Episode 2368: Of the Death of Jesus with Sharon

Welcome back to Catholic Reboot as we further discuss the 7 Dolars (Sorrows) if Mary. We will discuss the Fifth Dolor: Of the Death of Jesus
To start in this episode let’s look at what St John the Apostle said regarding the martyrdom of Mary. He said:
“behold her at the foot of the cross, looking on her dying Son, and then see if there is grief like her grief.” Today we will stop at Calvary to ponder this fifth sword of sorrow that pieced the heart of Mary, the death of Jesus. The Crucifixion and Death of Her Son, Jesus. He went onto say: “But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25).

Now to start. we have to admire a new sort of martyrdom as St John called it, a mother condemned to see an innocent son, whom she loved with all the affection of her heart, put to death before her eyes, by the most barbarous tortures.

Historically, crucifixion was considered man’s work. Women had to observe from a distance but were close enough to hear the words Jesus spoke from the cross. We can all imagine why. The brutality of the crucifixion and naked were they displayed on the cross. And, lets talk about who was not at the foot of the cross. Most of His Apostles and Disciples were in hiding for fear of being crucified with him. But bluntly speaking as St. Bernard(wrote the memorare to the Immaculate Heart…Remember o most gracious virgin Mary, that never was it known…) says, “piercing his sacred hands and feet with nails, not sharp, but blunt spikes and to torture him more, they fastened him to the cross. When they had crucified him, they planted the cross, and thus left him to die. The executioners abandon him, but Mary does not abandon him. She then draws nearer to the cross, in order to assist at his death.”

Additionally, the Blessed Virgin appeared to St Bridget of Sweden and said to her “I did not leave him, and stood nearer to his cross”

St Bonaventure asks, “But what did it avail, oh Lady, to go to Calvary to witness there the death of this Son? Shame should have prevented thee, for his disgrace was also thine, because thou wast his mother; or, at least, the horror of such a crime as that of seeing a God crucified by his own creatures, should have prevented thee.

But he then answer himself when he said: “Thy heart did not consider the horror, but the suffering: “Ah, thy heart did not then care for its own sorrow, but for the suffering and death of thy dear Son; and therefore thou thyself didst wish to be near him, at least to have compassion with him.”

St William the Abbot (a hermit 1085-1142) says “Ah, true mother! loving mother! for not even the terror of death could separate thee from thy beloved Son. But, oh God, what a spectacle of sorrow, to see this Son then in agony upon the cross, and under the cross this mother in agony, who was suffering all the pain that her Son was suffering!”

And the words which Mary revealed to St. Bridget of the pitiable state of her dying Son, as she saw him on the cross: “My dear Jesus was on the cross in grief and in agony; his eyes were sunken, half closed, and lifeless; the lips hanging, and the mouth open; the cheeks hollow, and attached to the teeth; the face lengthened, the nose sharp, the countenance sad; the head had fallen upon his breast, the hair black with blood, the stomach collapsed, the arms and legs stiff, and the whole body covered with wounds and blood.”

Walt, can you provide us with what Ann Catherine Emerich said about thee vision she received regarding what Christ endured and what Mary had to witness. Its too much for me to recite without breaking down because as a Mother I could never have endured this.

Walt: Sure. Ann Catherine Emerich said:

"When the executioners had crucified the two thieves, they gathered together in a body around Jesus, and stripped Him of His garments. His wounds were re-opened, and the blood again came forth. He was thrown down violently upon the cross, and His arms were stretched out in such a manner as to be nearly dislocated. The executioners tied Him with cords, and then, seizing His right hand, they drove a nail into the center of His open palm. The blood gushed forth and obscured the letters which had been traced by the Jews. His left hand was tied tightly to the arm of the cross, but His feet did not reach the footboard. They therefore tied ropes around His body, under His arms, and under His knees, and having driven the same kind of nails into His feet, they fastened His hands to the beam.

