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The 7 Sorrows of Mary (also called The 7 Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is a rosary devotion that has been in use within the Catholic church since the 14th century when it was revealed (by the Virgin Mary herself) to Saint Bridget of Sweden.
Although this particular form of prayer was once common, it faded into obscurity but was brought back into prevalence during the 1980's Marian apparitions in Kibeho, Rwanda.
During that time the Virgin appeared to Marie-Claire Mukangango and asked her to reintroduce the special rosary to the world.
The young visionary made it her life mission and was successful. Unfortunately, Marie-Clair lost her life in the Rwanda genocide of 1994.
These devotional prayer beads consist of 78 prayer and 2 signs of the cross which leads us to focus on Mary's sufferings in an effort to better understand the suffering of ourselves and others.
Typical to other devotionals within the church, the 7 sorrows of Mary are meditations on events from the bible.
The 1st Sorrow is meditation on the Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34 - 35)
The 2nd Sorrow is meditation on the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13 - 21)
The 3rd Sorrow is meditation on the Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50)
The 4th Sorrow is mediation on The Carrying of The Cross (John 19:17)
The 5th Sorrow is meditation on the Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18 -30)
The 6th Sorrow is meditation on Jesus Taken Down From The Cross (John 19:39 -40)
The 7th Sorrow is meditation on Jesus Laid in the Tomb (John 19:39-42)
As we pray and meditate on these 7 sorrows we grow in our feelings of empathy for our blessed mother's sufferings. We also open ourselves to becoming more empathetic towards the suffering of others all while learning to better understand our own sufferings and offer them up to the Kingdom of God.
In the original revelation of this devotion, the Blessed Virgin Mary granted 7 graces to those who would commit to daily meditation on her 7 sorrows.
1. "I will grant peace to their families"
2. "They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries"
3. " I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work."
4. "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 souls."
5. "I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."
6. "I will visibly help them at the moment of their death. They will see the face of their mother."
7. "I have obtained the grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this Earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy."
We can pray this devotion daily, but it is especially useful when we need guidance and the reminders of the joys that come form suffering.
Dedicate this powerful prayer when when you are suffering or for the suffering of family, friends or the world.
*** For this devotional use a 7 Sorrows of Mary Chaplet (this devotional does not work on traditional rosary beads).
Begin with the sign of the cross
In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of 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.
Pray 3 Hail Mary's
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The 1st Sword of Sorrow: The Prophesy of Simeon
Luke 2:34-35
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.
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 and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on the Prophesy of Simeon
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Second Sword of Sorrow: The Flight Into Egypt
Matthew 2:13-14
When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
Pray
Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on The Flight into Egypt
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Third Sword of Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the temple
Luke 2:43-45
After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
Pray
Beloved Mother, teach us to accept all our sufferings because of our sins and to atone for the sins of the whole world.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on the Loss of Jesus in the Temple.
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary
Luke 23:27-29
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed’.
Pray
Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful Heart and that of Jesus. In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently. Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on Jesus on His way to Calvary.
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Fifth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross
John 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, 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 into his home.
Pray
Beloved Mother, Queen of the Martyrs, give us the courage you had in all your sufferings so that we may unite our sufferings with yours and give glory to God. Help us follow all His commandments and those of the Church so that Our Lord’s sacrifice will not be in vain, and all sinners in the world will be saved.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on Mary at the foot of the cross.
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Sixth Sword of Sorrow: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
John 19:32-34
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
Pray
We thank you, Beloved Mother, for your courage as you stood beneath your dying Child to comfort Him on the Cross. As our Savior drew His last breath, you became a wonderful Mother to all of us; you became the Blessed Mother of the world. We know that you love us more than our own earthly parents do. We implore you to be our advocate before the Throne of Mercy and Grace so that we can truly become your children. We thank you for Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, and we thank Jesus for giving you to us. Please pray for us, Mother.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's while meditating on Jesus being taken down from the cross.
Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The Seventh Sword of Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus
John 19:41-42
Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
Pray
Most Beloved Mother, whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Jesus, and Mother to us all, we are your children and we place all our trust in you. Teach us to see God in all things and all situations, even our sufferings. Help us to understand the importance of suffering, and also to know the purpose of our suffering as God had intended it.
You yourself were conceived and born without sin, were preserved from sin, yet you suffered more than anybody else. You accepted suffering and pain with love and with unsurpassed courage. You stood by your Son from the time He was arrested until He died. You suffered along with Him, felt His every pain and torment. You accomplished the Will of God the Father; and according to His will, you have become our Mother.
We beg you, dear Mother, to teach us to do as Jesus did. Teach us to accept our cross courageously. We trust you, most Merciful Mother, so teach us to sacrifice for all the sinners in the world. Help us to follow in your Son’s footsteps, and even to be willing to lay down our lives for others.
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's While meditating on the burial of Jesus.
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.
(Pray 3x's)
Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.
End with the sign of the Cross
In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
The 7 Sorrows of Mary's feast day is celebrated each year on September 15th.
To learn more about this traditional devotions please visit the references below:
http://kibeho-sanctuary.com/en/apparitions/visionaries.html
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/seven-dolors-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-5437
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/what-are-the-seven-sorrows-of-mary
As always dear friends I hope you've learned something, rediscovered something or was somehow inspired by today's post.
With Love,
Chay Marie
I am a catholic writer who shares exegetical essays and letters based on Scripture, Magisterium and the wisdom of the Saints. If you like my work, please consider reading more on my Substack opheliamolina.substack.com.
