It commemorates the profound union of heart that existed between the Mother of the Redeemer and the Savior, through which she experienced many interior sorrows as a consequence of His Mission, but particularly during His Passion and Death. The Lucan passage is Simeon's prediction about a sword piercing Mary's soul; the Johannine passage relates Jesus' words from the cross to Mary and to the beloved disciple. Many early Church writers interpret the sword as Mary's sorrows, especially as she saw Jesus die on the cross. The First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon and Anna • The Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt. ... • The Third Sorrow: The Loss of the Child Jesus. ... • The Fourth Sorrow: The Condemnation of Jesus. ... • The Fifth Station: The Crucifixion of Jesus. ... • The Sixth Station: The Retrieval of Jesus' Body. ... • The Seventh Station: The Burial of Jesus. Jesus promised St. Elizabeth of Hungary her four principal ones: First, that those who before death invoke the Divine Mother in the name of her sorrows should obtain true repentance of all their sins. Second, that He would protect all who have this devotion in their tribulations, and that He would protect them especially at the hour of death. Third, that He would impress upon their minds the remembrance of His Passion, and that they should have their reward for it in heaven. Fourth, that He would commit such devout clients to the hands of Mary, with the power to dispose of them in whatever manner she might please, and to obtain for them all the graces she might desire.” “that after the assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, St. John the Evangelist desired to see her again. The favor was granted him; his dear Mother appeared to him, and with her Jesus Christ also appeared; the St. then heard Mary ask her Son to grant some special grace to all those who are devoted to her sorrows. Jesus promised her four principal ones: Promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary for honoring 1. “I will grant peace to their families.” Our Lady of Sorrows 2. “They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.” 3. “I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.” 4. “I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.” 5. “I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.” 6. “I will visibly help them at the moment of their death—they will see the face of their mother.” 7. “I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.” For a while there were two feasts in honor of the Sorrowful Mother: one going back to the 15th century, the other to the 17th century. For a while both were celebrated by the universal Church: one on the Friday before Palm Sunday, the other in September. The principal biblical references to Mary’s sorrows are in Luke 2:35 and John 19:26-27. The Lucan passage is Simeon’s prediction about a sword piercing Mary’s soul; the Johannine passage relates Jesus’ words from the cross to Mary and to the beloved disciple. Many early Church writers interpret the sword as Mary’s sorrows, especially as she saw Jesus die on the cross. Thus, the two passages are brought together as prediction and fulfillment. Saint Ambrose in particular sees Mary as a sorrowful yet powerful figure at the cross. Mary stood fearlessly at the cross while others fled. Mary looked on her Son’s wounds with pity, but saw in them the salvation of the world. As Jesus hung on the cross, Mary did not fear to be killed, but offered herself to her persecutors.

God our Father, Your power brings us to birth, Your providence guides our lives, and by Your command we return to dust. Lord, those who die still live in Your presence, their lives change but do not end. I pray in hope for my family, relatives and friends, and for all the dead known to You alone. In company with Christ, Who died and now lives, may they rejoice in Your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family, to sing Your praise forever and ever. Amen.

