Jesus:

O Mother dear, didst thou but hear My plaint of desolation, Thy tender heart would burst apart With grief of separation!

I am not stone, yet all alone I hush My soul’s out crying, -- Alone to tread the wine-press red, To bear the pain of dying.

My lips are dumb, the night has come; Ah! Solace I might borrow Had I but thee to bide with Me In this wild waste of sorrow.

Mary: “Gentle moon and start of midnight, Day’s fierce orb, and brooklets fair, Golden apples born of sunshine, Precious pearls and jewels rare, -- All things glorious, all things shining,” Thus the sorrowing Mother spake; “E’en ye bright, transfigured faces, Mourn with me for Jesus’ sake.

“Sparkle, gleam, and glow no longer: Only moan and mourn for Him. Shine not, shine not, weep forever, Till your thousand eyes are dim; For the mighty One has fallen, And my Beautiful is slain; In the dense wood pierced, my Shepherd, -- Weep ye, weep ye for my pain! O most oppressed of all oppressed, Heart of my heart, my all, my Son! Grief’s keenest sword doth pierce my breast: I die with Thee, my only one! Alas! the pain is all too great, Since, living, still I share Thy fate.

“Yes, mine Thou wert to bear and rear Through life and light, and pain and loss; And now, ten thousand times more dear, I yield Thee to the cruel cross!”

 ~Frederick Spee, S. J. (1591-1635), Translated from the German by Mary E. Mannix

For Reflection:

Today I stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary my mother. What pain, sorrow, suffering, trial, contradiction do I yield to the “cruel cross?” How does Mary give me guidance in this surrender?

Experience Grace In Abundance: Ten Strategies for Your Spiritual Life NEW! by Johnnette Benkovic Pb 304 pages Click Here For More Information:                            STRATEGY 3 Make Use Of The Sacraments Eucharist:  The Sacrament of Spiritual Nourishment ...Church teaching has universally held and proclaimed that at the moment of consecration, ordinary bread and wine become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity,  our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ....Simply stated, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, active within us, becomes a transforming agent for ourselves and for others.