CAUSE OF OUR JOY (Concerning Seven other Sorrows)

CAUSE OF OUR JOY

(Concerning Seven other Sorrows)

They said: “He has a devil!” Jesus – whom you

had known announced by angel, had heard sung

by sky-flung host of angels on that night

in Bethlehem, and would hear told by angels:

“Risen! He is risen. Not here, He!”

                                                                                                        It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                        first ran our wine of joy.

Or when familiar brow of hill grew furrowed

to knolls of anguish that men should lay claim

on nature’s loyal innocence to cast Him

over and down, lest sound of truth be heard

by townsmen of Him, traitorous cousinry,

                                                                                                        It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                        first ran our wine of joy.

Counted over and over in your loving

were twelve, a dozen in solicitude

of you for them; food, sandals, lodging rest.

before the Supper was not intuition

already, Mother, yours?  One shall betray Him.

                                                                                                         It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                        first ran our wine of joy.

What sword of sorrow pierced your listening love,

to hear Him cry: “I thirst” who once had nursed Him

with substance of yourself?  What now to give

save substance of your willing of your Cross-stand

improvident but for love’s partnering.

                                                                                                        It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                        first ran our wine of joy.

“Let Him come down! He cannot save himself!”

How cruel drumbeats on your memory,

O Mother of many liftings to your breast

a Child too small to save himself from falling,

grown now to cross’s hoisting past your arms.

                                                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                          first ran our wine of joy.

That was the whole world’s weeping face laid in your

Pietà-ed lap when Peter’s face went down

into your lap of mercy and you were

first made Queen of Confessors to first pope

needing your healing hand on memory.

                                                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                          first ran our wine of joy.

We search our joy and find its price too high.

Wine without treading down’s the drink we seek,

and all in vain unless you teach us, Mother:

                                                                                                             It was the crushed grape of your heart

                                                                                                             first ran our wine of joy.

Mother M Francis PCC

Summon Spirit’s Cry.  San Francisco: Ignatius Press.

(c) 1996.  Mother M Francis PCC.  All rights reserved. Used with permission

PRAY THE SEVEN SORROWS ROSARY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Qp1quXn_8

This devotion to the Our Sorrowful Mother originated in the thirteenth century, when seven professional men from Florence were influenced by the penitential spirit common to the Brothers of Penance with whom they were in close contact. In 1240 they withdrew from society in order to pray and serve the Lord. They led a life of penance and prayer and service in honor of Mary. Many visitors knocked on their doors. The men now repaireed Monte Senario, where the organization the Servites (Servants of Mary) was formed. By 1244, under the direction of St. Peter of Verona, they began to wear a religious habit similar to the Dominicans and began to live under the rule of Saint Augustine. The Servites devoted their prayer to the rosary of the Seven Sorrows. The choice of the number was derived from the symbolic value of he number seven, suggesting fullness, completeness, and abundance. Consequently only the principal sorrows are listed.

The chaplet recalls the Sorrows the Virgin Mother of God endured in compassion for the suffering and death of her Divine Son. The Seven Dolors are taken from Scripture events and the devotion has a long history, and developed gradually. Before Pope Pius VII's formal approval, the Servite Order had permission in 1668 to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Dolors because the Order was instrumental in popularizing the Seven Sorrows Devotion. Members of the Servite Order actively promoted the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows during the time of the Black Death (1347-1351). [1]

[1] The Seven Sorrows Rosary youtube Catholic Devotions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Qp1quXn_8

With thanks to youtube and Catholic Devotions