"And you yourself a sword will pierce"

Simeon's prophecy to Mary, our Blessed Mother, from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, vs. 35.

It feels a little like a sword has pierced my own heart, hearing of the death of my dear friend's baby (see post below). All the pain of losing a child wells up within me as I see her go through it. If I could take any of her pain away, I would; God, give it to me. My emotions are raw, as if my own had just died, and I remember the prophecy of Simeon to Mary, "And you yourself a sword will pierce" foretelling the death of her Son, our Lord. Oh how great a Mother's grief at having to bury her child!!!!!!

And yet, hope remains. For we women are all called to be icons of Mary, our Blessed Mother, and how much greater a depth of understanding we have of her, whom we are called to emulate in our Christian living, when one of our own children dies. How much more we grasp just what the cost of our salvation is, and how much our lives are worth! If you ever doubted your worth, go to our Blessed Mother, who watched her only Son die on a cross, held His body in her arms after they took Him down from the cross, was there when He was laid in the tomb, and rejoice with her in the glory of the resurrection.

Elizabeth has done all this. Elizabeth is an icon of Mary...she, like Mary, gave up her body to grow this precious baby; she gave birth to her child; suffered through the Agony in the Garden; seen her child living one hour, gone the next; held her child in her arms after her beautiful child had passed from this life; and laid her baby in the grave; And she did all of this with great faith in God. Elizabeth, my dear friend, rejoice now with Mary in the joy of the resurrection, the cause for our hope. You are beautiful and I love you.

Catherine Elizabeth

Should a Mother and Father ever have to bury their child?

Please pray for one of my dearest, closest friends and her family. Today they bury their sweet baby girl, Catherine Elizabeth. She was born on November 15th, and 9 short days later, her life here ended. One person called her beautiful 9-day life outside the womb a novena. How beautiful to think of: a nine-day devotion to obtain special graces. In the pictures we saw of her, it looks as though she's filled with great devotion with her peaceful smiles. Certainly her life brought so many special graces to all of us who had the privilege of rejoicing over her. Her life continues to bring those special graces, as she, through the mercy of God, intercedes for us to the Father, and will forevermore.

"Lord Jesus Christ, by your own three days in the tomb, you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection, even as it claims our mortal bodies. Grant that our sister Catherine may sleep in peace until you awaken her to glory, for you are the resurrection and the life. Then she will see you face to face and in your light will see light and know the splendor of God, for you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."

From the Handbook of Prayers