COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED

(1) MARY, the Apostle Paul tells us that the source of all consolation is God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions" (2 Cor. 1,3). But after God, it is you who console us in our afflictions. What unspeakable compassion fills your loving heart for us poor exiles from our heavenly home! You have the heart of a mother who forgets herself to think only of her children. You know by experience what it is to be afflicted, for your whole life was a series of sufferings and trials. You now have the greatest sympathy with the sorrowful and hasten to comfort them.

Your loving Son invited the afflicted: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11,28). Since you are a true image of your divine Son in all things, you also possess the most tender compassion and mercy for the afflicted, and you know no greater happiness than that of comforting them in their sorrows. Being also our Mother, given to us by Jesus from the cross, you are our best comforter.

(2) MARY, you also comfort the afflicted by your example. You are a model for us in all our sufferings and trials. Though you were the Mother of God and our Mother, you have suffered. I have no suffering which you did not experience. "Great as the sea" was your sorrow and with it all you were resigned, calm, and wonderfully conformed to the divine will. Should God be less severe with me, an unprofitable servant, than with you, His own Mother? If I wish to be crowned with you in heaven some day then God should not give me heaven on earth. Since you were patient and made every sacrifice with a most cheerful heart, even when it caused you the greatest pain, why should I be impatient and discouraged? I am consoled at the very thought of the tender interest, the sympathy, and the love for us which fills your motherly heart.

Comforter of the Afflicted, teach me to seek comfort in you when I stand in need of consolation. Your whole life was a martyrdom, and yet even the weight of a small cross presses so heavily on me. My suffering is short, but yours was long. You are the Queen of heaven not only on account of your divine Motherhood, but also because of the merits which you acquired as the Queen of Martyrs and the Mother of Sorrows. Let me ever remember that no path but the hard, rough way of Calvary leads to the blissful home of heaven. Help me to say always with all my heart: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (3) MARY, you comfort the afflicted also by your help. At the marriage in Cana you observed the disappointment of the newly married couple. You not only sympathized with them, but you removed the trouble by taking the matter to your Son, who changed water into wine at your request. You comfort us in the same way. You remove evils and help us out of every difficulty by your intercession with Jesus. You have become all to all, and your affectionate heart is open to all, that all may find whatever they need: the sick his health, the afflicted comfort, and the sinner pardon.

Comforter of the Afflicted, teach me to imitate you by sympathizing with others out of love for God. I wish to console my neighbor in his affliction and even encourage him to find his peace and joy in God.

Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all consolation, grant in Your loving kindness that we who joyfully venerate on earth Mary, Your most pure Mother as our comforter, may deserve to enjoy with her the unending happiness of heaven. Who live and reign forever. Amen. (Feast of Our Lady of Consolation, Sat. after Aug. 28)