The Blessed Mother appeared and gave them the black habit, the habit of mourning, to wear...because they comforted her in her sorrows. They are the Order of the Sorrowful Mother. Listen to these beautiful words, quoted from the Servite Manual, Behold Thy Mother, compiled by the Servite Fathers, imprimatur 1959:
"Devotion to the Dolors of Mary is the source of most abundant graces. From the height of His cross Jesus looks down with love on those who compassionate His sufferings in union with His Mother, as well as on those who feel compassion for her own Sorrows. Seeing them, He can no longer say, 'I looked for one that would grieve together with Me, but there was none; and for one that would comfort Me, and I found none.' (Psalm 48:21) And seeing them faithful to Him in misfortune and humiliation, He opens in their behalf the richest treasures of His Heart, as He did for St. John and St. Mary Magdalen. When in their turn they are in trouble and affliction, He will come to console them lovingly, will pour balm into their wounds, uphold and fortify them, and after their trial give them the purest joy."
The words that really jump out at me from this passage are: If we are faithful to Him in misfortune and humiliation, He will open the richest treasures of His Heart, as He did for St. John and St. Mary Magdalen. It's true...He was the most loving and gentle and comforting to these two saints, and they were the two who stood by to comfort Him in His Passion and Death.
And while we are sympathizing and comforting Him and His sweet mother in their sufferings, we can think on these words that I heard during a Day of Recollection yesterday: "He suffered each stripe of the scourging for me. Has anyone ever before loved me THAT MUCH?"
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