Episode 2552: Sixth Sword of Sorrow - Mary receives the Body of her Son - with Sharon

The Sixth Sword of Sorrow - Mary Receives the Body of Jesus
Sharon:
Welcome back to CR, where we explore the beauty of our Catholic faith through a traditional lens. I'm your host, Sharon, and joining me today, as always, is our faithful co-host, Walt. How are you today, Sharon?
Sharon:
I'm doing well, Walt. It's always a blessing to dive deeper into these powerful reflections, especially today as we discuss the Sixth Sword of Sorrow. It's a truly heart-wrenching moment when Mary receives the body of her Son after He is taken down from the cross. Do you want me to lead us in with a prayer?
Opening Prayer: Sharon: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father, as we gather today, we ask for Your grace and wisdom to guide our conversation. Help us to reflect deeply on the sorrow that pierced the heart of Our Blessed Mother, as she cradled the lifeless body of her Son, Jesus. May this reflection bring us closer to Your plan of salvation and inspire us to accept the crosses You allow in our lives with patience and trust. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Sharon:
Before we get into this I wanted to correct a misunderstanding that many Protestants make and most Catholic’s don’t truly know how to defend is when we say Mary is the Co-Redemptorist the "Co-" in Co-Redemptrix comes from the Latin word “Cum”, which means "with." So, Co-Redemptrix refers to Mary being "with the Redeemer" in a unique and subordinate role in the work of redemption. It emphasizes that Mary cooperated with Christ, but it does not imply equality with Him. Christ alone is the Redeemer, but Mary, through her free cooperation, especially at the foot of the Cross, played a special part in the plan of salvation.
Sorry for going off here a bit but I wanted to correct that misunderstanding. Now back to this episode, the scene of Mary Receives the Body of Jesus is both devastating and profound. In this moment, we see the culmination of Mary's sorrows, as Simeon had prophesied, 'A sword will pierce your own soul too.' Imagine the pain of holding the body of Jesus, the same body she had once held as a baby in Bethlehem. Now, He is broken, lifeless, and disfigured by the horrors of the crucifixion.
Walt:
Absolutely. The Sixth Sword of Sorrow is significant because it shows Mary's profound acceptance of God's will, even in the face of the ultimate suffering. She doesn’t protest or turn away in disbelief. She holds Him, embracing His brokenness and death, knowing that it was part of the Father’s plan. It's this acceptance that is a model for us in how we should approach the crosses we encounter in life.
Sharon:
And this isn’t just a passive acceptance. Mary actively participated in the suffering of her Son. As Catholics, we understand the role of Mary as Co-Redemptrix. While Jesus alone is our Redeemer, Mary’s unique participation in His suffering shows us that she shares in the redemptive work in a way no one else could. When she holds His body, she is united to His sacrifice in a deeply spiritual way. Here are some thought from the saints on this sorrow:
“The afflicted Mother, still fearing that other injuries might be inflicted on her Son, entreats Joseph of Arimathea to obtain from Pilate the Body of her Jesus, that at least after His death she may be able to guard It and protect It from injuries. Joseph went to Pilate, and made known to him the sorrow and the wish of this afflicted Mother; and St. Anselrn thinks that compassion for the Mother softened the heart of Pilate, and moved him to grant her the Body of the Saviour.”

Oh, how many swords, says St. Bonaventure, pierced the soul of this Mother, when she received the Body of her Son after
it was taken from the Cross: Let us consider what anguish it would cause any mother to receive the lifeless body of a son!

Walt:
Exactly. And from a traditional Catholic perspective, this is a reminder of how suffering is not something to avoid or reject but to embrace with love, knowing it has meaning. As St. Paul said, 'We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him' (Romans 8:28). Mary trusted in this promise. She believed that even in this moment of darkness, God was working something good."
Sharon: And how relevant that is for us today. We all face sorrows, but Mary teaches us to accept them with patience and love. Her example helps us to remember that no matter how dark things may seem, God’s plan is at work, even when we don’t fully understand it. Let’s think about this:
The Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget that she closed the eyes of her Son, when He was taken down from the Cross, but she could not close His arms, Jesus Christ giving us to understand by this, that He desired to remain with open arms to receive all penitent sinners who return to Him.
Walt: That’s right, Sharon. And this brings to mind the prayer we reflect on when contemplating this sorrow: 'O Mother of Sorrows, your heart was drowned in grief as you embraced the lifeless corpse of your Son. Yet you accepted this sorrow with love knowing that it was all part of the Father’s plan of salvation.' If only we could have such faith, to truly trust that everything is part of His divine will.
Sharon:
Yes, Walt. Mary shows us how to offer our own sorrows to God. Every loss, every heartbreak can be transformed if we unite it with the sacrifice of Christ. Like Mary, we must carry our sorrows with trust, knowing that resurrection follows the cross.
Walt:
Her example is a reminder to us as Catholics to remain faithful, even when the weight of our crosses feels unbearable. The beauty of our faith is that suffering is never the end of the story. With the cross comes the resurrection, and with every sorrow, there is hope.
Sharon:
That’s such a comforting truth, especially in a world that often rejects suffering or views it as meaningless. Mary's sorrow was not meaningless; it was redemptive. And our sorrows, united to Christ, can also bear great fruit for the salvation of souls.
Here’s a little story I think everyone might enjoy:

There was once a poor sinner who, among other crimes, had killed his father and a brother, and therefore became a fugitive. Happening to hear one day during Lent, a sermon upon the divine mercy, he went to the preacher himself to make his confession. The confessor having heard his crimes, sent him to an altar of the Sorrowful Mother to pray that she might obtain for him compunction and pardon of his sins. The sinner obeyed, and began to pray, when behold, suddenly over-powered by contrition, he falls down dead. On the following day when the priest recommended to the people to pray for the deceased, a white dove appeared in the church and let fall a card at the feet of the priest. He took it up, and found these words written on it: “The soul of the dead, when it left the body, immediately went to paradise; continue to preach the infinite mercy of God.”

Walt: So true, Sharon. Before we close, let’s remember to ask Mary for her intercession. She knows the depths of suffering, and she knows how to guide us closer to her Son through it all.

Closing Prayer: Walt:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Mother of Sorrows, we turn to you in our own times of trial and grief. Just as you held your Son's broken body with love and trust, help us to hold our sorrows with faith, knowing that God works all things for good. Teach us to accept the crosses in our lives, believing that through them, we are brought closer to the heart of Jesus. Guide us always toward your Son, and pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Sharon:
Thank you for joining us today as we reflected on the Sixth Sword of Sorrow. Remember to ask Our Lady to help you carry your crosses with faith and trust in God's plan. Until next time, may God bless you, and may Our Blessed Mother guide and protect you always.
Walt:
God bless, everyone. Take care and remember, all things work for good for those who love Him.