What Are the Seven Sorrows of Mary?
The Seven Sorrows of Mary are a series of events within Mary’s life surrounding Jesus and mainly His passion. Meditating on these sorrows and praying the Seven Sorrows Chaplet is a powerful devotion to Mary within the Catholic community. The seven sorrows recognized within this devotion are as follows:
- The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
- The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14)
- The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43-45)
- Mary meets Jesus on His way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-29)
- Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27)
- Jesus is taken down from the Cross (John 19:32-34)
- The Burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42)
What is the Seven Sorrows Chaplet?
This Chaplet is a special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows who appeared to St. Brigid of Sweden in the middle ages. Its popularity has resurfaced more recently (starting in the 1980s) thanks to St Marie-Claire Mukangango. In Kibeho, Rwanda, Marie-Claire was given a Marian Apparition and the mission to reintroduce this chaplet to the world. Being dedicated to Christ and our Holy Mother, Marie-Claire helped to spread this devotion throughout the world before being killed in the genocide of over a million people in Rwanda.
Why do we pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet?
In short, we pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet in order to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ through the life and intercession of Mary.
“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son and the Son of God”
St Pope John Paul II
In particular, this chaplet challenges and aids us in bearing our sufferings with love and grace just as Mary did. It helps us to experience what it means to say “yes” to the Lord in a deep and profound way.
How do we pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet?
There are actually two ways to pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet (a longer version and a shorter version). I also have created a printable pocket book guide to aid you in the devotion that you can find here.
(Long Version)
- Begin
In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen. - Pray
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.
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. - Say 3 Hail Mary’s.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. - Pray
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
(For each of the Seven Sorrows) Name the Sorrow & read the passage
Pray
Beloved Mother Mary, whose Heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love, and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way. Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus. Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world. You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children. Join those sorrows to your own and to those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father. You are a Mother greater than all.
Pray 1 Our Father
Then, Pray 7 Hail Marys.
Finally, Pray Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
- Closing Prayer
Queen of Martyrs, your heart suffered so much. I beg you, by the merits of the tears you shed in these terrible and sorrowful times, to obtain for me and all the sinners of the world the grace of complete sincerity and repentance. Amen.
Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us. (Pray 3x)
In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Short Version)
Begin
In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Pray 1 Hail Mary
The First Sword of Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Second Sword of Sorrow: The Flight Into Egypt
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Third Sword of Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Fifth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Sixth Sword of Sorrow: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
The Seventh Sword of Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus
Pray: 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.
Pray 1 Hail Mary.
Concluding Prayer
Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful, that we may be made 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. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hallow also provides a wonderful 7 Sorrows recording you can pray along with here.
Thank You
It means so much to me that you read these posts! Know of my thoughts and prayers for you and until next time, may peace be with you ♡
Always in Christ,
-me (elijah jane)
