This devotion to the Our Sorrowful Mother was originated in the Thirteenth
century. It recalls the Sorrows the Virgin Mother of God endured in compassion for the
suffering and death of her Divine Son.
How to pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
- An Act of Contrition:
O, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, behold me before your divine presence, all in
confusion at the thought of the many grievous injuries I have done you. I ask pardon
for them with my whole heart, repenting of them for love of you, hating them above every
other evil and ready to lose my life rather than offend you again. And do you, most
tender Virgin, mother of mercy and refuge of sinners, obtain for me the pardon of all my
sins by virtue of your bitter pains and help me to so pray as to gain the indulgences
attached to this, your most holy Rosary.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of you
divine love. Send forth you spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the
face of the earth.
Enlighten our minds , we beseech you, O Lord, with the light of your
brightness, that we might see what we ought to do and be able to do what is right, through
Christ, Our Lord.
- Announce the First Sorrow; then say the "Our Father."
- Say seven "Hail Marys," while meditating on the
Sorrow.
- Repeat 1 and 2 continuing through all seven Sorrows.
- Three "Hail Marys" are said at the end in honor of the Tears of Our Sorrowful
Mother.
- Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, for the
intention of the Pope.
- Say "Virgin most Sorrowful, pray for us" three times.
Meditate on the following while reciting the prayers
The First Sorrow:
Let us meditate on the first Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin, when she presented her only son
in the temple, laid him in the arms of holy Simeon, and heard
the prophetic words, "This one shall be a sword of sorrow to pierce your own
heart."
The Second Sorrow:
Mary flees into Egypt with Jesus and Joseph-
Forced to endure the hardships of a long journey, and becoming a foreigner in a
strange land, Mary and her family flee to protect the child Jesus from those who would
destroy him.
The Third Sorrow:
Mary seeks Jesus lost in Jerusalem-
Jesus disappeared for three days in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, causing his
parents, especially Mary, agonizing sorrow.
The 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.
The Fifth Sorrow:
Mary stands near the cross of her Son-
Mary stands near her dying Son unable to minister to him as he cries "I
thirst". She hears him promise heaven to a thief and forgive his enemies.
His last words, "Behold your mother," charge us to look on Mary as our
mother.
The Sixth Sorrow:
Mary received the body of Jesus taken down from the cross-
The passion and death are over but for his mother, grief continues. She
holds His body in her arms.
The Seventh Sorrow:
Mary places the body of Jesus in the tomb, awaiting the resurrection-
The most tragic day in history ends, Mary alone in sorrow, as she lays the body of her
Son, in the tomb.
Hail Mary
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.
Our Father
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,
on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Glory Be
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.
