The 15th of September, 2023, Friday is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: 1 TM 1:1-2, 12-14
The first reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service, although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 16:1-2A and 5, 7-8, 11
Response: Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.
My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord.”
Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
R: Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
R: Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
R: Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
Sequence: "Stabat Mater" (The Mother Was Standing) (English)
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword has passed.
O how sad and sore distressed,
Was that Mother highly blest
Of the sole begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep,
Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of his own nation
Saw him hang in desolation
Till his spirit forth he sent.
O thou Mother! Font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.
Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with thee his pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torment died.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the cross with thee to stay;
There with thee to weep and pray,
All I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all Virgins best!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share thy grief divine.
Sequence: "Stabat Mater" (The Mother Was Standing) (Latin)
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa,
Dum pendebat Filius.
Cujus animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.
O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta,
Mater Unigeniti!
Quae maerebat et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas inclyti.
Quis non posset contristari,
Piam Matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
Moriendo desolatum,
Dum emisit spiritum.
Eia Mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
Fac ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum,
ut sibi complaceam.
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.
Tui Nati vulnerati,
Tam dignati pro me pati,
Poenas mecum divide.
Fac me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero.
Juxta crucem tecum stare,
Ac me tibi sociare
In planctu desidero.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara:
Fac me tecum plangere.
Gospel of the Day: JN 19:25-27 or LK 2:33-35
From the gospel verse according to John.
But standing by Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.
or from the gospel scripture according to Luke.
Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.
Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
