Jesus Meets His Mother

No fixed feast day in the calendar

By tradition, the Mother meets her Son on the way; Simeon's words about the sword now come true.

This station comes from the devotional tradition of the Church; the Gospels do not tell it.

“Simeon blessed the couple and said to Mary, the Child's mother: “God has set this child for the fall and the rising of many in Israel. He will also be a sign that people will oppose; and so the hidden thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And as for you, a sword will pierce your very soul.”” (cf. Lk 2:34-35)

Look

No Gospel tells of a meeting on the road; John only says that his Mother stood near the cross (cf. Jn 19:25). Christian devotion has contemplated the moment before that: amid the jostling crowd, a mother recognises her Son. Years before, in the Temple, Simeon had foretold the sword. Now that sword has come. Mary cannot take the cross from him, cannot drive the soldiers away, cannot make the pain stop. She is there, and she does not look away. There are times when love has only one way left: to be present, to the end.

Ask your heart

Who near you is carrying a pain you cannot fix, but whom you can still stay beside?

One small thing

Spend ten minutes today sitting with someone at home who is sad or sick: no advice, no lecture, just listening.

Prayer

Mother Mary, you did not turn away from your Son's pain.
Teach me to stay beside those I love when they suffer,
and to follow Jesus faithfully together with you. Amen.

The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.