Mary Mourns the Death of Her Son

Standing at the foot of the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple John whom he loved, and he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother" (John 19:25-27). In the same moment, he gave Mary to us as our mother, too.

Lord Jesus, how great the power of love You had for me, which kept You on the cross, that I should be healed by that love; for the passionate love You had for me, in which You died so that I might receive eternal life, I pray with inadequate gratefulness for __________.