Behold The Lamb Of God, Behold Him Who Taketh Away The Sin Of The World
The 4th Sorrow Of Our Lady: Meeting With Jesus On The Via Crucis.
Those well versed in Mystical Theology know that Our Lord Jesus Christ became sin in order to free us from sin. From the Cross, Our Lord Jesus Christ became, as it were, forsaken by God the Father, who was repulsed by the image. (St Paul notes this in his Epistle to the Galatians: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.") For this reason also, Our Lord Jesus Christ, as His last act upon the Cross, intoned Psalm 21: "Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani?" (Which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?")
This forms the Heart of the 4th Sorrow of Our Lady. While 'tis true she did commiserate with Her Divine Son, as St Alphonsus notes in his account, what surely struck her the most was the horror of sin that was now reflected in His Being. It was as though Our Lady had given birth to the Dragon, the Ancient Serpent itself. The most horrific images we can conjure- a fetid corpse rotting in a cesspool, or a pit full of vipers, scorpions and venomous spiders- is but a faint echo of what Our Lady beheld. Our Lord had taken upon Himself every sin, the Blessed as well as the Reprobate, and would make satisfaction for all. Even the damned are somewhat relieved by His Passion, and do not suffer all they ought, even though they nevertheless curse Him unremittingly. And this ocean of iniquity now floods the soul of Our Lady.
Some say that Our Lady was so struck by the sight of Her Son that she swooned in the arms of St John. And even though this be true, yet she was moved to action, just as the revelation of St Gabriel at the Annunciation concerning Elizabeth's pregnancy, of which this first Good Friday was the anniversary, had prompted her to "go in haste to the Hill Country''. The other Stations revolve around this Fourth Station. Our Lady beholds her son and the next thing one sees is Simon helping to carry the Holy Cross and St Elizabeth is wiping the Holy Face. One sees Our Lady marshalling the forces of consolation that Our Lord, already having stumbled and fallen, might preserve enough strength to continue in triumph- because He travels the Via Crucis as Lord and Conqueror, all appearances notwithstanding, as per the Vexilla Regis- to the summit of Calvary.
Many of you are familiar with the famous World War One Poster depicting "Uncle Sam" pointing his finger while underneath the caption reads: "I want you for the US Army". In like manner, Our Lady, from her position at the Fourth Station, is looking for recruits to help Our Lord Jesus Christ carry His Cross. Can one conceive of a Greater Honor that to Carry the Cross after Our Lord. What endeavor is more noble, more fruitful, and more suited to every state in life, from the most humble laborer to pope and king?
In a week or so (This being Written the Saturday before Palm Sunday) may we sing with honor and commitment the Original Version of "That Old Rugged Cross" : "Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis, Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulces clavos, dulce pondus sustinet. Pange, lingua, gloriosi, proelium certaminis, et super Crucis trophaeo, Dic triumphum nobilem, Qualiter Redemptor orbis, Immolatus vicerit!"
Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us. You are Our Only Hope!