Lenten Retreat offers meditation on the Seven Sorrows of Mary through prayer & art

"What better way to encounter Christ this Lenten season than through the eyes of His Mother? I previously was not familiar with the 7 Sorrows Devotion, but since attending this retreat, I've enjoyed incorporating the meditations into my prayer time, contemplating Mary's maternal heart and how it always points us to her Son." -retreat attendee

Fr. Tom Czeck, OFM Conv. became interested in the devotion of the Seven Sorrows when he arrived at the National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown two years ago. In addition to perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the chapel there holds many beautiful works of sacred art, including a series of paintings depicting the seven sorrows. This prompted him to learn more and take up the devotion.

On Saturday, March 29, Fr. Czeck led a spiritual conference, sharing the history, spirituality, and unique power of the devotion to the Sorrowful Mother. He also led attendees through recitation of the Servite Rosary, meditations on the sorrows, and a litany composed by Pope Pius VII.

Attendees were invited to round out their day with confession, lunch, and a painting workshop led by artist-in-residence Sarah Crow, who also shared about her personal devotion to the Sorrowful Mother. Participants created small images using acrylic paint inspired by a mosaic medallion of Mary's heart with seven wounds located at the chapel at Marytown.

​Concentrating on painting in silence for several hours allowed retreat attendees to contemplate more deeply Mary's role in Christ's life, death, and resurrection and how her sorrows can help us reflect on our own sinfulness and be renewed in the hope of Christ's saving power.

Sarah Crow said that "it was so healing to spend the day in the compassionate heart of our Mother, pondering with her the mystery of redemptive suffering through prayer, Reconciliation, and sacred art. As everyone painted their unique icons of the pierced heart of Mary, I felt like I was seeing images of our own hearts blossom into color and beauty by being united with hers."