Our Lady of Sorrows

A mother’s quiet sorrow, recalling moments that pierced her heart and love that remains beyond death.

An imagined lament of Mary upon her seven sorrows

Simeon held my Child and blessed Him, then turned to me with words that never left my heart: a sword would pierce my soul.

One night Joseph woke me, his face filled with urgency. I gathered Jesus in my arms while we left everything behind. Soldiers were searching for Him, but we carried Him into the darkness, trusting God alone.

There was a time I could not find Him. Three days of searching, calling His name, my heart breaking with every hour. At last in the Temple He sat among the teachers, calm while I trembled with sorrow and relief.

Years passed. The boy I once searched for in the Temple became the man I saw bent beneath the Cross. His face bloodied, His body torn. The crowd shouted, soldiers struck Him, and our eyes met. I had nothing to give Him but my tears.

I stood beneath the Cross as the nails were struck, as the sky darkened, as His breathing slowed. My Son gave His last breath, and my soul broke with Him.

They placed His body in my arms. Once I held Him small and new, now I held Him cold and still.

And then the stone closed the tomb. The silence was heavier than death itself, yet my love for Him remains.

This reflection is only an imagined lament, written to draw hearts closer to the sorrow of Mary and the love of Christ. The memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows is kept on September 15.

πšƒπš’πš™πš’πš—πš π™Ύπšžπš 𝚘𝚏 πšπš‘πšŽ π™±πš•πšžπšŽ β€’ 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗆.π—†π—Žπ—Œπ—‚π–Ό.π–»π—…π—ˆπ—€

The Real Monster

September 15 in Hawkins. Not all monsters lurk in the Upside Downβ€”some are real, and the kids just found out about one.

Stranger things happen on World Lymphoma Awareness Day

September 15. Hawkins, Indiana. It looked like just another ordinary dayβ€”until Mike slapped a flyer onto the basement table.

β€œIt’s World Lymphoma Awareness Day,” he announced. β€œI saw it on the school bulletin board.” The lime green ribbon on the paper glowed under the lamp’s light.

Dustin leaned forward, squinting. β€œLymphoma… sounds like a Demogorgon’s cousin. Big head, tiny arms?”

Lucas groaned. β€œIt’s not a monster, Dustin. It’s blood cancer. It attacks your lymph nodes.”

β€œOh.” Dustin straightened up, suddenly serious. β€œWell, still a monster… just the real-life kind.”

Eleven spoke quietly, but her voice carried weight. β€œHarder to fight than any monster. But not impossible.”

Dustin tapped his cap. β€œSo what are the signs? Glowing green eyes? Tentacles? Drool?”

Mike rolled his eyes. β€œNo, Dustin. Night sweats, fever, weight loss, swollen neck. Things people ignore until it’s too late.”

Dustin clutched his neck dramatically. β€œWaitβ€”swollen neck? After three burgers… am I dying?!”

Lucas laughed. β€œThat was just ketchup clogging your arteries.”

Everyone chuckled, even Eleven. Then she lifted the flyer like it was a battle plan. β€œPeople need to know. If they see the signs early, they can fight.”

Dustin grinned. β€œSo I’m basically awarenessβ€”annoying but useful.”

Mike smiled. β€œExactly. Today we’re not saving Hawkins. We’re saving livesβ€”with knowledge.”

Eleven’s eyes were steady as she spoke the last words: β€œWe fight together.”

And that’s the real mission behind this year’s theme: Recognize the Signs, Save a Life.

Stranger things happen on World Lymphoma Awareness Day

πšƒπš’πš™πš’πš—πš π™Ύπšžπš 𝚘𝚏 πšπš‘πšŽ π™±πš•πšžπšŽ β€’ 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗆.π—†π—Žπ—Œπ—‚π–Ό.π–»π—…π—ˆπ—€