Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows



A modern version of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, the more traditional rendering. Today's Office of Readings selection from St. Bernard speaks of the martyrdom of Mary, interesting if not downright creative:



The martyrdom of the Virgin is set forth both in the prophecy of Simeon and in the actual story of our Lord’s passion. The holy old man said of the infant Jesus: He has been established as a sign which will be contradicted. He went on to say to Mary: And your own heart will be pierced by a sword.



Truly, O blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your heart. For only by passing through your heart could the sword enter the flesh of your Son. Indeed, after your Jesus - who belongs to everyone, but is especially yours - gave up his life, the cruel spear, which was not withheld from his lifeless body, tore open his side. Clearly it did not touch his soul and could not harm him, but it did pierce your heart. For surely his soul was no longer there, but yours could not be torn away. Thus the violence of sorrow has cut through your heart, and we rightly call you more than martyr, since the effect of compassion in you has gone beyond the endurance of physical suffering.



Or were those words, Woman, behold your Son, not more than a word to you, truly piercing your heart, cutting through to the division between soul and spirit? What an exchange! John is given to you in place of Jesus, the servant in place of the Lord, the disciple in place of the master; the son of Zebedee replaces the Son of God, a mere man replaces God himself. How could these words not pierce your most loving heart, when the mere remembrance of them breaks ours, hearts of iron and stone though they are!



Do not be surprised, brothers, that Mary is said to be a martyr in spirit. Let him be surprised who does not remember the words of Paul, that one of the greatest crimes of the Gentiles was that they were without love. That was far from the heart of Mary; let it be far from her servants.



Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that he would not die?” Undoubtedly. “Did she not expect him to rise again at once?” Surely. “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely. Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary’s Son? For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his.

2-5 on My Pro Picks Yesterday



Oh well, that's what gloating will get you.

Nation's Capital Could Take a Direct Hit of Isabel



The most potent hurricane since Andrew is looking like it could hit D.C. this Friday.

6-0 on My College Picks Yesterday (see below)



I would have been gladly wrong about the Florida State pick though.

'Not So Quiet' Catholic Corner

Check out some great entries by "Not So Quiet", a blog by Father Sistare. Including "Here's Looking at You Kid" and "Removing the Cross at Ground Zero."

Football Picks



For laughs...



College Games



Louisville over Syracuse

Iowa over Iowa State

Michigan over Notre Dame

Georgia over S.Carolina

Florida State over Georgia Tech

Florida over Florida A&M





Pros



St. Louis over San Fran

Cleveland over Baltimore

Jacksonville over Buffalo

Spurrier over Johnson (although I'd watch out if I were Spurrier--Johnson only missed hitting Bowden by a few inches)

Tampa Bay over Carolina (but not to cover the 9 points)

Chicago This Weekend



Amy and I are speaking and signing books at A Wing and A Prayer in Plano, IL (suburb of Chicago) tomorrow beginning at 10. A.M. and ending somewhere around 2 P.M. I have the address and topics posted at my homepage under "appearances". Love to see and meet all of you out there in Chicagoland! Everyone is invited to come, no charge!



Joseph is excited about going to Chicago. I had asked him why he was about ten times and everytime he said "toys". Hey, Joseph there are not toys in Chicago! Just a long drive, a hotel room and a day of trying to keep you busy while either mom or dad is trying to keep whoever shows up interested.