Along the way to Calvary, several women were in the “great crowd of people [who] followed him” (Lk. 23:27). Turning to them Jesus instructed them not to weep for him but for their children. Mary understood their grief. Dry-eyed, the mother of Jesus walked near her Son, her presence the most supporting role earth’s history has ever known. How horrendous the scourging, how atrocious the cruel jeers, how repulsive the nailing to the cross, and now the gruesome reality of watching the slow death of her Son, drop by red drop, tortured breath by suffocating breath. “Near the cross of Jesus there stood his Mother” (John 19: 25). Mary the Mother stood. As at the Annunciation of Gabriel, she listened and she surrendered to God’s Will. Her attention to her Son’s words focused on another reality. The sufferings of her Son would continue down through the ages, and she was called to be the Mother to the Suffering: “Woman, there is your son.” Scripture claims that “from that hour onward the disciple took her into his care” (John19:27). And Mary took the world into her care. “Pray for us sinners.” “God so loved the world that he gave His only Son” (Jn. 3:16). And at the crucifixion the Son gave us His Mother. Love following upon love. Like Mother like Son. “Then Jesus bowed his head and delivered over his spirit” (Jn. 19:30). Scripture says, “Now it is finished,” but the work of every disciple continues from Mary, the first and best disciple, to you and me. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.