On September 15th of each year we celebrate the Feast of Our Mother of Sorrows. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bridget of Sweden and passed on through her to us the devotion to the seven sorrows (dolors) of Mary. Below are the seven graces which are granted to those who meditate on the tears and sorrows of Our Blessed Mother each day. 
1. I will grant peace to their families.
​2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death; they will see the face of their Mother.
7. I have obtained (this grace) from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.
We can read the below scripture passages on the seven sorrows to meditate on the tears and dolors of Our Blessed Mother even though in some instances her name is not mentioned, tradition relates to us that Our Blessed Mother never left the side of her Beloved Son during his passion, death and burial: 
1. The prophecy of Simeon - Luke 2:22-35
2. The flight to Egypt - Matthew 2:13-15
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple - Luke 2:41-51
4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross - Matthew 27:31-40
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus - John 19:26-27
6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross - John 19:38-40
7. The burial of Jesus - John 19:41-42
Our Mother of Sorrows, pray for us!

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Today is the day that Saint Helena the mother of emperor Constantine found the True Cross in Jerusalem near a cistern by Mount Calvary in the year 326 A.D. Three crosses were found and one of them had the inscription "Jesus King of the Jews". Saint Helena had a terminally ill woman touch each cross and when the woman touched the True Cross she was miraculously healed. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on Mount Calvary and the exact location where the True Cross was found is enclosed within the church. I had the blessing to be able to visit this location when we visited Jerusalem two years back.
The Cross which was a symbol of shame and extreme humiliation was glorified by Jesus Christ who was crucified on the Holy Cross for our salvation. His death and resurrection freed us from the eternal death due to the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve. We rejoice today for on this Holy Cross Jesus brought us healing and redemption and new life.
On life's journey we are all sure to encounter crosses. Our crosses are tailored for us and will never exceed our capacity to bear them graciously. The burdens of our daily life are the crosses we need to bear with patience and endurance. We should never flee from our crosses but accept it as a gift where Jesus allows us a small participation in His suffering. As a mother I often wish to undergo the pains of my own children just to get a perspective of what they are going through. I'm sure you may have had similar experiences with your own children or your spouse. When we love someone we wish to participate in all aspects of their life including taking a sip of their suffering. Jesus allowed room in His suffering for us to take part because He loves us like a bridegroom who loves His bride the Church. When we follow Jesus we pick up our crosses and follow Him willingly and the Holy Spirit assists us in this. In moments of suffering if we can remember this, then only we will be able to love the cross and not flee from it.
Did you know that it is a Carmelite discipline to observe a fast that begins on the Exaltation of the Cross which is on September 14th and ends on Easter Sunday. This fast is observed by eating one small meal and one full meal each day except on Sundays. Also Carmelites observe a vegetarian diet as long as health permits. Lay Carmelites are not required to observe this but there are several Lay Carmelites who strive to observe this fast so as to follow more closely the Rule of Saint Albert in their daily life.
"16 [XII, xiv] You are to fast every day except Sundays from the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross until Easter Sunday, unless illness or bodily weakness, or other just cause counsels a lifting of the fast, since necessity has no law. 17 [XIII, xv] You are to abstain from meat, unless it is to be taken as a remedy for illness or bodily weakness. Since you must more frequently beg on journeys, in order not to burden your hosts you may eat food cooked with meat outside your own houses. At sea, however, meat may be eaten." - From The Rule of Saint Albert
"We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by the Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world"
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary or the Christening of Virgin Mary.
Per Christian legend an angel of the Lord appeared to Saint Anne and Saint Joachim separately and announced the conception and birth of the Mary. They were both instructed by the angel to name the child to be born as Mary. Mary was a common name among the Jewish people of the time of Jesus. In a way Mary was from among us and represents us. However as we read in 1 Kings 18:55 where Elijah's servant reports  "There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”  Mary was Immaculately conceived like the white cloud that rose from the salty waters that represents the humankind that was in sin and error. She who would bear the Son of God who is the living waters that would come as the pure rain from the cloud to satisfy the thirst of mankind for liberation from slavery to sin and error. 
Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary." He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next." After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness. Hence Richard of St. Laurence encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name, "because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils;" and "there is no disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary." 
Taken From "The Holy Name of Mary - The Power of Her Name" By Saint Alphonsus de Liguori 
The Holy Name of Mary gives us healing, courage, hope and strength for the past, present and future. We can have surety of her assistance during our earthly pilgrimage, for she never ceases to intercede for our needs both spiritual and material. 
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners!

