Daily Gospel Reflection for September 15, 2026: Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Reflect on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and how Mary's strength can guide us as we navigate challenges in parenting and life.

Today's Gospel: John 2:33-35

Mary receives a revelation from the prophet Simeon that her baby boy is the Messiah. Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows in honor of the suffering Mary endured while supporting her Son’s mission here on earth.

This feast day is a reminder that Mary empathizes with our hardships as parents. She has walked through unimaginable pain out of unconditional love and support for her Son. As a parent, she can relate to us—we suffer when our kids suffer and we are happy when our kids are happy and on a good path in life. It’s as though our hearts link to directly to the hearts of our children.

The truth is that we aren’t promised an easy life on earth, and neither are our children. I can relate to wanting my kiddos to skate through life easily and as unscathed as possible, but I also know that if they are sheltered from hardship, they’re missing out on the deeper joy that only blossoms through suffering and weathering life’s challenges.

Our kids will suffer and it will be painful to witness. We may be looking at the current landscape of the world and wonder how that will affect our kids—their generation is facing a unique set of challenges.

Despite all of this, God placed each of us in this specific time in history as parents and gave us our specific children with purpose. Through Christ alone we are equipped for this.

If fear and doubt start to get a toehold into your life, it’s a good indication it’s time to throw that phone into another room for a bit and take a break from the doomscrolling. He is always with us and loves our children even more than we do. His plan for your family was crafted with love and intention, and it is good.

Ponder:

How can we be more like Mary in praying for our children? 

Pray:

Mother Mary, we ask you to pray for us as we encounter suffering alongside our children. Pray for strength and the wisdom to steadfastly guide them through challenges in a way that brings them closer to your Son. 

Pray Together:

Fittingly on this feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray the Rosary’s Sorrowful Mysteries. Let us meditate on Jesus’s suffering through the eyes of His mother. 

Copyright 2026 Katie Flodder