Seven Sorrows of Mary Devotion

Table of Contents:

What are the 7 sorrows of Mary?
When is the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows?
Our Lady’s Seven Promises
Meditations on the Seven Sorrows of Mary
Prayers of the Seven Sorrows by Pope Pius VII
Litany to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows
How to pray The Seven Sorrows Rosary (chaplet)

1. What are the 7 sorrows of Mary?

First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2: 34-35)
Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2: 13-21)
Third Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2: 41-50)
Fourth Sorrow: The Carrying of the Cross (John 19: 17)
Fifth Sorrow: The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18-30)
Sixth Sorrow: Jesus Taken down from the Cross (John 19: 39-40)
Seventh Sorrow: Jesus Laid in the Tomb (John 19:39-42)

2. When is the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows?

September 15th.

It was established in 1668 by pope Innocent XII, and implemented to General Roman Calendar in 1814 by Pope Pius VII.

3. Our Lady’s Seven Promises for praying seven Hail Mary’s in honor of Her Seven Sorrows

“I will grant peace to their families.”
“They will be enlighten about divine Mysteries.”
“I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.”
“I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of My divine Son or the sanctification of their soul.”
“I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.”
“I will visibly help them at the moment of their death – they will see the face of their Mother.”
“I have obtained this grace from My divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to My tears and sorrows will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and My Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.”

4. Meditations on the Seven Sorrows of Mary

1. The prophecy of Simeon:

“And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.” – Luke 2, 34-35.

Meditation: How great was the shock to Mary’s Heart at hearing the sorrowful words, in which holy Simeon told the bitter Passion and death of her sweet Jesus, since in that same moment she realized in her mind all the insults, blows, and torments which the impious men were to offer to the Redeemer of the world. But a still sharper sword pierced her soul. It was the thought of men’s ingratitude to her beloved Son. Now consider that because of your sins you are unhappily among the ungrateful.

Say one Hail Mary…

2. The flight into Egypt:

“And after they (the wise men) were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise and take the child and His mother and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him. Who arose and took the child and His mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and He was there until the death of Herod.” – Matt. 2, 13-14.

Meditation:

Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt when, St. Joseph being warned by an angel, she had to flee by night in order to preserve her beloved Child from the slaughter decreed by Herod. What anguish was hers, in leaving Judea, lest she should be overtaken by the soldiers of the cruel king! How great her privations inthat long journey! What sufferings she bore in that land of exile, what sorrow amid that people given to idolatry! But consider how often you have renewed that bitter grief of Mary, when your sins have caused her Son to flee from your heart.

Say one Hail Mary…

3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days:

“And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him.” Luke 2, 43-45.

Meditation:

How dread was the grief of Mary, when she saw that she had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase her sorrow, when she sought Him diligently among her kinsfolk and acquaintance, she could hear no tidings of Him. No hindrances stayed her, nor weariness, nor danger; but she forthwith returned to Jerusalem, andfor three long days sought Him sorrowing. Great be your confusion, O my soul, who has so often lost your Jesus by your sins, and has given no heed to seek Him at once, a sign that you make very little or no account of the precious treasure of divine love.

Say one Hail Mary…

4. The Carrying of the Cross:

“And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him.” – Luke 23, 27.

Meditation:

Come, O ye sinners, come and see if ye can endure so sad a sight. This Mother, so tender and loving, meets her beloved Son, meets Him amid an impious rabble, who drag Him to a cruel death, wounded, torn by stripes, crowned with thorns, streaming with blood, bearing His heavy cross. Ah, consider, my soul, the grief of the blessed Virgin thus beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing this Mother’s grief? But who has been the cause of such woe? I, it is I, who with my sins have so cruelly wounded the heart of my sorrowing Mother! And yet I am not moved; I am as a stone, when my heart should break because of my ingratitude.

Say one Hail Mary…

5. The Crucifixion of Jesus:

“They crucified Him. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother. When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, He saith to His Mother: Woman: behold thy son. After that he saith to the disciple: Behold thy Mother.” – John 19, 18-25-27.

Meditation:

Look, devout soul, look to Calvary, whereon are raised two altars of sacrifice, one on the body of Jesus, the other on the heart of Mary. Sad is the sight of that dear Mother drowned in a sea of woe, seeing her beloved Son, part of her very self, cruelly nailed to the shameful tree of the cross. Ah me! how every blow of the hammer, how every stripe which fell on the Savior’s form, fell also on the disconsolate spirit of the Virgin. As she stood at the foot of the cross, pierced by the sword of sorrow, she turned her eyes on Him, until she knew that He lived no longer and had resigned His spirit to His Eternal Father. Then her own soul was like to have left the body and joined itself to that of Jesus.

