Mary's Seven Sorrows

(photo credit)

Came across this beautiful stained glass image of Our Lady's Seven Sorrows while I was trolling for photos for my other blog. Thought this one deserved a place here.

Please do not forget Mary suffered for you so comfort her by honoring her sorrows.

Black Scapular

The above image is of the founders of the Servite Order. As they were praying in devotion to Mary's sorrows, she appeared to them and gave them the Black Scapular of her sorrows. Thus was the order founded in the year 1240.

I have at various times gone on a quest of sorts to find out more on a lesser known, yet still Church approved and valid sacramental known as the Black Scapular. This is what I've found:

Black Scapular Order of Friar Servants of Mary: (Servites)A.D. 1240
"The Black Scapular of the Seven Dolors of Mary," or "The Our Lady of Sorrows Scapular," has on its front a depiction of Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lady appeared to seven rich and prominent citizens of Florence who decided to give up their worldly possessions and follow Christ, promising to honor His Mother in her sorrows. Thus began the Servite Order. Mary gave them the Servite habit and said that "these garments shall be to you a perpetual memory of the sufferings of my heart." This is the more common Black Scapular.The General of the Servite Order may grant the faculty of investment with this scapular to other priests." (source)

~And...
The black scapular of the Seven Sorrows of Mary: "After Pope Alexander IV’s formal establishment of the Servite Order in 1255, lay men and women formed a confraternity in honor of the seven sorrows of Mary. As a sign of membership, they wore a black scapular, usually with an image of our Mother of Sorrows on the front." (source)

~And..
Black Scapular: "Origin:1233 appearance of Mary to the founders of the Servite Order Purpose: Invoke the protection of Mary, Mother of SorrowsPractices: Wear the scapular with special devotion to Mary's Seven SorrowsSource: The Black Scapular is not widely distributed/promoted separately, but is part of the Five-fold Scapular" (source)

I know its not much. I've attempted to contact the Servite order with no respose regarding this scapular, I'll post next on their third order Servite apostolate which I think is less than thriving. I pray for a renewal of such an apostolate and devotion to Mary's sorrows in general. Stay tuned...

Sermon on Mary's Sorrows

Go here for a several part sermon on Our Lady's Sorrows by a Passionist priest. I haven't had time to listen to them, so please let me know if there's any "fuzzy thinking" in them. God bless.

Seven Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

This prayer can be said daily in honor of Our Lady's Sorrows. This pious devotion, practiced with perseverance and love, will obtain for the penitent the promises made by Heaven through Mary. Our Lady will surely be pleased with those who turn their hearts toward her Seven Sorrows. Mary leaves nothing unrewarded that is done in her honor and those who pray thus may be confident of receiving the promised special graces.

Overall, the mission of this blog, as well as the next several posts is to explain how to grow in love for Our Sorrowful Mother and how to obtain the extraordinary favors she has promised us. She will never fail to lead those who love her to her Son's Sacred Heart, there to be written for all time. Don't forget, the Holy Spirit flies to those who have a devotion to Mary and most especially to those devoted to her sorrows. God so loved her that He dwelt within her. He delights to dwell within those who are in turn devoted to her!

This particular form of devotion to Mary's Sorrows was approved by Pope Pius VII:

Begin thus:
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 Ghost,
R: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hail Mary is prayed a total of seven times: once after each of the Seven Sorrows prayers)

~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 Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among 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+
(Source: The Raccolta, Imprimatur 1951; Benzinger Bros, 1957)

Rosary of Sorrows II

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

(Also known as the Servite Rosary/Chaplet of Seven Sorrows/Dolors)

This pious practice is offered for your consideration for Lent. I encourage all to make this a devotion year round, if only to keep in mind and be sympathetic to your Mother's sorrows and tears which were shed for you.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows consists of seven groups of seven beads, with three additional beads and a medal of Our Lady of Sorrows. The seven groups of seven Hail Marys are recited in remembrance of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, namely:

1. The prophecy of Simeon.
2. The flight into Egypt.
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
4. Mary meets Jesus carrying His cross.
5. The Death of Jesus
6. Mary received the body of Jesus from the cross
7. The body of Jesus is placed in a tomb.

Three Hail Marys are added in remembrance of the tears Mary shed because of the suffering of her Divine Son. These are said to obtain true sorrow for our sins. Following is the concluding prayer.
V. Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin. R. The we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, we now implore, both for the present and for the hour of our death, the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose holy soul was pierced at the time of Thy passion by a sword of grief. Grant us this favor, O Savior of the world, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen+
(The rosary pictured above can be purchased for a mere $7.00 here. The above booklet is included.)

