Seven Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

                                                       "Oh, how sad and sore distressed

                                                            Was that Mother highly blest,

Of the sole begotten One!"

                                     --From the Stabat Mater

Devotion to Our Sorrowful Mother has long been a favorite among Catholics, but even so, Mary, speaking to St. Bridget, related, "I gaze upon the children of men to see whether anyone feels compassion for me, and alas, I see but few!...Consider how much I have suffered."  

The Church has given the title Queen of Martyrs to the Blessed Virgin for although she did not receive bodily torture, her heart was pierced by the sword of sorrow for her Divine Son, a sorrow greater than any we may know.  Holy Mother Church applies these words of Jeremias to our Lady of Sorrows:  "O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow." (Lamentations 1:12).  

Numerous saints also spoke on the intensity of Mary's grief.  St. Bernardine of Siena said the sorrow of Mary was go great that if it would have been evenly divided upon all men, they would have died immediately!  St. Basil also says of Mary's sorrow, "...[T]he sorrows of Mary surpass all the tortures of the martyrs."  

+               +               +               +               +

"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 our 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 torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,

Mourning Him who mourn'd 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."

                                             ---from the Stabat Mater

Seven Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
R. As it was in the beginning, etc.

First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Second Sorrow:  The Flight Into Egypt
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Third Sorrow:  The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Fourth Sorrow:  Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Fifth Sorrow:  Jesus Dies on the Cross
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Sixth Sorrow:  Mary Receives Jesus
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. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Seventh Sorrow:  Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
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 virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

V. Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful;
R. That we 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, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

God bless!  May you have a very blessed Holy Week!

+JMJ+