IV Station, Jesus meets his mother.
Lectio
“I sought him whom my heart loves - I sought him but did not find him. I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves…I sought him but did not find him.
The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city; ‘Have you seen him whom my heart loves?’
I had hardly left them, when I found him whom my heart loves…
I took hold of him and would not let him go…
(Then) they struck me, and wounded me, and took my mantle from me, the guardians of the walls.” - Song of Songs
Meditatio
In the Akathistos hymn of the Blessed Virgin, the Angel Gabriel is wont to say things such as; “Rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity and the splendor of your purity, O Mother of God, he cried out to you: “By what name shall I call you? I am bewildered; I am lost! I shall greet you as I was commanded to do: ‘Hail, O
Woman full of Grace!’”
I feel similarily in this situation when Our Lady encounters Jesus upon the way of sorrows. What possibly can one say or think, how can my soul even speak to address our Sorrowful Mother in this encounter? I often recall the scripture, placing these words upon the lips of the Holy Virgin as the Lord is taken away, ”Call me Mara, for the Lord has made it very bitter for me…” - Ruth 1:20
Hail Mara! Full of grace and sorrow!
Oratio
O Blessed and inviolable Mother, how can I console you, how can I make reparation to your most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart? What was the exchange between you and your Divine Son as you gazed into His Holy Face? “All who pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads.” - Lamentations 2:15. Yet I can only “sit alone and in silence” to ponder, endeavoring to compassionate your sorrow. O refuge of sinners, have pity upon us.
Contemplatio
“Let him sit alone and in silence, let him put his mouth to the dust; there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to be struck, let him be filled with disgrace.” - Lamentations 3: 28-30
We adore thee O Christ, and praise thee, for by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.
Most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary…my Mother, my confidence.
