PASAY CITY — His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, called on the faithful to respond to suffering with compassion and concrete action during the Parish Fiesta Mass of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish on September 15, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows, as the parish marked its 85th foundation anniversary.
Celebrated in honor of the parish patroness, the fiesta Mass gathered members of the Society of St. Paul, including priests, brothers, juniors, and aspirants; members of the Pauline Family; priests from the Vicariate of Sta. Clara de Montefalco, to which the parish belongs; visiting priests; members of various religious communities; local government officials; and parishioners and devotees.
In his homily, Cardinal Advincula emphasized that the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is not a celebration of suffering itself. Rather, he said, Mary's sorrows point Christians toward a deeper understanding of discipleship, conversion, and love.
“We do not subscribe to or promote any image of God that punishes or delights in the suffering of his creation,” he said, adding that God desires “the fullness of life” for all.
Cardinal Advincula explained that Mary's sorrows can first be understood in relation to the sin and suffering present in the society of her time. Although Mary and Jesus were sinless, they lived amid selfishness, hatred, oppression, and abuse. Reflecting on Mary's suffering, he said, should lead Christians to become more sensitive to those who experience suffering in their own communities.
“Her heart is continuously pierced by the cry of her children who constantly call out to her for help,” the cardinal said.
He identified the sick, innocent, poor, oppressed, and powerless among those whose suffering calls for a Christian response. Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, he said, should therefore move the faithful to stand with those who suffer and to take concrete steps to alleviate their plight.
The cardinal also connected Mary's sorrow with the need for personal conversion. He said Christians are invited to recognize how their own actions can cause harm to themselves and others and to respond by changing whatever contributes to that harm.
At the same time, Cardinal Advincula said Mary's suffering can be understood as the consequence of her fidelity to God and her willingness to sacrifice out of love for Jesus. Her love sustained her through the seven sorrows of her life and enabled her to remain at the foot of the cross.
“Sorrow becomes redemptive if it is because of and offered for others, out of love,” he said.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage in which Jesus tells Mary, “Woman, behold your son,” Cardinal Advincula described the moment as Mary's call to become mother of the Church. Despite the additional sorrows associated with this mission, Mary continued to embrace it out of love for Jesus and his followers.
The cardinal further pointed to the presence of Jesus throughout Mary's seven sorrows. From the events of his childhood to his Passion, death, and burial, Mary remained with her Son. Her experience, he said, reminds Christians that they do not face suffering alone.
“As Mary never abandoned Jesus, Jesus never allowed Mary to suffer by herself,” he said.
Cardinal Advincula concluded by encouraging the faithful to ask for the grace to remain united with Jesus while embracing the crosses that come from loving and accompanying others who suffer.
The fiesta celebration was preceded by a procession on September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The procession honored the Mater Dolorosa and featured other carrozas, including those of St. Joseph, St. Paul, and the Mahal na Krus of Barrio Maytubig. Devotees joined the procession as it passed through areas within the parish's jurisdiction in Pasay City.
The September 15 celebration brought together the parish community, led by Parish Priest Fr. Cris Robert Cellan, SSP, along with clergy, religious communities, and devotees, for the Solemnity of its patroness and the parish’s 85th Foundation Anniversary. In his homily, the Archbishop of Manila emphasized the call to remain faithful to Christ and to be present to those who suffer, drawing inspiration from the witness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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