Today is September 2nd, the beginning of a month dedicated by the Church to Our Lady of Sorrows.
As the seasons begin to shift, we are invited to slow down and meditate on Mary’s hidden strength in the midst of her suffering.
For many, September feels like a time of transition—children return to school, new routines and busy schedules emerge, and perhaps even personal struggles or losses that surface when life feels overwhelming.
This is precisely why the Church gives us Our Lady of Sorrows: to remind us that we are not alone in our pain.
Mary, the Mother of God, never backed down in the face of sorrow. She stood firm, not because she was spared grief, but because she was willing to unite her heart with God’s will—even when it cost her everything.
Why Mary of Sorrows?
Sometimes, our Protestant brothers and sisters mistakenly believe Catholics “worship” Mary. But the truth is simple: Mary is our most powerful intercessor.
She points us directly to her Son. She never prays outside of God’s holy will. Her role is not to replace Christ, but to help us follow Him more faithfully.
When I went through the anguish of infertility, I learned this in a deeply personal way. In my tears and prayers to Our Lady, I once sensed her whisper in my heart: “I cannot give you a baby now.”
That moment stopped me in my tracks. Painful as it was, it gave me peace—because I realized Mary was showing me that my desire, as good as it was, was not in God’s will at that time.
That is what makes Mary such a trustworthy mother for us: she does not bend to our whims, but gently teaches us to rest in the Father’s plan.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
The Church gives us a beautiful devotion called the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows.
Each sorrow invites us into Mary’s maternal heart and reminds us that she knows what it is to grieve.
Let’s walk through them briefly:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon – Imagine holding your newborn at the temple and hearing a prophet declare that your child will cause the rise and fall of many, and that a sword will pierce your heart. Mary accepted this word, knowing suffering was part of God’s plan.
2. The Flight into Egypt – In the middle of the night, Joseph leads Mary and the Infant Jesus away from Herod’s murderous rage.
As they flee, Mary hears the wailing of mothers whose children are slaughtered.
Can you feel her sorrow mingled with gratitude that her Son is spared?
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple – Every parent knows the terror of losing sight of a child, even for a moment.
Mary and Joseph searched for three days before finding Jesus in the temple.
She knows the ache of separation and the relief of reunion.
4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary – This is the moment depicted so powerfully in The Passion of the Christ.
A mother’s eyes meet her suffering Son’s eyes.
She cannot take away His pain, but she is there—steadfast, unflinching.
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus – Mary stands at the foot of the Cross.
Most of the disciples fled, but she remained.
Her hidden strength was not in removing His suffering but in enduring it with Him.
6. The Body of Jesus Placed in Mary’s Arms – The Pietà captures this sorrow with heartbreaking beauty.
Imagine holding the lifeless body of the one you bore, nursed, taught, and loved.
She received Him one last time before the tomb.
7. The Burial of Jesus – For the first time since the Annunciation, Mary is separated from her Son.
As the stone seals the tomb, she tastes the finality of death.
Her sorrow mirrors every parent who has buried a child or every heart that has endured separation from a loved one.
What Mary Teaches Us About Sorrow
Mary’s sorrows remind us that suffering has meaning.
In our culture, suffering is seen as the greatest evil. We are told to avoid it, numb it, escape it.
But Mary shows us another way: to embrace sorrow with courage, knowing that God can redeem even the darkest moments.
When you lose a child, face infertility, watch your son struggle with addiction, or bury a spouse, your heart feels pierced. Mary knows that piercing. She does not compare sorrows—she joins them to her own and carries them to Jesus.
As Catholics, we meditate on the Cross not to glorify pain, but to recognize that without Good Friday there is no Easter Sunday.
Without death there is no resurrection. Mary helps us hold both truths: the depth of sorrow and the promise of hope.
Coaching, Healing, and Mary’s Example
One of the blessings I’ve discovered as a Catholic coach is helping women regulate their emotions in times of deep sorrow.
Sometimes, the hardest part of grief is simply not knowing what to do with all the feelings. Coaching provides tools to process those emotions, notice the thoughts that fuel them, and step into healing.
Mary models this: she felt the full weight of sorrow but did not let it consume her.
She didn’t run from it, numb it, or deny it. She stood firm, holding her grief in faith. That is the path we are invited to walk—not alone, but with her.
A Personal Invitation
September is a sacred time to pause and reflect:
What sorrow are you carrying right now?
Where do you feel pierced by life’s circumstances?
Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or lost in your grief?
Beloved, you do not have to carry it alone.
Our Lady of Sorrows stands beside you, and so do I. As a Catholic coach, my mission is to help women like you find clarity, peace, and strength in Christ—even in the darkest valleys.
If you are navigating your own sorrow—whether infertility, struggles in marriage, or simply the heavy weight of life—reach out to me.
Let’s walk together, with Mary as our guide, toward the healing and hope that only God can give.
Closing Prayer
Mary, Mother of Sorrows, you never turned away from suffering. You stood at the foot of the Cross and trusted in God’s plan, even when your heart was pierced. Pray for us, that we may have the courage to bring our sorrows to Jesus, and the faith to believe that He can make all things new. Amen.
Take One Step
This September, dedicate time to meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
Pray the Chaplet.
Visit a Pietà statue at your parish.
Let yourself weep if you must—but do not stop there. Contact me. Share your story. Let me help you carry your sorrow, process your emotions, and discover the peace that Mary points us to in Christ.
You don’t have to walk this road alone. With Mary as our mother, and with God’s grace, sorrow can become the seed of hope.