Only a few words spoken by Our Lady are recorded in Sacred Scripture. With the exception of the Magnificat, each of her recorded remarks are brief–rather like the seven last phrases spoken by Christ. Curious at this, I wondered what it might look like to compare Mary’s recorded words with Christ’s seven last words.
In what follows, I keep Jesus’s words in the traditional order and propose a possible reflection of these in Mary’s words. Some of these “reflections” are taken from the Magnificat; others are from the shorter phrases Mary spoke, as recorded in the scriptures.
Jesus
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
Mary
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. (Luke 1:50)
Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: (Luke 1:54)
Woman, behold thy son … Behold thy mother. (John 19:26-27)
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. (Luke 1:38)
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)
Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. (Luke 2:48)
I thirst. (John 19:28)
They have no wine. (John 2:3)
It is consummated. (John 19:30)
… be it done to me according to thy word. (Luke 1:38)
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye. (John 2:5)
Note that this comparison is merely my own observation, so the significance is only of possible merit. I must admit, that I am struck by the similarities.
Circumstances
It may also be pertinent to look at the circumstances that occurred around the times these words were spoken. When we consider what occurred before and after Mary’s Magnificat, we see an interesting parallel with what occurred both before and after Christ’s words to her and St. John.
Before
Before Mary’s Magnificat, Mary makes her appearance to Elizabeth:
And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Luke 1:40-42
Before Christ addresses Mary and St. John, Mary also makes her appearance in the narrative:
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother…
John 19:25-26
Afterwards
After Mary’s Magnificat, scripture records:
And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
Luke 1:56
At Christ’s last words, we see:
And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
John 19:27
About the Featured Image
The featured image is Cristo Crucificado by Diego Velazquez (1599-1660). According to wikimedia.org, it is in the public domain in the United States.