St. Hugh was born in 1053 in southeastern France of the Day for April 1 St. Hugh served his See for 52 years, although he had earnestly solicited Pope Innocent II for leave to resign his bishopric, that he might die in solitude but was never able to obtain his request. For the last forty years of his life, he was afflicted with almost continual headaches and pains in the stomach God was pleased to purify his soul by a lingering illness before He called him to Himself. He was eloquent as a preacher.He restored his own cathedral, made civic improvements in the town, and weathered a brief exile. Hugh may be best known as patron and benefactor of Saint Bruno, founder of the Carthusian Order. He died in 1132, and was canonized only two years later. Benedictine bishop of Grenoble, France, patron of St. Bruno. He was born in the Dauphine region and became a canon of the cathedral in Valence. In 1080, while attending a synod in Avignon, Hugh was named bishop of Grenoble. He attempted a massive reform of the diocese, but, discouraged, retired to Chaise Dieu Abbey, and became a Benedictine. Pope St. Gregoiy VII ordered him back to Grenoble. Hugh gave St. Bruno the land on which the Grande Chartreuse was founded, thus starting the Carthusians. Hugh died on April 1 and was canonized by Pope Innocent II. Today’s saint could be a patron for those of us who feel so overwhelmed by all the problems in the world that we don’t know where to begin. Hugh, who served as a bishop in France for 52 years, had his work cut out for him from the start. Corruption seemed to loom in every direction: the buying and selling of Church offices, violations of clerical celibacy, lay control of Church property, religious indifference and/or ignorance. After serving as bishop for two years, he’d had his fill. He tried disappearing to a monastery, but the pope called him back to continue the work of reform. Ironically, Hugh was reasonably effective in the role of reformer—surely because of his devotion to the Church but also because of his strong character. In conflicts between Church and state he was an unflinching defender of the Church. He fearlessly supported the papacy. He was eloquent as a preacher. He restored his own cathedral, made civic improvements in the town, and weathered a brief exile. Hugh may be best known as patron and benefactor of Saint Bruno, founder of the Carthusian Order. He died in 1132, and was canonized only two years later. In the midst of our confusing life these days, let us pray for the ability to rise above the fray and to see things in the light of faith as did Saint Hugh. St Hugh served his See for 52 years, although he had earnestly solicited Pope Innocent II for leave to resign his bishopric, that he might die in solitude but was never able to obtain his request. For the last forty years of his life, he was afflicted with almost continual headaches and pains in the stomach God was pleased to purify his soul by a lingering illness before He called him to Himself. The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Grenoble in Burgundia, in today’s France, St Hugh, Bishop, who worked for the reform of the customs of the clergy and the people and, during his Episcopate, ardently loving solitude, gave St Bruno at the time, his teacher and to his companions, the hermitage of Chartroux, of which he was also the first Abbot. He ruled his Church for about fifty years with the thoughtful example of his charity.” At the Council of Avignon in 1080, he was elected Bishop of Grenoble, although he was not yet ordained. The See of Grenoble had fallen into a very poor state and Hugh was selected to be its Gregorian renovator. Conducted by a papal legate to Rome, Hugh was Ordained by Pope Gregory VII himself. Upon his return, he immediately set to the task of reforming the abuses in his new Diocese. When he had not succeeded, to his satisfaction, in countering abuse and fostering devotion after two years, he tried to resign his bishopric and enter the Benedictine Monastery at Cluny. However, the Pope ordered him to continue his Episcopal work.

I want to thank my new Facebook Friend Stephanie Shaull who found me out on the Trail keeping a promise I made to President Trump that I dedicated 600 miles marching carrying out my Flag Detail being a sign and witness to thousands along main Street in Gardner Kansas as road work is taking place and traffic is backed up and it is incredible the amount of traffic I come across. Attached to my belt is a speaker that I can use my phone to pray 20 mysteries of the Rosary as I travel along my way. I pray for our Constitution. When I retired from the Army, I still hold myself to the vow I made to defend our Constitution against foreign and domestic “I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I was blessed to served with great patriots for over 26 years with some of the best Soldiers and our officers. Meet SFC Donald Hartley. This Patriot walks 4 miles almost every day through the streets of Gardner carrying his flag detail (the US flag, President Trump flag, & St Michael Flag). He served our country in the Army for over 26 years! Donald personally promised President Trump that he would carry these flags through the streets for 600 miles. I had the pleasure of speaking with him this morning, and he is a true Patriot in every sense of the word. Thank you for your service to our country, Donald! Hats off to you & a much deserved round of applause God bless. (Thank you Stephanie Shaull for these kind words.) I render a salute when I pass the American Flag, when I pass a police vehicle, an Ambulance, when someone honks their horn, gives a thumbs up. President Trump, the support I am getting is amazing telling me the support for you remains strong. Everything passsing me by from trash trucks, cement trucks, work vehicles of all kinds, semi trucks, every kind of private vehicle you can imagine. This has been a fantastic journey.

I want to thank my new Facebook Friend Stephanie Shaull who found me out on the Trail keeping a promise I made to President Trump that I dedicated 600 miles marching carrying out my Flag Detail being a sign and witness to thousands along main Street in Gardner Kansas as road work is taking place and traffic is backed up and it is incredible the amount of traffic I come across. Attached to my belt is a speaker that I can use my phone to pray 20 mysteries of the Rosary as I travel along my way. I pray for our Constitution. When I retired from the Army, I still hold myself to the vow I made to defend our Constitution against foreign and domestic “I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I was blessed to served with great patriots for over 26 years with some of the best Soldiers and our officers. Meet SFC Donald Hartley. This Patriot walks 4 miles almost every day through the streets of Gardner carrying his flag detail (the US flag, President Trump flag, & St Michael Flag). He served our country in the Army for over 26 years! Donald personally promised President Trump that he would carry these flags through the streets for 600 miles. I had the pleasure of speaking with him this morning, and he is a true Patriot in every sense of the word. Thank you for your service to our country, Donald! Hats off to you & a much deserved round of applause God bless (Thank you Stephanie Shaull for these kind words.) I render a salute when I pass the American Flag, when I pass a police vehicle, an Ambulance, when someone honks their horn, gives a thumbs up. President Trump, the support I am getting is amazing telling me the support for you remains strong. Everything passsing me by from trash trucks, cement trucks, work vehicles of all kinds, semi trucks, every kind of private vehicle you can imagine. This has been a fantastic journey.