Rosary of Sorrows

Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

Prayerfully consider beginning a devotion to honor and appease the tears of our Lady by meditating on her seven sorrows. Simply recite one Hail Mary as you think/contemplate the seven sorrows that are particularly singled out by Holy Mother Church for our veneration.
1. The Prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. Jesus lost in the temple for three days
4. Meeting Jesus as He carries His cross
5. Death of Our Lord Jesus on the cross
6. Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid in the arms of His Mother
7. The burial of Jesus
Another way to honor Mary's sorrows and appease her tears is to use the rosary of Our Lady of Tears to pray the chaplet of Mary's seven sorrows. Simply meditate on her sorrows, and pray on the beads as you would pray the rosary, i.e. Our Fathers followed by Hail Marys. If you wish, there are Our Lady's Sorrows rosaries (also called chaplets interchangably). These typically have black beads and medals in place of the Our Father beads depicting each sorrowful scene. More on this tomorrow.

Prayer ~ In Your Tears

In your tears, O grieving Mother, what a world of sorrow shimmers, while the rot of hate now simmers. As they vie with one another to add shame to the weight he bears. In your tears, O grieving Mother, echoes all the weight of sin, pain and anguish entered in. Since Eva listened to another, and the world grew rife with tares. In your tears, O grieving Mother, witness to a great God's gift, of how he chose to heal the rift, sacrificing for all others. Lamb of God, the cross now bears. In your tears, O grieving Mother I see the sorrow veil your face, as you penetrate that place, your greatest yes to give the Father. The pain of your son's death you bear. Let me grieve with you, my Mother, as you sit in sorrow deep. God pierce my heart that I might weep for the sins of self and brother, that lead you to such pain and care. Susan E. Stone

Visions of St. Bridget III

Flight Into Egypt

Visions of St. Bridget of Sweden

(1303-1373)

(Source: Revelations of St. Bridget by TAN Books)

Our Lady's second sorrow, the fight into Egypt was discussed personally by Our Lord in a conversation He had with St. Bridget. We are reminded by these words of what happened directly after the infant Jesus was taken by Mary and Joseph into exile - the slaughter of the innocents. We learn more of the import of this tragic happening and of what good the Lord in His mercy wrought through such an unspeakable act of evil.

A few words regarding private revelation: These writings bear the Church's Imprimatur and have been widely disseminated and promulgated by Holy Mother Church. It is not wise nor prudent to reject such things as personal revelation that we are not required to believe in. Although there is no requirement - we must not despise such things either, but rather approach with prayerful discernment.

Jesus speaks: "By My flight into Egypt, I showed the infirmities of My humanity, and fulfilled the prophecies; I gave, too, an example to My disciples, that sometimes persecution is to be avoided for the greater future glory of God. That I was not found by My pursuers, the counsel of My Deity prevailed over man's counsel, for it is not easy to fight against God. That the innocents were slain was a sign of My future Passion, a mystery of those to be called, and of divine charity; for though the innocents did not bear testimony unto Me by voice and mouth, yet they did by their death, as agreed with My childhood; because it was foreseen that even in the blood of innocents, praise should be perfected to God. For though the malice of the unjust unjustly afflicted them, yet My divine permission, ever just and benignant, exposed them only justly, to show the malice of men and the incomprehensible counsel and piety of My divinity. Therefore, when unjust malice wreaked itself on the children, there justly superabounded merit and grace; and where the confession of the tongue and age were wanting, there the blood shed accumulated the most perfect good."

Prayer

O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto You.
O Lord Jesus Christ,

once You embraced and placed Your hands upon the little children

who came to You, and said: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me,

and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,

and their angels always see the face of my Father!"

Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of children and their

parents' devotion, and bless them this day through your mercy.

In Your grace and goodness let them advance continually,

longing for You, loving You, fearing You, keeping Your commandments.

Then they will surely come to their destined home,

through You, Savior of the world.

Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen+
(Taken from the Church's official blessing of children of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, included in the Roman Ritual.)

Our Lady's Seventh Sorrow

Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

"To what can I liken or compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What example can I show you for your comfort, O Virgin daughter of Sion? For great as the sea is your downfall."

(From the Divine Office of the Feast of the Seven Sorrows).

The Sabbath rest quickly approaches, they must take Our Lord's body from the arms of His Most Holy Mother and place it in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. A pious tradition is held that Mary herself arranges the folds of the winding sheet with her own hands. Joseph closes the tomb with a rock and the mourners leave.

"Depart from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me. There is in Him no stately bearing to make us look at Him, nor appearance that would attract us to Him. From the sole of the foot to the head, there is no sound spot in Him."

How great must have been Mary's sorrow! Yet this heavy sorrow could not overcome her faith in Jesus, her God and her Son, nor her hope in His promise of return. Sweet Mother, entomb Jesus in the sepulchre of my heart. Seal it with thy love, that I may not betray Him, but with Him and through Him may attain live everlasting.

"God of mercy, let us run

Where yon fount of sorrow flows;

Pondering sweetly, one by one

Jesus 's wounds and Mary's woes.

Ah, those tears Our Lady shed,

Enough to drown a world of sin;

Tears that Jesus 's sorrows fed..."

(Hymn from Lauds of the Feast of the Sorrows of Mary-excerpt)

Prayer

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.

(Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother, TAN Books)

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's Sixth Sorrow

Mary Receives the Dead Body of Jesus in Her Arms

"Joseph of Arimathaea requested the body of Jesus, which he took down from the cross. And His Mother received it into her arms. The sorrowing mother took her dead Son and laid Him on her knees"

~(From the Divine Office of the Feast of the Seven Sorrows).

It is time now to consider the sixth sorrow which pierced the heart of Our Blessed Lady. On this day, she will be wounded with another sword of sorrow. A cruel lance will pierce the side of her dead Son, then she will receive Him in her holy arms after He has been taken down from the cross.

Perhaps she will remember, pondering in her Immaculate Heart, the day she bore her Divine Son. She remembers placing him on her knees, how his tiny body warmed her hands in that damp cave. On cruel Calvary does she hold Jesus again in death. She loved him then, she loves him still. Only now His body is cold and covered with the the Blood of His sacrifice. Come and sit at the feet of your Holy Mother, compassionate the martyrdom of her soul as she tenderly presses the head of her dead Son to her chest.

Meditation

It is sufficient to inform a mother that her son had died to arouse in her heart all her love for her dead child, but Mary witnesses everything. "One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water" (Jn. 19:34). "Christ," it is said, "shared this wound with His Mother. He received the hurt; His Mother endured the pain."

Stay on Calvary for a time with Mary as Jesus is taken down from the cross. Kneel before your afflicted Mother waiting with outstretched arms to take Her beloved Son. She embraces Him sitting at the foot of the cross, is there no one to count her tears? Her Son died for us, and we persist in adding to His torture and crucifixion by our sins. Let us resolve not to torment our Lord, nor His sorrowful Mother any longer. And if we have saddened them in the past by our sins, let us now do what She wants us to do - go and sin no more.

Prayer

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful,

in the wounding of thy compassionate heart,

when the side of Jesus, 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.

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's Fifth Sorrow

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother... (John 19:25)

St. John did not deem it necessary to elaborate with reference to the martyrdom of Mary. See her now at the foot of the cross gazing upon Her dying Son, and ask your soul if there ever was a sorrow like unto Her sorrow. Stay awhile on Calvary and consider the fifth sword which pierced the heart of Mary — the death of Jesus.

As soon as our Lord reached Calvary, the soldiers stripped off His clothes, and fixed His hands and feet with nails, fastening Him to the cross. They raised the cross and left Him to die. The executioners left Him, all the Apostles but John left Him, but Mary did not leave Him. She stood close to the cross to be near Him in death. "I did not leave Him," She revealed to St. Bridget, "but stood nearer the cross."

"Jesus, grant that I may die in pressing to my lips the cross that is bathed in Thy Blood!"

~ St Charles Borromeo

Prayer

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.

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's Fourth Sorrow

Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary

As Jesus makes his way to Calvary, condemned to crucifixion, He meets His mother, Mary. He is bruised, derided, cursed and defiled and her sorrow is absolute as Jesus drags His own cross up the hill of His crucifixion.

Mary, who was conceived and lived her entire earthly life without the slightest stain of sin - must have suffered immeasurably as she witnessed the slow death by torture of her Divine Son. He is God, truly God incarnate but is also the Son of Mary. Her heart nearly broken with sorrow, yet she remained by her Son till the last. She offered her suffering in union with her Son's to the Heavenly Father for the Salvation of the whole world. Jesus was and is the Lamb of God and carried His holy Cross for us, and Mary underwent crucifixion of her soul, silently and without complaint - completely conformed to the will of God for us! How unworthy we are of such a sacrafice! Let us compassionate our Mother's Sorrows!

Prayer

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.

(Source: Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother

by TAN Books available for purchase here.)

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's Third Sorrow

Our Lady's Third Sorrow

(Source Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother

by TAN Books, available for purchase here.)

The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

"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, and for 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.

Prayer

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties

which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of they dear Jesus.

Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish,

obtain for me the virtue of chastity

and the gift of knowledge.

