The Compassion of the Blessed Virgin (V)

Now we must understand that Mary gave birth twice: she gave birth to Jesus Christ, and she gave birth to the faithful; she brought forth both the sinless and the sinner. She experienced no pangs in giving birth to the innocent: but was delivered of sinners with pain and cries of anguish. You will be convinced of this, too, when you reflect carefully on how dearly they cost her. Inevitably, it cost Mary her only Son; she was only able to become the mother of the Christian family because she sacrificed her dearly beloved Son. What pain she endured in her fruitfulness!