Everything transpires sorrow, everything weeps in Mary appearing to the little shepherds. First She hides Her face in Her hands, then She sheds sensitive tears. She wears the insignia of the Passion, each of Her words is a moan, and finally She leaves a spring as an inex - haustible emblem of Her tears. Let us not remain strangers to tears of which we are all the authors. It is cruel to make one’s mother weep; but it is more cruel to be insensi - tive to her tears. Let us consider in what way and for how long we make Mary weep, and let us promise here and now to console Her. PRAYER O afflicted Mother, if I had seen Your tears flowing, I would have gathered them like precious pearls. Happy is the ground that has drunk them, how can I not kiss it with love! But, ungrateful as I am, they flow every day on my sins, these blessed tears, and, harder than a rock, I do not add my own. Obtain for me, good Mother, by the merit of Your sorrows, the grace not to renew it, and may my heart, fertilized by Your tears, produce fruits of penance and salvation.