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Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

FEAST DAYS:
FRIDAY IN PASSION WEEK
& 15 SEPTEMBER

To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy destruction.
[Lam. 2:13]

Roman Missal, 1962:
Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the B.V.M.
(Sep. 15; White, 2 Cl.)
WHAT words can ever describe the indescribable anguish that rent the sacred Heart of Mary as she looked upon her divine Son hanging on the Cross? Every wound in Jesus’ body was also a wound in the Heart of Mary: every fibre, every nerve throbbing in agony. Every pang He suffered re-echoed in her Heart. She endured by her compassion a share in all the anguish of His Passion. Why did Mary suffer all this? That she might be our Mother, the Mother of mankind. She who brought forth her divine Son without a pang suffered many a piercing pang when from the cross her dying Son commended to her the sinful sons of men. That was indeed a motherhood of sorrow she suffered for our sins: for mine.

The Church commemorates by two (2) Feasts the martyrdom suffered by Our Lady in union with the Passion of her Son. The first (the Friday of Passion Week; i.e. the Friday after Passion Sunday, that which is immediately before Palm Sunday) especially commemorates the Compassion of Mary – one of her titles is Our Lady of Compassion – the second, kept on September 15, the devotion to the Seven Sorrows.

Excerpts from the Propers:

Introit:
THERE stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother’s sister Mary of Cleophas, and Salome, and Mary Magdalen. Woman, behold thy son, saith Jesus; and to the disciple, behold thy Mother. Glory be ..

Collect:
O GOD, in Whose Passion, according to the prophecy of holy Simeon, a sword of grief pierced the most sweet soul of glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother, grant in Thy mercy that we who honour the memory of her sorrows may obtain the happy fruit of Thy sufferings. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Gradual:
THOU art full of sorrow and of tears, O Virgin Mary, standing near the Cross of the Lord Jesus, thy Son, the Redeemer. O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world doth not contain, bearers this torment of the Cross, the Author of life made man.

Tract:
HOLY Mary, the Queen of heaven and mistress of the world, stood by the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, full of sorrows. O all ye who pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow.

Offertory:
BE mindful, O Virgin Mother of God, when thou standest in the sight of the Lord, to speak good things for us, and to turn away His anger from us.

 

 • • • • • • •

This image was given by our Lord to Belgian mystic Berthe Petit with the instruction:

“It is My desire that this picture, guided by My hand, be spread far and wide, simultaneously with the [below] invocation. Wherever it will be venerated, My Mercy and My Love will be made manifest and the sight of Our Hearts, wounded by the same wound, will encourage tepid and weak souls to come back to their duty.”

SORROWFUL and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
(as given to Berthe Petit by our Lord, c. 1910)

HAIL MARY, full of sorrows,
the Crucified is with thee:
tearful art thou amongst women,
and tearful is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified,
grant tears to us crucifiers of thy Son,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

MOST holy Virgin and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord.

(St. Pius X; 500 days, trad. indulgence)

 

BID me bear, O Mother blessed!
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.
(500 days, trad. indulgence)

O MARY, sorrowful Virgin and Mother of all Christians, pray for us.
(300 days, trad. indulgence)

MOTHER of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.
(300 days, trad. indulgence)

Console daily Our Lady of Sorrows

The Seven Sorrows or Dolors of Mary are listed below and key to understanding them, and thus consoling her, is to recognise that as she loved Him perfectly, the more intensely sorrow filled her most pure heart. Indeed, Mary, by her compassion, suffered in her Immaculate Heart the Passion of her divine Son, our Lord. As St. Luke (2, 51) tells us “And his mother kept all these words in her heart.”

The Virgin Mother of God’s martyrdom lasted 33 years, for St. Simeon revealed to her in excruciating detail what lay ahead for her dearest son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, all her joys became inexorably coloured with sorrow. And she endured these pains perfectly, with patience, humility and obedience, offering them to Almighty God for the salvation of poor sinners (i.e. for us).

Your correspondent, having offered this devotion (daily) for some years can attest, specifically, to the veracity of the 2nd promise (all graces & promises are listed below) that “They [who recite daily] will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.” The ‘divine Mysteries’ it can be safely concluded, in at least one sense, are the 15 Salvific Mysteries of the most holy Rosary; and one’s understanding, illumination & meditation will become more lucid via a solid devotion to the 7 Dolors of our Lady of Sorrows, the Mater Dolorosa. This is of premium worth in itself, however in addition it assists in the actual praying of the Rosary, refashioning it from a mere labour of love towards an act of love.

