By Bridget Spinks
THE Desolata, a mediaeval Servite tradition where people grieve with Mary in expectation of the resurrection, will again be held at St Denis’ Parish in Joondanna on Good Friday.
The tradition has been celebrated in the parish since 1952. Joondanna parish priest, Servite Fr Peter Porteous, said it usually draws 200 to 300 people from the parish and beyond.
“There’s a lot of sorrow entering the room, you feel it. It’s a very sad night but also a great one,” he said.
Those who come along this year are invited to bring photos of their departed loved ones to the service.
“During the service, we invite them to place those photos at the foot of the Cross on the sanctuary with Our Blessed Mother,” Fr Peter said.
After the service, these photos will be perpetually placed in the Via Matris Chapel at the back of the church.
Dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, the Desolata Service is based on the seven-decade Servite Desolata Rosary which looks at the “sufferings of Mary as related to the sufferings of Jesus,” Fr Peter said.
It is also closely related to the Via Matris (the Way of the Mother): seven stations meditating on the sufferings of Mary.
The Desolata Rosary has seven mysteries and focuses on “Mary’s Passion”.
“In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Sorrows of Mary played a very important part in Servite spirituality,” Fr Peter said.
The Servite spirituality originally was imbued with a charism of service to Mary and then another charism centred on the suffering of Mary started to develop, Fr Peter said.
The Desolata Vigil Service will begin at 7pm – after sunset – on Good Friday and will focus on the seven mysteries: Simeon’s Prophesy; The Flight into Egypt; Jesus is Lost in the Temple; Jesus meets His Mother; Jesus dies on the Cross; The Pieta; and Jesus is Laid in the Tomb.
After the service, everyone is invited to stay in vigil with Our Blessed Mother until midnight.
Fr Peter said that this service is “very powerful for mothers because they can relate to the suffering of their children”.
“It’s very moving when they all come here; in many cases, parents have experienced what Mary’s going through in different ways,” he said.
“It becomes a good opportunity for people to connect with Mary in her suffering and their suffering,” he said.
The Desolata Vigil will be held at 7pm on Good Friday at St Denis’ parish,
60 Osborne St, Joondanna.
The Seven Stations of the Way of Our Sorrowful Mother
1) The Prophesy of Simeon: Mary’s told by Simeon that her child will be the cause of the rise and fall of many people in Israel and that a sword will pierce her own heart; that whatever happens to Jesus, she will feel. The suffering of Jesus is linked to the suffering of Mary.
2) The Flight into Egypt: Mary’s forced to leave her homeland and go into the wilderness because of Jesus. Her own child causes Mary and others (such as the Holy Innocents) to lose their lives.
3) The Loss of Jesus in the Temple: He is 12 and she has lost Him for three days. This station focuses on the anguish of a mother looking for her son. Jesus is called to fulfill the Father’s will. It calls Him to leave Mary. How many mothers have lost their son/daughters to drugs and they’re helpless; or when they have to let their son/daughter go to fulfill God’s will. It’s the letting go.
4) Mary meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary: This station focuses on a mother who has to watch her child suffer and there is nothing she can do. There are times when mothers are unable to stop the suffering and are powerless.
5) Jesus dies on the Cross: This station focuses on the powerlessness of Mary to stop the event. Simeon’s Prophesy comes true. As with the death of any child, part of the mother dies with the child.
6) Mary receives the Dead Body of Jesus in her Arms – The Pieta: Here, Mary is presented with the Body of Jesus. The first time she was presented with His Body was at His birth; this time it is at His death. There is utter desolation. How many mothers have had their children handed to them in that state?
7) The Laying of Jesus in the Tomb: Mary is not allowed to grieve. Jewish custom allows her to stay until sunset because the following day is the Sabbath. She lays Him in the tomb and is hurried out. The stone is rolled across and by sunset, she is out of the cemetery. Her grieving is done at home. How many mothers have been unable to grieve over the death of their own children due to circumstances beyond their control? They’ve had to grieve alone.