I’ve always known Mary as the Mother of God. I’ve loved her as Queen of Heaven and admired her “yes” at the Annunciation.

But it wasn’t until I stood in front of a statue of her in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—wrecked, silent, and hollow-eyed—that I understood her as a companion in sorrow.

That moment stayed with me.

Those Who Mourn, a magazine dedicated to grief and spiritual reflection, recently published a piece I wrote about that moment—and about how Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, can accompany us in grief.  

Our Lady of Sorrows: A Ministry of Presence

Mary is known by a lot of titles–Queen of Heaven, Star of the Sea, Mother of God.  But the one that has meant the most to me in the seasons of my own sorrow is this one: Our Lady of Sorrows.  

Because she gets it.

She knows what it's like to ache for someone you love.  She's held a suffering child in her arms.  She's waited in uncertainty.  She's stood by while people she loved were misunderstood, mistreated, crucified–literally.  She has stood in the space between hope and heartbreak–and not run from it. 

She has stayed. 

Read the Rest at Those Who Mourn

Related Resources from Burning Hearts Disciples

• Christian Accompaniment When Someone Is Struggling – What Christian accompaniment looks like when someone is overwhelmed—why pausing, listening, and staying present matter before answers or advice.

• When Trust Has Been Broken: Trauma-Informed Accompaniment – What accompaniment looks like when walking with survivors of trauma.

• Accompaniment in Action Hub – Explore real examples and practical tools for living out accompaniment in parish life.