Say one Hail Mary…

6. Jesus Taken down from the Cross:

“Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counselor, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen.” – Mark 15, 43-46.

Meditation:

Consider the most bitter sorrow which rent the soul of Mary, when she saw the dead body of her dear Jesus on her knees, covered with blood, all torn with deep wounds. O mournful Mother, a bundle of myrrh, indeed, is thy Beloved to thee. Who would not pity thee? Whose heart would not be softened, seeing affliction which would move a stone? Behold John not to be comforted, Magdalen and the other Mary in deep affliction, and Nicodemus, who can scarcely bear his sorrow.

Say one Hail Mary…

7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb:

“Now there was in the place where He was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulcher was nigh at hand.” John 19, 41-42.

Meditation:

Consider the sighs which burst from Mary’s sad heart when she saw her beloved Jesus laid within the tomb. What grief was hers when she saw the stone lifted to cover that sacred tomb! She gazed a last time on the lifeless body of her Son, and could scarce detach her eyes from those gaping wounds. And when the great stone was rolled to the door of the sepulcher, oh, then indeed her heart seemed torn from her body!

Say one Hail Mary…

Marys Seven Sorrows Rest on the flight into egypt

Bonifazio Veronese, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” (1535), public domain.

5. Prayers of the Seven Sorrows by Pope Pius VII

O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

1. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of your tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon.

Dear Mother, by your heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Hail Mary…

2. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of your most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and your sojourn there.

Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. Hail Mary…

3. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried your troubled heart at the loss of your dear Jesus.

Dear Mother, by your heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. Hail Mary…

4. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of your heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross.

Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. Hail Mary…

5. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which your generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony.

Dear Mother, by your afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. Hail Mary…

6. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of your compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance before His Body was removed from the Cross.

Dear Mother, by your heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. Hail Mary…

7. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus.

Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Hail Mary…

Let Us Pray:

Let intercession be made for us, we beseech You, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Your mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Your bitter Passion. Through You, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end.

Amen

Carlo Crivelli, “Pieta”, (1476), public domain.

6. Litany to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (Pope Pius VII)

Lord, have mercy on us	Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, hear us,	Christ, graciously hear us

God, the Father of heaven,	have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,	have mercy on us
God the Holy Ghost,	have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God,	have mercy on us

Holy Mary, Mother of God,	pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,	pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified,	pray for us.
Sorrowful Mother,	pray for us.
Mournful Mother,	pray for us.
Sighing Mother,	pray for us.
Afflicted Mother,	pray for us.
Foresaken Mother,	pray for us.
Desolate Mother,	pray for us.
Mother most sad,	pray for us.
Mother set around with anguish,	pray for us.
Mother overwhelmed by grief,	pray for us.
Mother transfixed by a sword,	pray for us.
Mother crucified in thy heart,	pray for us.
Mother bereaved of thy Son,	pray for us.
Sighing Dove,	pray for us.
Mother of Dolors,	pray for us.
Fount of tears,	pray for us.
Sea of bitterness,	pray for us.
Field of tribulation,	pray for us.
Mass of suffering,	pray for us.
Mirror of patience,	pray for us.
Rock of constancy,	pray for us.
Remedy in perplexity,	pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted,	pray for us.
Ark of the desolate,	pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned,.	pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed,	pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous,	pray for us.
Solace of the wretched,	pray for us.
Medicine of the sick,	pray for us.
Help of the faint,	pray for us.
Strength of the weak,	pray for us.
Protectress of those who fight,	pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked,	pray for us.
Calmer of tempests,	pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful,	pray for us.
Retreat of those who groan,	pray for us.
Terror of the treacherous,	pray for us.
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,	pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful,	pray for us.
Light of Confessors,	pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins, .	pray for us.
Comfort of Widows, .	pray for us.
Joy of all Saints,	pray for us.
Queen of thy Servants,	pray for us.
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled,	pray for us.

Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,	that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray:

O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end.

Amen.

7. How to pray The Seven Sorrows Rosary (chaplet) of the Virgin Mary?

Begin with the sign of the cross:

In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Introductory prayer:

My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so I can honor your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering. I humbly beg you to give me true repentance for all my sins. Give me wisdom and humility, so that I may receive all the indulgences contained in this prayer.

Act of Contrition:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend You, my God, You Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Pray:

Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
3x Hail Mary…

First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon

Pray: