Today is the Feast of the Sorrowful Mother.  Recalling Cardinal Ratzinger’s words from yesterday’s post, we can see that Mary is beautiful even in her sorrow:

The Blessed Virgin is the lady of fair weeping.  Her tears were beautiful.  These are the sorrows of one who is all beautiful, full free from the deformity of sin. . . No lamentation has been lovelier, no compassion purer . . . .  The sinless Spirit-filled heart of Mary is beautifully centred on the will of the Father and on His and her Son and those for whom He suffers.  (John Saward, The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty)

And a little consoling excerpt from Magnificat today: “As the Savior’s dying gift to us, Jesus leads us back to Mary.  For we need the maternal closeness of the Sorrowful Mother to sustain us when overcome by the terrifying trials of life.”