September Sorrows

Sep 13

Everyone knows that September and October are the best months on Long Beach Island. The weather is perfect, the natural beauty is everywhere, and the peaceful rhythm to our days return as we move into the Fall Season.

Yet, for those who are old enough to remember, September 11th is seared into our psyche. I was living at our friary in midtown Manhattan in 2001. I remember the day like it was yesterday. That gorgeous day turned into one of our most painful experiences in modern American history. How quickly life can change.

On September 15th, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The history of this particular feast day is interesting. It includes visionaries in Florence, Italy who, in 1233, at the instigation of Our Lady of Sorrows, founded the Servite Order. The Stabat Mater, a hymn we typically sing on Good Friday, was composed in the late 13th
Century by Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi in honor of this day. Additionally, Pope Pius VII made Our Lady of
Sorrows a celebration in the entire Latin Rite Church upon his release from a five-year imprisonment by Napolean when Napolean was defeated on April 6, 1814.

The roots of this celebration are based on Luke 2:34-35: “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’”

So that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed, Mary, once again, models for us the truth that God knows every thought of our heart, even the most painful. A sorrowful heart is one who mourns and Jesus tells us, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). Those who mourn, mourn because of love and because of a love that has been lost.

A few years ago, two of our parishioners, Bill and Theresa Benedict, suggested that the parish have a special Mass for those who have suffered great tragedy in their lives. From their suggestion, we began to celebrate that Mass on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, September 15th. This year we will celebrate that Mass on Tuesday at 6 PM in St. Francis of Assisi Church. It will be the first Mass celebrated since Bill returned home to God last December.

Each of us carry a unique sense of sorrow in our hearts. The cause of the pain may vary but the sorrow is real. Anyone carrying grief and sorrow in their heart is welcome to join us.

Although our hearts know the pain of this world, we continue to believe in our faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. Love never dies.

May you know peace and all good.