JERUSALEM - On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem welcomed the members of the Fraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows in Jerusalem, which marked its 150th anniversary with a mass led by H.B. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Concelebrating was Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar, Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Bishop Emeritus, several priests of the Patriarchate, in the presence of Mgr Hanna Attala.
Among the assembly were the women of Jerusalem, faithful from different generations, the Rosary Sisters, and other consecrated women from various religious orders in Jerusalem.
Before the service, they recited the rosary in memory of their group's establishment in 1874, which was initiated by Sr Marie-Alphonsine's spiritual director, Fr Yousef Tannous Yammine, under the auspices of the Patriarch of the time, Mgr Vincenzo Gracco.
Fraternity members meet weekly at the Patriarchate and during religious feasts to receive spiritual guidance and blessings from the Church Sacraments. Following the tradition started by St. Marie Alphonsine, they support each other in daily and group prayers, while meditating on the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, during her earthly life. A new member of the Fraternity shared that she was moved to join the prayer group after she had the chance to do the Via Crucis in Jerusalem, she elaborated saying that the Sorrows endured by Our Lady by accompanying Christ to the Cross, were a source of strength for her.
In his homily, Card. Pizzaballa thanked the fraternity members for their loyalty to the city of Jerusalem throughout the years and for their faithfully said prayers and the daily service they carry out discreetly with love and patience for the good of the community. He said, "Only a mother's heart knows how to do such an act". He had witnessed this during his recent pastoral visits.
Reflecting on a passage from the liturgy (Jn 19:25-27), the Cardinal recalled that the Virgin Mary was present at every decisive moment in the life of Christ, as she was the first one to bear witness to the Good News, saying: " Her Yes in Nazareth made possible the Yes on the Cross.” While referring back to the last words of Jesus on the cross - “Woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother”- he said: “Suffering without love leads to madness. Only love can give it meaning. […] Let’s remember that on Calvary, there was the love of Jesus but also the love of his mother, whom Jesus gave to us as a gift to accompany us in our pilgrimage".
