from Saint Bonaventure
That which is possessed with great love is not lost without great grief, and so it was that, deprived of the bodily presence of her only and' beloved Son, whom she loved with the most tender love and above all things else, the Blessed Virgin was smitten in her soul with manifold sorrow. And she hardly allowed any sleep to her eyes or any rest to her feet until she found Him in the midst of the doctors in Jerusalem. 'There, as soon as she saw His most gracious face once more, rejoicing with great joy and ineffable delight, she uttered a timorous word - though, indeed, her speech was brief, as is a maiden's - which, nevertheless, was a word of pre-vision and of great wisdom, saying, 'Son, why hast Thou done so to us? And, indeed, in saying this, she, like a most prudent Virgin, puts forth first her sweetness in that speech of her lips: 'Son, why hast Thou done so to us? In the second place, she expresses the bitterness of the vast tribulation of her heart when she continues: 'Thy father and I (have sought Thee) sorrowing.' In the third place, she tells of her solicitude throughout the course of her discreet inquiries for Him when she adds: 'Have sought Thee.' So, in those words, the Blessed Virgin, with great prudence, quietly insinuates that she had given to God the thoughts of her heart, the words of her mouth, and the labour of her entire person. First, then, is seen in the words set forth the sweetness of the speech of her lips, when she says: 'My Son.' For so good a Son as Jesus well deserved to be spoken to so sweetly, for, like every good son, He is the joy and the delight of His Virgin-Mother. In the second place, she says: 'Thy father and I - sorrowing,' in which we note the bitterness of the profound grief of her heart. In sooth, O glorious Virgin! I do not wonder if thy heart is suffering, if there is bitterness in it, if there is sorrow; I should wonder rather if thou didst not suffer in the loss of that personal presence of thy beloved Son, which had filled thy soul with manifold consolation. The glorious Virgin suffered in this world many sorrows, many tribulations, many bitter griefs, because of her Son; but for the present we shall speak of her sorrow as a triple sorrow. For she grieved, first, because of the absence of her Son; secondly, because of her vision of the Passion of our Lord; and thirdly, in her co-passion, seeing the blindness of the Jews. In the third place, Mary alludes to her anxiety in her prudent search and in all she did when she says: '(We) have sought Thee.' For the Blessed Virgin was very anxious in seeking for her Child, although she had not been careless in losing Him; for it was a custom of the Jews - so the commentators tell us - that, in their processions and their journeyings, when they went up to the Temple - and while they remained in the Temple - the men and women did not travel together but in separate bands. The children, however, were not bound by this rule, and sometimes went with their fathers, and sometimes with the women. This was why Mary, the Virgin Mother, thought that the Child Jesus was with Joseph in the company of the men, and Joseph that he was among the women's company. (This custom had been introduced for the sake of right conduct and chastity of life.) Therefore it is plain that Mary was not negligent in losing Jesus; but she was very anxious and very diligent in her search for Him, for she sought Him, first, with a good conscience and in faith; then, with a wide charity, in her love of Him; and, finally, with hope, in certitude and confidence.
Let us pray
O God! in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of sorrow transpierced the most tender soul of Thy most glorious Virgin-Mother, Mary, mercifully grant that we, who with veneration call to mind her Dolours, may experience the happy effect of Thy Passion. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is, from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers - to Abraham and to His seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Salve Regina!
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Petition
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!
- from The May-Book of the Breviary, by Father John Fitzpatrick