By Janice Schlau, SOSFNC Franciscan Associate
As Jesus was crucified and died to free us from our sins, Mary, his mother, bears the weight of our sorrows. This was S. Kathleen Murphy’s reflection in her “Walking with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as she prays along the Way of the Cross” presentation, given on Good Friday at St. Mary of the Angels Chapel in Fredonia Place Williamsville.
This pragmatic yet powerful message that S. Kathleen articulated eloquently and methodically provoked deep silence; attendees were impacted by the reality of suffering in today’s world. For instance, S. Kathleen has Mary speak of the “lack of justice” in the first station, referring to Jesus’ condemnation and that of others who have suffered similarly.
In the second station, ‘Jesus Carries His Cross,’ our physical, mental, or spiritual crosses are revealed.
When we get to the Fourth Station, “Jesus Meets His Mother,” Mary speaks to us in the following words, “Whenever I get to this place where I met Jesus on the road to Calvary, my heart fills once again with anguish. I so want to embrace my son alive, if just for one more time. Yet I was restrained. Other Mothers and Fathers have had similar experiences. They get messages of a car crash or a plane crash. ‘Let me see him, let me hold him once more.’”
In a simple yet profound way, S. Kathleen relates from each station an experience that resonates with points in our lives; she weaves a tapestry we cannot unsee. Each station’s reflection flows into the next, connecting our humanity with deep spiritual significance, including the healthcare professionals, terminal illnesses, drug and alcohol addictions, refugees seeking shelter and clothing, the conversion of criminals, and the sudden or premature death of loved ones. This moment struck close to my heart; my daughter died unexpectedly eight years ago.
Jesus’ mother, Mary, reiterates, “Stay with me. Stay with my son in the ups and downs of your lives.” Between each station, the group gathered in the chapel recited Francis of Assisi’s great prayer: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.” At the end of each station, we sang the appropriate verse of the Stabat Mater.
S. Kathleen’s discourse came as a finished woven piece illustrating our unity with Jesus and Mary’s lives through gladness, joy, and personal suffering. It was the perfect Lenten quilt.
