"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."

What must have gone through Mary’s mind during those hours of Jesus’ crucifixion? When she brought forth the Messiah and held him in her arms, did she imagined this future scene? As that beautiful song inquires: “Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?... Did you know that this child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you?” As Jesus was crucified in the flesh, Mary experienced a crucifixion in the depth of her spirit.

When Simeon prophesied at Jesus' presentation in the Temple, that a sword would pierce her heart, did she in any way understand it would be the sword of sorrow as she shared in Jesus’ suffering and death? Mary would never have wanted her Son to suffer and to die in this way; yet, she trusted in God’s plan. Under his cross she was called in a new and dramatic way to embrace the will of the Father as Jesus embraced the Father’s will in total obedience and surrender.  Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation comes to full flower at the foot of the cross. “The reality of what happened to her son changes the way Mary understood the promises of God about Jesus and about the promised Messiah.”  Without Jesus there is no salvation. Without Mary there is no Jesus. Both fulfilled the will of God for our salvation.