The Diocese of Allentown posted about the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows earlier this month. Our Lady of Sorrows commemorates Our Lady as the co-redeemer along with her son and the suffering she endured watching him suffer and die for the sake of humanity's salvation.

“Today we honor Mary, faithful, trusting disciple, who endured seven sorrows during the passion and death of our Lord, her Son,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “As we look to her example, may we unite our sufferings to our Lord, facing them with courage, love, and trust. Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!” 

Mary felt the deepest pain as her Son was crucified before her eyes while she suffered with him as the co-redeemer, the post added. 

The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is recognized by Catholics around the world. The Catholic Education Resource Center says the Blessed Virgin Mary was given this title in accordance with her "intense suffering and grief during the passion and death of our Lord." 

In Luke 2:34-35, the Simeon, a priest, predestines Mary with the words "you yourself shall be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare,” the center notes. 

The feast was originally called Our Lady of Compassion, which the center says gradually became Our Lady of Sorrows because the latin roots of "compassion" mean "to suffer with.” It adds, expanding on the diocese’s post, that Mary endured the greatest suffering of all because she has the greatest love for her Son. 

Simeon also foretold the "seven sorrows" or "seven dolors.” These included "the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt; the loss and finding of the child Jesus in the Temple; Mary's meeting of Jesus on His way to Calvary; Mary's standing at the foot of the cross when our Lord was crucified; her holding of Jesus when He was taken down from the cross; and then our Lord's burial" and ultimately the sword piercing her heart, according to the center. Paintings and statues of Mary often show her heart exposed while being pierced by seven swords. 

Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry says Our Lady granted seven promises to those who meditate on her suffering and pray seven Hail Mary's every day. This devotion was revealed to St. Bridget, who proclaimed it. 

The seven promises are: "I will grant peace to their families. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother. I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.”