1) The Prophecy of Simeon
2) The Flight Into Egypt
3) The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
4) Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
5) Jesus Dies on the Cross
6) The Piercing of Jesus’ Side
7) Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

Graces & Promises
of the Seven Sorrows of Mary Devotion

 • • • • • • •

Suggested Ant. V. & R. & Collect:
ANT: There stood by the Cross of Jesus, His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Salome and Mary Magdalen.

V/. Woman, behold thy son.
R/. Son, behold thy mother.

Let us pray.
O GOD, in Whose Passion, according to the prophecy of holy Simeon, a sword of grief pierced the most sweet soul of glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother, grant in Thy mercy that we who honour the memory of her sorrows may obtain the happy fruit of Thy sufferings. Who livest and reignest, world without end.

V/. O God +, come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Gloria Patri ..

I
The Prophecy of Simeon

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Amen.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.
(300 days, trad. indulgence)

 

II
The Flight Into Egypt

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and thy sojourn there. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.

 

III
The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.

 

IV
Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful in the consternation of thy heart at meeting Jesus as he carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.

 

V
Jesus Dies on the Cross

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee O Mary, most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.

 

VI
The Piercing of Jesus’ Side

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding.

N.b. Consider here of the image given Berthe Petit (above) of the Two Hearts, afflicted by the same wound. 

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested:
Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.
(500 days, trad. indulgence)

 

VII
Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

Reflection
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

I GRIEVE for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched thy most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom.

Pater noster (suggested) .. Ave Maria ..

Suggested invocations:
Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
~ or ~
Mother of love, Mother of sorrows and of mercy, pray for us.

Closing Prayers

V/. Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful
R/. That we may be made be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy bitter Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.

(5 years or 7 years in September; trad. indulgence)

•••••••

Additional (Optional) Prayers

Prayer of St. Alphonsus de Liguori
O afflicted Virgin! O soul, great in virtues and great also in sorrows! for both arise from that great fire of love thou hast for God; thou “whose heart can love nothing but God”; O Mother, have pity on me, for I have not loved God, and I have so much offended Him. Thy sorrows give me great confidence to hope for pardon. But this is not enough; I wish to love my Lord, and who can better obtain this for me than thou, thou who art the Mother of fair love? O Mary, thou dost console all, comfort me also. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure to the other of Sorrows
O sorrowful Virgin, unite me at least to the humiliations and wounds of thy Son, so that both He and thee may find comfort in having someone sharing thy sufferings. Oh, how happy I would be if I could do this! For is there perhaps anything greater, sweeter, or more advantageous for a person? Why dost thou not grant me what I ask? If I have offended thee, be just and pierce my heart. If I have been faithful to thee, leave me not without a reward: give me thy sorrows. Amen.

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, dwelling pure and holy, cover my soul with thy maternal protection, so that being ever faithful to the voice of Jesus, it responds to His Love and obeys His Divine Will.

I wish, O my Mother, to keep unceasingly before me thy co-redemption in order to live intimately with thy Heart that is totally united to the Heart of thy Divine Son.

Fasten me to this Heart by thy own virtues and sorrows. Protect me always. Amen.

(Composed by 20th Century Belgian seer, Berthe Petit)

 

~~~ +++++++ ~~~

 

Dolorosary: the Rosary of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here is a method for praying the Rosary of the Seven Dolors: 

+ Incline, unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

(Say an Act of Contrition)

Gloria Patri ..

1st Dolor: The Prophecy of Simeon

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,  “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” [St. Luke 2:34–35]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart upon hearing Simeon‘s prophecy, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus, ― a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to God‘s people Israel. (cf. St. Luke 2:32)

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.
(500 days, trad. indulgence)

•••••••

2nd Dolor: The Flight into Egypt

And an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfilled what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,  Out of Egypt have I called my Son. [St. Matthew 2:13–15]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart at the flight into Egypt by night, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus, born ― to save his people from their sins. (cf. St. Matthew 1:21)

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

3rd Dolor: The Loss of Jesus for Three Days

And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them,  “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father‘s house?” [St. Luke 2:48–49]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart when together with Saint Joseph thou searched for Jesus for three days, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus, ‘full of grace and truth’. (cf. St. John 1:14)

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

4th Dolor: Mary Meeting Jesus, Carrying His Cross

He was oppressed and was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. . . . Yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. [Isaiah 53:7, 12]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart when thou encountered thine Jesus bearing His Cross, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus, ― despised and rejected by men. (cf. Isaiah 53:3)

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

5th Dolor: Mary Standing Beneath the Cross on Calvary

But standing by the Cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother‘s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple,  “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. [St. John 19:25-27]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart when thou saw thine Child‘s hands and feet nailed to the wood of the Cross and His side pierced by the soldier‘s lance, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus Crucified, bowed in death.

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

6th Dolor: The Sacred Body of Jesus, Taken Down From the Cross

What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Sion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can restore you? Cry aloud to the Lord! O daughter of Sion! Let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite. [Lamentations 2:13, 18]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when you beheld the lifeless Body of Jesus taken down from the cross, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, beautiful above the sons of men. (cf. Psalm 44:3).

Pater noster .. (7x) Ave Maria ..

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

7th Dolor: Mary Witnesses the Burial of the Sacred Body of Her Son

Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid it in a rock–hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the Day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how the Body was laid; then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. [St. Luke 23:52–55]

Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of thy heart when thou beheld the Body of Jesus wrapped in a linen shroud and laid in the tomb, and I desire to contemplate with thee the Face of Jesus, covered with a veil in death.

Pater noster … (7x) Ave Maria …

Bid me bear, O Mother blessed.
On my heart the wounds impressed,
Suffered by the Crucified.

•••••••

Closing Prayers

(3 Ave Marias in honour of the tears shed by Our Lady during these Seven Dolors:)

O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, grant that I may weep for my sins: 

Ave Maria ..

O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, soften the hardened hearts of sinners:

Ave Maria ..

O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, allow me to make reparation for my sins:

Ave Maria ..

 

(Source: Knights of Columbus, who gratefully acknowledge Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, O.Cist. for providing this text.)

 

~~~ +++++++ ~~~

 

Act of Consecration to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Lord Jesus, Who on Calvary and in the Holy Eucharist hast shown Thyself to us as the God of love and mercy, kneeling humbly at Thy feet, we adore Thee and beg once more for Thy forgiveness and for Thy divine pity.

And, remembering that by Thine own act on Calvary, the human race, represented by Thy beloved disciple John, gained a Mother in the Virgin of Sorrows, we desire to honour the sufferings and woes of our Mother’s Heart by devoting ourselves to it in solemn consecration.

It is but just, O Mary, that our souls should strive henceforth to venerate thee with special homage under the title of thy Sorrowful Heart, a title won by sharing in the whole Passion of thy divine Son and thus co-operating in the work of our redemption, a title due to thee in justice, and dear, we believe, to Jesus and to thine own Heart wounded by the wound in His.

We consecrate, therefore, O Mary, to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, ourselves, our families, and our country. Have pity upon us. See our tribulations and the anguish of our hearts in the midst of the mourning and calamities that lay waste the world. Deign, O Mother of God, to obtain mercy for us that, being converted and purified by sorrow and made strong in faith, we may henceforth be devoted servants of Jesus Christ and of His Church, for whose triumph we pray. O Mary Immaculate, we promise to be faithful clients of thy Sorrowful Heart. Intercede for us, we beseech thee, with thy Son that, at the very cry of thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, His divine Power may speedily bring to pass the triumph of right and justice. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have pity upon us.
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us and save us.

 

~~~ +++++++ ~~~

 

 

~~~ +++++++ ~~~

 

Stabat Mater Dolorosa (Traditional Hymn)

At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus at the last.

Though her soul, of joy bereaved,
Bowed with anguish, deeply grieved,
Now at length the sword hath passed.

Oh how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother, highly blest,
Of the sole begotten One! 

Oh that silent, ceaseless mourning,
Oh those dim eyes, never turning
From that wondrous, suffering Son!

Who on Christ’s dear Mother gazing,
In her trouble so amazing,
Born of woman would not weep?

Who on Christ’s dear Mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share her sorrow deep?

For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His Spirit forth He sent;

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

O, thou Mother, fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through.
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified;

Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torment died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.

By the cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest,
Listen to my fond request;
Let me share thy grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it hath swooned
In His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die
In His awful judgment day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
Be Thy Mother my defence,
Be Thy Cross my victory.

While my body here decays
May my soul Thy goodness praise
Safe in Paradise with Thee.
Amen.

 

~~~ +++++++ ~~~

 

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