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44The Blessed Mother had no knowledgeto what extent She had been calledto accompany her Son in His work of Redemption. It is practically an Isaac%u2019s question that fills her heart as She approaches the High Priest with her Child: %u201cFather, here is the wood, and here is the fire, but where is the victim?%u201d She knows her Son is the victim, but what about her, what is her place? Scripture seems to answer negatively to her query. %u201cI trampled thewine-press alone, from the people no one stood by me.%u201dIt is a greatsuffering for the Blessed Mother that perhaps She may not be permitted to share the pain of her Son. There is something special about a woman%u2019s heart. A mother often does notseem to be happy unless she can be sad. This is the nature of love. If anyone you love is suffering, then you suffer with them, and you suffer not to be able to suffer with them. The greater sufferingis not to be allowed to share in their suffering and pain. Yet, her humility was so great, She scarcely dare lift that request up to God. If we couldgive it expression, perhaps it would be like this: Father, if it is possible, grant that I share in this chalice; yet not my will, but Thy Will be done.Here is the Blessed Mother hopingagainst hope, and her hope is granted. Simeon is the angel of good tidings. Even as his eyes had been granted to see the salvation of Israel, so would theeyes of the Blessed Mother be granted to behold the redemption of Israelin the Suffering Servant. Recall that Simeon was no stranger to the Blessed Mother. Simeon and Anna were Mary%u2019sbest friends. Mary went to the temple as a 3-year old child and spent 11 or 12 years in the temple. Here are the two great saints in the temple at the time of the Incarnation. The Blessed Mother naturally gravitated to these two elderly people who were like her special grandparents. When Simeon came to meet the Blessed Motherbringing in the Child, She naturally offered her Child to him. Simeon took up the Child and said, %u201cHe will be a sign of contradiction so that the thoughts of many may be revealed. Your own soul a sword shall pierce.%u201d Glad -sad tidings; glad that She willbe spared the sorrow of not being allowed to be one with her Son in His victim-hood. Mary will be allowedto suffer.