In such a broken world, I take great comfort in thinking about the loving and healing gaze of Mother Mary. I can imagine her gaze when she looked upon the face of baby Jesus after giving birth— a tender moment of wordless gazing and adoration for the baby she now held. I can imagine her face of relief when she sees Jesus in the Temple after thinking she had lost him. I can also imagine her painful gaze as she watches Jesus suffer in His Passion.
The Church recognizes the reality of Mary’s pain, as we are invited to prayerfully reflect on her sorrow. The Seven Sorrows of Mary relate to the moments when she might have gazed at the world with a face of deep pain and hurt.
These moments include:
- Simeon's Prophecy
- The flight into Egypt
- The three days loss in the temple
- Meeting Jesus as he carried His cross
- The Crucifixion
- Taking Jesus down from the cross
- The burial of Jesus
Mother and Guide
Mary is prepared to look upon us, her spiritual children, and show us where to direct our gaze. Even in sorrow, the gaze of Mary was always one of hope, as she witnessed the very face of Hope grow and develop under her care. After her assumption, she gazed upon her glorified Son and the heavenly home that the Lord prepares for His children.
Mary sees our need, whether it’s wine at a wedding in Cana or “now and at the hour of our death,” as we pray in the Hail Mary. Sometimes she has come down to greet her children directly, as in the apparitions throughout the history of the Church. Other times, she has shown quiet assurance in the depths of our heart. In any situation, we can trust that Mary’s love is strong and real, and that trust can guide us to simply call out to her in need.
"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." - St. Basil the Great
May we never take for granted her loving gaze. Mother Mary, pray for us!
You're invited to join us at Mother of Hope Marian Conference July 24-25, 2026 at the Boeing Center in San Antonio.
Daniel Quintero is a Pilgrim Center of Hope Missionary of Hope, and a stand-up comedian currently attending Mary, Mother of the Church Catholic Parish. His favorite motto: “Awkwardness does not exist.”
Pilgrim Center of Hope provides Catholic events, experiences, and media; initiating a desire in people to encounter Jesus Christ in their daily journey of life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