Jesus made no complaint, but prayed continually that His sufferings might be available for the salvation of mankind. The loud, shrill hammering of the executioners pierced the ears of Mary, who was standing with John, Mary Magdalene, and the holy women at a short distance from the scene of torment. As soon as the sound reached her ear, she fainted, and would have fallen, had not the holy women supported her. She fell a second time when they turned the cross over in order to rivet the nails on the other side, and then placed it on the ground, that they might fix the two pieces of wood on the different sides of the cross, which supported the arms of the crucified. This part of the crucifixion caused Jesus more suffering than the previous one, on account of the violence with which the cross was thrown down. The dislocating of His shoulders, and the shock He sustained when the cross fell upon the ground, caused Him to utter a faint groan, and His blood streamed forth. They then hurriedly dragged Him to the foot of the cross, and tied Him down in that position, whilst the cords with which He was bound cut deeply into His flesh. They crossed His legs in the most painful manner, and tied them tightly together, and after having fastened His feet to the footboard with one large nail, they drove another nail through the instep, and riveted both ends of the nail upon the back of the cross. All the muscles and sinews were distended, and His whole body seemed to be racked with the most inconceivable agonies. His breast heaved, and He appeared to be on the verge of fainting."

Then Ann Catherine Emerch provided details the elevation of the cross:

"The awful moment had arrived, the executioners had finished their preparations, and they proceeded to crucify Jesus. The Blessed Virgin stood motionless; she was cold as marble, and her eyes were fixed on the dreadful sight before her. The executioners then seized the cross and placed it upright; they first attached a long pole with a hook at the end of it to the center of the cross, and then two men, taking hold of this pole, raised the cross from behind. Two other men, at the same time, lifted it by the two arms, and by this means it was elevated gradually, until it reached the hole prepared for it, in which they fixed it firmly with wedges. During the time that the cross was being raised, the most horrible curses and blasphemies were uttered against our Lord by the executioners and the soldiers, which were echoed by the tumultuous cries of the people. Jesus uttered no complaint, but prayed in silence. The sufferings of Mary were indescribable; she was supported by the holy women and the beloved disciple, who were obliged to use every effort in their power to prevent her from fainting.

When the cross was lifted up, there was a terrible convulsion in nature. The sun was darkened, and the earthquake shook the whole world. The cross vibrated under the pressure of the weight of the body, and the blood flowed from the wounds of the Crucified, and fell upon the stones of Calvary. The Blessed Virgin stood by the cross; her soul was overwhelmed with grief, but she did not faint. Mary Magdalene was perfectly beside herself; she pressed her forehead upon the cross, and she alone remained insensible to the frightful convulsions of nature."

And finally the details Ann Catherine Emerich provided on Jesus’ suffering on the cross:

"Jesus hung upon the cross for about three hours, His position becoming more and more painful. His body had been so frightfully strained and distorted by the violent manner in which it had been fastened to the cross, that all His bones were dislocated, and He was almost unable to support His own weight. His head, crowned with thorns, sank upon His breast from weakness, and every time that He raised it up with the appearance of life and strength, the new rays of this burning sun darted upon His bleeding and mangled frame, and He again fell back into the same state of insensibility.

His mouth was parched and inflamed, and He was almost unable to move His swollen tongue, which was covered with deep wounds. His thirst was so great that He said, 'I thirst.' These words were so touching that a stranger might have exclaimed, on hearing them: 'Who is this man? What is His crime? What has He done to be thus treated?' The executioners themselves were struck with astonishment and looked at each other inquiringly; they then dipped a sponge in vinegar and gall, and held it up to Him on a reed. Jesus did not reject it; He only touched it with His lips, as if to signify that He was about to drink of the chalice of His sufferings to the very dregs.

The excessive thirst which Jesus endured was the cause of an inward fever, which increased His suffering to an indescribable degree. The wounds in His hands and feet gradually widened by the weight of His body, and His blood fell in large drops upon the ground. Suddenly, a dark, thick cloud obscured the sun, the moon appeared to be turned into blood, and the stars to fall from the heavens. The veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, the earth trembled, and many sepulchers opened, allowing the bodies of the saints to appear.

These phenomena filled the souls of men with fear and anguish; they beat their breasts, and, striking their foreheads with their hands, exclaimed: 'May His blood fall upon His murderers!' But the darkness continually increased, the cries of the people ceased not, and in the midst of all these convulsions of nature, Jesus raised His head and cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.'

