Friday, 6 March 2026.
As we move through the season of Lent and reflect on the ultimate act of sacrifice, our minds will inevitably turn to Jesus giving his life for us on the cross. But in the midst of that unimaginable suffering, there’s a detail that’s often overlooked: the women, and especially our Blessed Mother, who stood steadfast at the foot of that cross.
The women mentioned in the Gospels were Mary, the mother of our Lord; Mary of Magdala; Mary wife of Clophas, believed to be the sister of Our Lady and mother of James the Less; and Salome, wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John. There were other unnamed women present, who were mentioned in the Gospels as having followed Jesus to Jerusalem.
The mention of these women in a podcast recently touched my heart, as I reflect on what is perhaps the most beautiful example of womanhood interconnected with an unwavering faith in God.
We know that, in that moment of unimagineable darkness, so many fled. Almost all the disciples scattered, their hearts gripped with fear, as the hope they had placed in Jesus was crushed. But these women didn’t run. They stood firm where others dared not stand, not because they could do anything to fix the situation, but simply to be present. This wasn’t a passive choice, it was a bold, active, courageous act of loyalty, a visceral refusal to abandon the One they loved, even when all hope seemed well and truly lost.
My heart breaks to think of Mary, our Mother. She watched her Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, the long awaited Messiah, endure a brutal, humiliating death. Every nail, every gasping breath, every taunt from the crowd must have pierced her heart anew, as the words of Simeon’s prophecy were fulfilled. Her suffering must have been immense, but she endured. While her presence serves as a powerful but silent testament to a mother’s love, it also points to a deep trust in God’s plan, however inscrutable it would have seemed in that moment. Her faith wasn’t a shield against the pain, but an anchor within it.
What these women teach us, especially Mary, is the profound strength found not in controlling challenging circumstances, but in surrendering to them with faith. They remind us that true strength is often quiet, steadfast, and deeply rooted in love. Their presence at the cross was an act of the purest devotion and radical trust, trust that even in death, God was at work; trust that His divine purpose would prevail.
These women didn’t perform miracles, lead armies, or proclaim grand prophecies. Their power lay in their quiet abiding presence, their enduring loyalty, and their unwavering trust in God. This model of faith-filled womanhood speaks to the core of my heart, a call to stand firm, to love fiercely, and to trust completely, even when it feels like the world around us is crumbling.
The Sojourner Diaries 
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