Mary at Her Son's Tomb
The Death of a Child:
Parents' Greatest Sorrow.
Leader:
O Most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; intercede for us who seek your help.
All:
For in you, we place all our faith and all our trust.
Meditation:
(John 19:18-27) There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home.
Reflection:
How often we have heard it said that parents should not have to bury their children. Truly there can be no greater pain. Just as the birth of a child can bring great hope, the death of a child can bring great despair. At such a time, only Jesus' promise of eternal life for those who are his faithful children can bring any consolation to parents. May the Holy Family who shared this sorrow be the source of strength for all grieving parents.
Prayer - All:
O Mary, sorrowful Mother of Jesus, will the pain of this loss ever go away? Will grieving parents ever find peace again? You understand well their sorrow. Help them to accept this most painful cross with faith and trust in your Son's merciful love for all the Father's children.
Our Father...
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father...