For Catholics, September is the month of Our Lady of Sorrows, immediately following August’s devotion to the Immaculate Heart, and preceding October’s devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary, September is an ideal time to strengthen our connection to Our Lady.
Continuing our monthly series on ways to showcase each month’s Catholic theme in your life, here are 10 ways you can honor Our Lady of Sorrows this September, published in Aleteia.
Stabat Mater, RV 621 by Antonio Vivaldi
A mother knows her son’s hands like her own.
She studies them from birth—each fingernail
is halo-shaped. Soft skin over strong bone,
each line and dimple forms a sacred braille.
While Simeon foretold, I held Christ’s hand.
And that was when the blade first pierced my soul.
I knew that to redeem a broken land,
my child’s palms could not remain smooth, whole.
The earth is punctured, seeded, before sprouts
grow forth. Then fruit is gathered, branches pruned.
There must be something for the soul who doubts
to press their fingers into, like a wound.
The piercing of my soul provides a sieve—
for sifting death from those who long to live.
For sifting death from those who long to live,
the piercing of my soul provides a sieve—
to press their fingers into, like a wound.
There must be something for the soul who doubts.
Grow forth! Then fruit is gathered, branches pruned.
my child’s palms could not remain smooth, whole.
The earth is punctured, seeded, before sprouts.
My child’s palms could not remain smooth, whole.
I knew that—to redeem a broken land…
And that was when the blade first pierced my soul.
While Simeon foretold, I held Christ’s hand.
Each line and dimple formed a sacred braille,
was halo-shaped. Soft skin over strong bone,
I’d studied them from birth—each fingernail.
A mother knows her son’s hands like her own.
—Annabelle Moseley,
from Sacred Braille