The third sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the loss of the Child Jesus. This was when her beloved Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, at the age of twelve years old, went missing for three days until at last he was found in the temple of Jerusalem. (Lk. 2:41-45).

During the three days that the Child Jesus was lost, she was deeply sorrowful and afflicted. But, despite her grave sorrow and affliction, she did not entertain any thought of anger or indignation, as is so common in other people who allow their passions to be easily worked up!

For three days, she and Joseph searched for Jesus anxiously, their hearts heavy with worry. This separation symbolizes the moments in our lives when we feel distant from God, lost in the chaos of our daily battles and conflicts. Mary’s sorrow reminds us that even in our darkest times, we must persist in seeking the Lord.

Mary’s sorrow also teaches us about trust. Despite her pain, she trusted in God’s plan for her. In our lives, we may not always understand why we face certain trials, but like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s greater plan. Her example encourages us to surrender our worries to God, knowing that he is always with us. Mary’s experience of losing and eventually finding Jesus makes her a compassionate intercessor for us. She understands our fears and anxieties and is always ready to guide us back to her Son. Let us turn to her in our times of need, asking for her intercession and comfort.

Although the thought that her Child was missing pierced her Immaculate Heart and gave her sleepless nights, nonetheless, she prayed ceaselessly that her most holy Son would be found. The dread of losing Jesus through our sins should be so great that neither tribulation, nor trouble, nor necessity, nor danger, nor persecution, nor the sword, nor height, nor depth should ever withhold us from holding unto our God. (Rm. 8:35).

May we, like Mary, hold fast to our faith and trust in God’s unfailing love, knowing that he is always with us, even in our darkest hours.

Let us pray. O Blessed Virgin Mary, what anguish afflicted your heart during the three days that your beloved Son was lost in the temple. O Holy Virgin Mary, by the bitter tears that you shed in seeking your beloved Son, obtain for me, I beseech you, the grace to know and detest the sins by which I have lost his divine presence, that increasing daily in his love, I may labor with ardor and perseverance and never more be separated from him. Amen.

The fourth sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary is her meeting Jesus carrying his cross on the way to Calvary. Deep sorrows afflicted her heart when she saw the most pitiable countenance and condition of her beloved Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he was carrying his heavy cross to Calvary. O what depth of sorrow penetrated Mary’s heart on meeting her divine Son sinking beneath the heavy cross! A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. (Lk. 23:27).

She also remained faithful to her prayers and to God. Therefore, do not permit yourself, because of your duties or other exterior occupations, to abandon your prayers and the worship due from you to God. Praise him for all that he has done for the Blessed Virgin Mary, for all that he has done for you, and for all that he has done for other souls. He manifests his goodness and infinite love to us in our daily life. Our Lord is propitious, liberal, merciful, and loving toward his children. He is the Most High, our Creator, and our Father.

Let us pray. O Mother of my Redeemer, my sins overwhelmed your beloved Son with the weight of this ignominious cross; they are also the cause of your dolors. I implore you, by your tender compassion for his sufferings, to obtain for me grace to carry my crosses faithfully after him so that I may expiate the opprobrium he has endured for my iniquities. Amen.