At these words He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. The soul of Jesus instantly left His body, and the earth was shaken with such violence that the rocks were rent asunder, and many parts of Jerusalem were thrown down. It was then that the centurion, who stood opposite to the cross, exclaimed, 'Indeed, this was a just man; the Son of God.”
Sharon: Mary also suffered all these pains of Jesus. This is why Mary is consider the Co-Redemptorist, she joined in his suffering through her own suffering having to witness the murder of her only son in such a vicious and merciless manner.

Walt:
Thank you for that profound reflection on the Fifth Dolor of Mary, the death of Jesus. As we ponder this sorrowful mystery, let us take a moment to delve deeper into the significance of Mary's suffering at the foot of the cross and how it continues to inspire and guide us today.

Sharon:
Indeed. The image of Mary standing by the cross, witnessing the brutal crucifixion of her beloved Son, is a powerful testament to her unwavering faith and love. It's a scene that invites us to reflect on the depth of her sorrow and her incredible strength.

It's important to remember that Mary's presence at Calvary was not just a passive act of witnessing. She actively participated in her Son's sacrifice through her immense suffering. As St. Bernard eloquently stated, "The cross and nails of the Son were also the cross and nails of the mother."

Walt: Yes, and this shared suffering highlights the profound unity between Jesus and Mary. St. Alphonsus de Liguori reminds us that Mary's heart was pierced with every wound inflicted on Jesus. Her agony was not merely emotional but deeply spiritual, as she offered her Son for our redemption.

Sharon: And this offering is a key aspect of our Catholic faith. Mary's cooperation in our salvation through her sorrows emphasizes her role as our spiritual mother. Jesus himself acknowledged this when he entrusted her to John and, by extension, to all of us, saying, "Woman, behold your son."

Walt:
That's right. Mary's sorrows also serve as a source of consolation and strength for us. Her experience of profound grief teaches us how to endure our own trials with faith and hope. She is a model of compassion, showing us how to stand by others in their suffering.

Sharon:
Let's also consider the immense love and mercy that Mary embodies. Even in her darkest hour, she continued to intercede for others. The story of the penitent thief's conversion, attributed to her prayers, illustrates her powerful intercession and motherly care for all souls.

Walt:
Mary's example encourages us to turn to her in our own times of need. The prayer we just heard, asking for her intercession, is a beautiful expression of our trust in her motherly compassion. She understands our pain and is always ready to guide us toward her Son.

Sharon:
As St Briget said “Thus the afflicted mother saw her Jesus suffering on every side; she desired to comfort him, but could not. And what caused her the greatest sorrow was to see that, by her presence and her grief, she increased the sufferings of her Son”.

As St. Bernard said: “The sorrow itself, that filled the heart of Mary, increased the bitterness of sorrow in the heart of Jesus”

As we conclude this reflection, let's remember to keep Mary close in our hearts. Her sorrows are not just historical events but living realities that continue to speak to us. Let us ask for her intercession, especially in our moments of suffering and uncertainty.

Walt:
Thank you for joining us today in reflecting on the Fifth Dolor of Mary. We hope this has deepened your understanding and appreciation of her role in our salvation. Let's close with a prayer, asking for her continued guidance and protection.

Sharon: Can I end in Prayer?
O Mother, the most afflicted of all mothers, thy Son, then, is dead; thy Son so amiable, and who loved thee so much! Weep, for thou hast reason to weep. Who can ever console thee? Nothing can console thee but the thought that Jesus, by His death, hath conquered hell, hath opened paradise which was closed to men, and hath gained so many souls. From that throne of the Cross, He was to reign over so many hearts, which, conquered by His love, would serve Him with love. Do not disdain, O my Mother, to keep me near to weep with thee, for I have more reason than thou to weep for the offences that I have committed against thy Son. O, Mother of mercy, I hope for pardon and my eternal salvation, first through the death of my Redeemer, and then through the merits of thy dolors. Amen.

Walt:
Amen. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to continuing our journey through the Seven Dolors of Mary in our next episode. May God bless you all.