Georgetown Visitation Monastery

Prayers with our Blessed Mother

by Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, ‘48 & ‘50, President Emerita

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Exultant Alleluias ring loud and clear all through our Easter liturgies – Christ is Risen, Alleluia!

After his unfathomable sufferings through His cruel passion and death, the sight of our Risen Savior brings joy to our hearts. We sing our Easter Alleluias with full voice and deep gratitude.

This Easter, my thoughts and prayers have been centered on our Blessed Mother, Mary. How bereft she must have felt as she witnessed the brutal, torturous death of her Son! What deep sadness enveloped her entire mind and heart!

Then, suddenly, the Resurrected Jesus appeared to her. The Scriptures tell us nothing about this glorious encounter between Mother and Son on Easter Sunday. It is left to our prayerful imagination.

Today, in our war-torn world, many mothers are embracing their mortally wounded children. Pictures of mothers in Gaza holding a wounded child with little hope for medical treatment, sadden us. Children in Ukraine have grown up amid the deprivations of war - they know nothing of a peaceful life. Children in Iran have witnessed the loss of dear friends in the destruction of their school.

This Easter, may we be mindful of the afflictions that wars are placing on children. My prayers will be with our Blessed Mother, seeking her protection on the thousands of innocent children whose lives are so deeply disrupted by war.