Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
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The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows is located within the confines of the Institute of The Missionary Sisters of Jesus of Nazareth. The Chapel itself is a beautiful addition to a marvellous building that was in the past, an old peoples’ retirement home.
The Missionary Sisters of Jesus of Nazareth were founded by Marija Ġużeppina Curmi, a pious woman from Valletta, but residing at Żejtun, with the aim of taking care of the orphans she had gathered together in her large family house in Żejtun. The Congregation received episcopal approval in 1934. The Missionary Sisters of Jesus of Nazareth at present take care of childen, young girls and old people in Jesus of Nazareth Institute, and in their homes at Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk and Canada.
Marija Ġużeppina Curmi was born in Valletta on 15 October 1864 and was the daughter of Dr. Paolo Curmi, who was the mayor of Żejtun, and Francesca nee’ Azzopardi. When she was one year old, she was brought to Żejtun where she spent the rest of her life. In her youth she gave catechism lessons to children, first at her home in St Angelo Street and then in the church of the Holy Spirit.
Once, when on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, she experienced a religious calling, and in the following years she instituted at Żejtun the Congregation of the Jesus of Nazareth Sisters who for several years took care of orphans, not only at Żejtun, but also in other parishes.
Ġużeppina passed away at Żejtun on 27 December, 1931.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Presentation In the Temple
Forty days after Christ’s birth, Mary presented Him in the temple. The aged Simeon, a just and devout servant of the Lord, took Jesus into his arms, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, exclaimed:
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and for the rise of man in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
The Flight Into Egypt
No sooner did the heartless Herod hear that Jesus, the Infant King of the Jews, had been born, than he sought His life. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Saint Joseph in a dream and warned:
“Arise, take the Child and His mother and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee.”
The Loss In The Temple
The third sword that pierced Our Lady’s heart was the three-day loss in the temple. At the age of twelve, Jesus went with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem. Only when they went with Mary and Joseph realize that Jesus was not with them. They hurried back and for three days sought Him among friends and relatives. Finally, they found Him in the temple, listening to the teachers there and asking them questions.
The Way Of The Cross
Mary’s fourth great sorrow we remember in the fourth station of the Way of the Cross. Mary meets Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary. What a mournful meeting. Imagine the pain in Mary’s heart to see her Jesus groaning and staggering under the cruel cross. What an anguish to see the One she loved so dearly being tortured by the taunts of the crowd as well as the weight of the wicked wood. And all the while she is prevented from helping Him.
Jesus Dies On The Cross
But the sword will plunge still deeper. She must see Him shamefully stripped of His garments, rudely thrown upon the cross, and then hear the sickening strokes of the hammer. Helplessly and heartbroken, she must stand beneath His cross watching Him writhe in torture, listening to His parting words, listening for His parting breath.
Jesus Is Laid In The Arms Of His Mother
And now comes the moment when they take Him down from the cross. As each nail and each thorn was pulled from His body, it was a new blow to the heart of His Mother. How she must have hugged Him to her heart!
Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
The seventh sword was to witness that broken body laid in the grave. It was a Mother putting her child to bed. What a grief-stricken good-night that was. Mary must have wished that she could bury her heavy heart with Him.
During Passiontide, on the Friday before Palm Sunday a second feast of Mary’s Dolors is held which emphasizes particularly the four last mentioned of the seven sorrows above.