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's Second Sorrow

Flight Into Egypt

(Sources: Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother by

TAN Books available for purchase here,)

Now when they had departed, behold, 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 fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." Mt 2: 13-15.

To avoid the muderous intentions of King Herod, St. Joseph fled with his wife Mary, Our Lady, and his foster-Child, Our Lord, and lived as refugees in Egypt. Our Lord, Who was born poor, without any of the royal prerogatives due his kingly dignity, lived as a refugee. There was no lodging at the inn in Bethlehem for the Holy Family. But a home was found for them in Egypt, by the resourceful St. Joseph. Egypt the nation where the Hebrew people had languished for many generations in cruel slavery to the Egyptians before being led out by a prefigurement of Jesus; Moses, who parted waters of the Red Sea to their forty years' desert journey prior to entering into the Promised Land of Canaan. Our Lady was thus forced to make a temporary home for her Child and her husband as they fled for their lives.

The sorrow of not being able to return to Nazareth due to the homicidal plot King Herod had on her infant Son was excruciating for Our Lady. Let us not forget to meditate on the silent, selfless sacrifices made by St. Joseph as he quickly heeded St. Gabriel's warnings, fleeing his own place of business to guard the lives of his family! Joseph, as head of the household was given the task to defend and safeguard his chaste spouse and his foster-Child? Are we willing to be so completely detached from our desires and comforts that we can flee at a moment's notice from our own homes if this were necessary? Are we, in other words, willing to do what the Holy Family did? Do we truly understand that we have no permanent home here in this life and that we must seek out first the Kingdom of Heaven, of which Holy Mass is a foretaste?

Prayer

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy

most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt

and they 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.

Amen+

Hail Mary...

Our Lady's First Sorrow

The Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:25-35)

(First of Seven prayers offered in honor or Mary's Seven Sorrows - this devotion was approved by Pope Pius VII in 1815)

Background

According to Jewish law, the firstborn son of every family must be presented to God in the Temple.

Joseph and Mary took the infant Jesus to the temple, according to the law of Moses for this presentation as well as for her own purification (by bathing) according to the law, even though she was immaculate and never became unclean, nevertheless the law was fulfilled by her. While in the temple, Simeon approached the Holy Family. He beheld the infant and knew, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that this was truly the Messiah, the fulfillment of God's covenant with His people. And he uttered the words of the Canticle of Simeon, which Holy Mother Church prays every night in Compline, "Now, Lord, you may dismiss Thy servant in peace, according to Thy word, for my eyes hath seen the salvation which Thou hath wrought for Thy people."

Then, after praising God for the Messiah, Simeon turns to Mary, so modest, so humble, and utters words, which she held, pondering in the pure vessel of her heart: "This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be rejected - thou thyself shalt be pierced with a sword so the thoughts of many may be revealed" (Luke 2: 34).

Her sorrows then began. But at her side she had the support of her beloved chaste husband Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family. Simeon's prophecy was the first of her sorrows, for keeping these things silently in her immaculate heart, she contemplated them, receiving enlightenment from her Heavenly Spouse the Holy Spirit, while leaning on the strength of Joseph.

One can picture St. Joseph taking Mary's hand reassuringly in his and with a familiar look telling her in the chaste way: "We will face this together." It was St. Joseph who had to with great haste flee with Mary and the Holy Child in the dark of the night, after an angel had appeared to tell him they must flee Herod who sought the life of the Child. Joseph would have recognized the angel as from God for the same angel appeared to him to assure him Mary carried the Messiah and he was to take her into his home. A pious tradition holds this angel to be none other than the great Archangel Gabriel, who is the same angel of the Annunciation.

Prayer

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophesy of Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humilty and the gift of the holy fear of God.

Hail Mary...

(Source: Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother by TAN Books, available for purchase here.)

May Mary's prayers go with you always!

Devotion to Mary's Sorrows is sanctioned by the Church and these prayers can be found in the Missal and Breviary. Special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, depicted above, is celebrated on two special feast days: the Friday before Good Friday and on September 15th.

Other terms are used such as Sorrowful Mother, Our Lady of Tears, Our Lady's Dolors, Dolorous Mother. I have decided to stick with the english term sorrows instead of dolors.

The Catholic Church has also enriched the devotion to Our Lady's sorrows with indulgences for the pious recitation of the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, and also the Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears. Seven of Mary's Sorrows have been chosen for special veneration. These are the same sorrows of the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows and are as follows:

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. Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms
7. Jesus is placed in the tomb.

My next several postings will be on these seven sorrows specifically. Thank you for your time and may Mary's prayers go with you always!