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The seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary that
have made the strongest appeal to devotion are: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into
Egypt, the three days’ loss of Jesus, the meeting with Jesus carrying His Cross, His
Death on Calvary, His being taken down from the Cross, and His burial in the tomb.
Simeon foretold to the Mother the opposition the
Redeemer would arouse. When she offered her
forty-day child to God in theTemple, he said, “This Child is destined to be the
downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed – and you
yourself shall be pierced with a sword” (Lk 2:34)
Mary’s sorrow on Calvary was deeper than any
sorrow ever felt on earth, for no mother in all the world had a heart as tender as the
Heart of the Mother of God. As there was no
love like her love, there was no sorrow like her sorrow.
She bore her sufferings for us that we might enjoy the graces of Redemption. She suffered willingly in order to prove her love
for us, for true love is proved by sacrifice.
It was not because she was the Mother of God that
Mary could bear her sorrows but because she saw things from His point for view and not
from her own – or rather, she had made His point of view hers. We should do the same. The Mother of Sorrows will be on hand to help us.
Devotion to the Sorrows of Mary is the source of
great graces because it leads into the depths of the Heart of Christ. If we think frequently of the false pleasures of
this world, we shall embrace patiently the sorrows and sufferings of this life, and we
shall be penetrated with a sorrow for sin.
The Church urges us to give ourselves over to the
love of Mary completely and bear our cross patiently with the Mother of Sorrows. She earnestly wants to help us to bear our daily
crosses because it was on Calvary that her dying Son entrusted us to her care. It was His last Will that she should be our
Mother. It was also His last Will that we
love His Mother as He did.
“This Child is destined to be the downfall
and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed – and you yourself shall
be pierced with a sword – so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.”
(Lk 2:34-35)
His Mother said to (Jesus): “Son, why have
You done this to us? You see that Your father
and I have been searching for You in sorrow.” (Lk
2:48)
“Come, all you who pass by the way, look and
see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.” (Lam 1:12)
Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Mother of Sorrows
and Queen of Martyrs! You stood motionless at the foot of the Cross
beneath your dying Son. Through the sword of
grief which pierced you then, through the unceasing suffering of your life of sorrow, and
the bliss which now fully repays you for your past trials and afflictions, look upon me
with a mother’s tenderness and have pity on me, as I pray before you to venerate your
sorrows, and place my request with childlike confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded
Heart.
I beg of you to present to Jesus Christ, in union
with the infinite merits of His Passion and Death, your sufferings at the foot of the
Cross, and through the power of both, to grant my request: (Mention your request)
To whom, shall I turn in my needs and miseries, if
not to you, Mother of mercy? You drank so
deeply of the chalice of your Son that you can sympathize with the sufferings of those who
are still in this valley of tears.
Offer to our Divine Saviour the sufferings He bore
on the Cross that the memory of them may draw His mercy upon me, a sinner. Refuge of sinners and hope of all mankind, accept
my petition and grant it, if it be according to the Will of God.
Lord, Jesus Christ, I offer You the merits of
Mary, Your Mother and ours, as she stood beneath the Cross, in order that by her loving
intercession I may obtain the happy fruits of Your Passion and Death.
Mary, most holy Virgin and queen of Martyrs,
accept the sincere homage of my childlike love. Into
your heart, pierced by so many swords, welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of your sorrows at the
foot of the Cross. on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world.
With you, sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer
all the trials, sufferings, and afflictions which it shall please our Lord to send me,. I offer them all to you in memory of your sorrows
so that every thought of my mind and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion
and of love for you.
Dearest Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to
your Divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my last agony, so that I may
meet you in heaven together with your loving Son.
At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Lo, the piercing sword has passed!
O, how sad and sore distressed,
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One.
Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep
'Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
From pataking in the pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His Spirit forth He sent.
O sweet Mother! Fount of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.
Make me feel as you have felt.
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.
Holy Mother, pierce me through.
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savour crucified.
Let me share with you His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with you,
Mourning Him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the Cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give.
Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request;
Let me share your grief Divine.
Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of your dying Son Dviine.
Wounded with his every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very Blood away.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awe-full judgement day,
Christ, when You shall call me hence,
Be Your Mother my defense,"
Be Your Cross my victory.
While my body here decays,
May my soul Your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally.
Amen. Alleluia.
PRAYER
Father, it was Your will that the compassioante Mother of Your Son
should stand near the Cross on which He was glorified. Grant that Your Church,
having shared in Christ's Passion, may also participate in His Resurrection. We ask
this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and regins with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
(Taken from "Treasury of
Novenas")
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