"Jesus has booboos!"

On Good Friday, we found ourselves in the Steyr region of Austria which is in the upper region of the country.  We had learned that this city served as inspiration for Franz Schubert's music (Trout Quintet) so on a whim, we decided to go visit given Adam's affinity for classical music and us ladies wanting to explore another place in Austria!  The Steyr and Enns Rivers flow through this city and meet near the town square under the Lamberg Castle and St. Michael's Church.

While in this city, we wandered into a beautiful church, Marienkirche, shortly after 3pm on Good Friday.  This church, styled in the Baroque fashion, was overseen by Jesuit priests.  Charlotte saw this depiction of Jesus on the cross and said, "Jesus has booboos!" with concern as she pointed to him.

Seeing this scene through her eyes made me realize all over again the pain Jesus faced on the cross for our sins.  He was the last person who should have suffered for our wrongdoings yet he willingly took the cup given to him and offered up his life for our salvation.  Charlotte's worry and concern for Jesus helped me to switch out of tourist mode and to really slow down and truly think about this during the 3pm hour this past Good Friday.

Then, when we went in the church, I had to blink back tears while praying in one of the side chapels when I saw the image of Mary with the sword piercing her heart.  Our Lady of Sorrows is said to represent the seven sorrows based on the prophecy of Simeon.  As I stared up at the image of Mary holding her son with the sword piercing her, it made me think of how powerful a vocation parenting truly is.  Mary did not ask to be given the pain that was dealt her by saying yes to being a mother yet she bore it with grace.  Reflecting on her fiat and all that unfolded during Jesus' life while in the chapel made me realize that I, too, can strive to bear my sorrows with more humility and grace by continuing to turn to Mary as the ultimate example and model of selfless motherhood. 

I'm thankful for this reminder from Charlotte to not look away from the booboos and to willingly seek to bear them with a quiet strength as Mary did. 

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us and Jesus is indeed risen!  May the Lord restore all of us and grant healing this Easter!