Today the church celebrates the birthday of Our Mother and the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Each year we eagerly look forward to this day as the birth of Mary announces the arrival of our salvation. Mary's birth gives hope and joy to the inhabitants of this world that finally the promise of salvation which was announced in Genesis 3:15 has arrived.
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel."
The woman whose offspring will strike down the devil once and for all has finally arrived after thousands of years of preparation. She brings light  for people of all nations, of all race, of all color, creed, profession, intellectual capability, gender, and age. No one is excluded from this new Kingdom that Christ would eventually establish. Hence Mary is the mother of all people, it is evident this is felt in the hearts of many when we visit sites of Marian apparitions around the world and we see people of all faith backgrounds flock to her, to seek her prayers for their needs. Our Mother always leads those who approach her to her Beloved Son.
We are overjoyed to celebrate the birth of Our Blessed Mother on this beautiful joy filled day!
Happy Birthday Blessed Mother!!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She was born in Albania in the year 1910, recently we celebrated her birthday on 26th August. Early in her life, she was influenced by her mother who instilled in her the love for the poor. Also a Jesuit priest in her parish inspired her religious aspirations. At the age of 17 she decided to become a religious sister and joined the Sisters of Loretto. She chose her religious name after the Carmelite Saint Therese the Little Flower.
Mother Teresa was an educator and was transferred to a convent in Calcutta, India during the time when the Britishers were ruling India. The abject poverty that she saw in the streets of Calcutta made a huge impact on her compassionate soul. She was later ordered by Jesus Himself in a vision of light to start a new congregation of sisters. Her mission was to the poor, which she did amidst overcoming many barriers and hostility of the local leaders who were suspicious of her motives. She is a great example of discipleship to Jesus since she served those who were very different from her in nationality, race, creed, color, social status, and in so many other ways. She didn't allow these differences or the hostility she received to stop her mission because she saw the face of Jesus in these destitute people on the streets. Mother Teresa and her sisters of the Missionaries of Charity spend an hour each morning in Eucharistic Adoration. Their service was a fruit of their love and devotion to Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa loved Jesus with the heart of Mary. 
Mother Teresa while mainly focused on service of the poor did not miss any opportunity she had to speak up for the sanctity of marriage and the sacredness of intimacy between one man and one woman after Holy Matrimony. She also did not shy away from speaking up for the Sanctity life from conception to natural death, which addressed the rights of the unborn babies in the  mother's womb, the cruelty of war, death penalty and euthanasia. When she spoke on these issues they were listened to without conflict or opposition because she had gained the credibility and respect of all people based on her service of the poor and her devout Christian life. If we can concretely serve the poor among us who we can see, then our moral teachings on issues like sanctity of marriage and sanctity of life will be better received because the hearer's heart would have been softened by the acts of compassion and love that precede the words of admonishment. Welcome your thoughts and comments.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

Today is the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great. Gregory led a very austere life and probably led a monastic life, following the Rule of Saint Benedict. Many literary works were attributed to him and he was declared as a doctor of the church. In his fifties, much against his will he was elected to become the Pope. He was an excellent administrator and more importantly he was a true shepherd of his flock. In one of his homilies, he called preachers to be watchmen of the chosen people of God. In today's Divine Office we read this particular homily where he refers to Ezekiel3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel" 
Saint Pope Gregory the Great, pray for us!