amen.
The Prophecy of Simeon
Mary took the infant Jesus to the temple, according to the law of Moses, presenting Him for the circumcision of all male Jews, as well as for her own purification according to the law, even though she was and remained always inviolate. While in the temple, Simeon approached the Holy Family. He beheld the infant and knew, through the Holy Ghost, that this was truly the fulfillment of God’s covenant with His people. And he uttered the words of the Canticle of Simeon, which Holy Mother Church prays every night in Compline, “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, “
Then, after praising God for the Messiah, Simeon turns to Mary, so modest, so humble, and prophesies to her in these words, which must have started her deep contemplation of the Son of God: “Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. ” (Luke 2: 34).
Her sorrows were soon to begin. And in the beginning she had the comfort and support of her beloved chaste spouse Saint Joseph, to help her bear the burdens. Simeon’s prophecy was the first of her sorrows, for keeping these things silently in her heart, she pondered upon them, receiving enlightenment from her Heavenly Spouse the Holy Ghost, while leaning on the humanly comfort of Joseph, laying his hand gently and reassuringly upon her shoulder and telling her in the most loving, chaste way: “We will face this together.” It was Joseph who had to gather Mary and the Child Jesus in the dead of the night, to tell them that an angel had awakened him and told him they must flee to Egypt, because Herod sought the life of the Child. Remember, Joseph would recognize the angel as from God for the same angel appeared to him to assure him Mary “had not known man.”
Meditation and Prayer for the First Sorrow that pierced Mary’s Immaculate Heart
Sorrow as sharp as a sword shall pierce Mary’s heart because of her Child. Mary is in the Temple, having come with Joseph to present the Child to God. They meet Simeon, the holy man, and Anna, the prophetess. Simeon takes the Baby in his arms, saying he will now die in peace because he has seen Christ, then he foretells the sorrow to come.
V: O God, come to my assistance;
R: O Lord, make haste to help me
V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
I grieve for thee, O Mary, most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God.
Hail Mary
Novena for Most Holy Name of Mary – Day 6
O Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the angels, Mother of grace and love, I greet thee with all my heart. Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during all the days of my life. Obtain for me, too, a great devotion to thee, who art the first creature of God’s love.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
O heavenly Child Mary, who like a pure dove was born immaculate and beautiful, true prodigy of the wisdom of God, my soul rejoices in thee. Oh! Do help me to preserve the angelic virtue of purity at the cost of any sacrifice.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail, lovely and holy Child, spiritual garden of delight, where, on the day of the Incarnation, the tree of life was planted, assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity and pleasures of the world. Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts, feelings, and virtues of thy divine Son.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail, admirable Child Mary, Mystical Rose, closed garden, open only to the heavenly Spouse. O Lily of paradise, make me love the humble and hidden life; let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart always open to the loving calls of His graces and inspiration.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn, gate of Heaven, thou art my trust and hope. O powerful advocate, from thy cradle stretch out thy hand, support me on the path of life. Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death and so reach an eternity with thee.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Let us pray
Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother, by the heavenly graces thou hast lavished upon us, mercifully listen to my supplications. In the needs which press upon me from every side and especially in my present tribulation, I place all my trust in thee.
O holy Child, by the privileges granted to thee alone and by the merits which thou hast acquired, show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits which thou dispense are inexhaustible, because thy power with the Heart of God is unlimited.
Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High has enriched thee from the first moment of thy Immaculate Conception, grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of thy Immaculate Heart.
Stabat Mater
The grieving Mother stood
Weeping beside the Cross
On which her Son was hanging.
Through her weeping soul,
Compassionate and grieving,
A sword passed.
Oh, how sad and afflicted
Was that blessed
Mother of the Only-begotten!
Who mourned and grieved
And trembled, looking at
The torment of her glorious Child.
Who is the man who would not weep
If he saw the Mother of Christ
In such torment?
Who would not feel compassion
On beholding the pious Mother
Suffering with her Son?
For the sins of His people,
She saw Jesus in torment
And subjected to the scourge.
She saw her sweet offspring
Dying, forsaken,
While He yielded up his spirit.
Oh Mother, fount of love,
Make me feel the strength of your grief
So that I may mourn with you.
Grant that my heart may burn
In the love of Christ the God,
So that I may please Him.
Holy Mother, grant that
The wounds of the Crucified drive
Deep into my heart.
That of your wounded Son,
Who so deigned to suffer for me,
I may share the pain.
Let me sincerely weep with you,
Bemoan the Crucified,
For as long as I live.
To stand beside the Cross with you,
And gladly share the weeping,
This I desire.
Chosen Virgin of virgins,
Be not bitter with me,
Let me weep with you.
Holy Mother, grant that
The wounds of the Crucified drive
Deep into my heart.
That of your wounded Son,
Who so deigned to suffer for me,
I may share the pain.
Let me sincerely weep with you,
Bemoan the Crucified,
For as long as I live.
To stand beside the Cross with you,
And gladly share the weeping,
This I desire.
Chosen Virgin of virgins,
Be not bitter with me,
Let me weep with you.
Grant that I may bear Christ’s death,
The fate of His Passion,
And commemorate His wounds.
Grant that I may bear Christ’s death,
Be engulfed by the Cross
For the love of your Son.
Grant that I may bear Christ’s death,
The fate of His Passion,
And commemorate His wounds.
Grant that I may bear Christ’s death,
Be engulfed by the Cross
For the love of your Son.
Inflame and set on fire,
May I be defended by you, Virgin,
On the day of judgement.
Let me be guarded by the Cross,
Armed by Christ’s death,
And His grace cherish me
When my body dies,
Grant that to my soul is given
The glory of paradise.
For ever and ever.
Our Lady of Sorrows ora pro nobis.
