When the other disciples deserted Our Lord, St John and our Lady came to stand near the Cross. While he was suffering His last agonies, our Saviour commended His Blessed Mother and St John to each other’s care: “He said to his mother: ‘Woman, behold your son.’ After that, he said to the disciple: ‘Behold your mother.’” (Jn 19.26)

In accord with the prophecy of Simeon that “a sword will pierce your own soul” (Lk 2.35) Our Lady suffered intensely at the crucifixion of her Son and has been called our “Co-Redemptrix” because of her sharing in the unique redeeming work of Christ. She is the Woman prophesied in Genesis 3.15 who would crush the head of the serpent (the devil) by giving birth to Jesus Christ. Now at the crucifixion, He makes her to be the mother of the Church which is summed up in the person of St John.

We must learn from the mission of St John that we are to take care of Our Lady. We do so by joining her in co-operating with Our Lord’s work, and by venerating her with love. We also call upon her as the Advocate of sinners who pleads for us with Jesus for mercy and forgiveness.