Mary, a grieving mother, bows towards her Son in an effort to comfort Him. Anguish is expressed on Jesus’ face as He looks down at His suffering mother. His mental suffering is greater than His physical pain at this moment. The two figures in the background represent the executioner, in a red hood, and a member of the hostile crowd.
– Joseph Capelle

Then Simeon blessed [Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus] and said to His mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
– Luke 2:34-35 (NRSV)

Today marks our Patronal Festival, and the celebration of the Annunciation, the occasion on which the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was with child, the Son of God. Christ looks up from His cross, and is deeply moved by the suffering of His mother, Mary. It is fitting that we should look back, during this Easter season, first to Christ’s walk to the cross, further back to Simeon’s blessing the Holy Family, and finally even further back in time to Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel: “Let it with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38b). Let us look up from what occupies our minds and notice Mary, as Christ does in this Station, and spend some time marvelling at the faith and courage of this woman of God.

Revd Claudia Coustas

Chaplin