The Seven Sorrows of The Blessed Virgin Mary
O God, in Whose Passion, according to the Prophecy of Simeon, a sword of sorrow pierced
through the most sweet soul of the glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother, grant that we who call to mind with veneration
her sorrows, may obtain the blessed fruit of Thy Passion.
On the Friday before Palm Sunday, and on Sept. 15, the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary are commemorated in the
Liturgy. The Sorrowful Mother has always merited within the Church a particular devotion from whence she is called:
Queen of Martyrs and Comforter of the Afflicted.
Meditations on the 7 Sorrows of Mary - Pray the 7-Sorrows(Servite Rosary)
The Prophecy of Simeon
"And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother:
Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be
contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed." Luke 2:34-35
Meditation: How great was the shock
to Mary's Heart at hearing the sorrowful words, in which holy Simeon told the bitter Passion and death of her sweet
Jesus, since in that same moment she realized in her mind all the insults, blows, and torments which the impious
men were to offer to the Redeemer of the world. But a still sharper sword pierced her soul. It was the thought
of men's ingratitude to her beloved Son. Now consider that because of your sins you are unhappily among the ungrateful.
The Flight into Egypt
"And after they (the wise men) were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying:
Arise and take the child and His mother and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come
to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him. Who arose and took the child and His mother by night, and
retired into Egypt: and He was there until the death of Herod." Matt: 2:13-14.
Meditation: Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt when,
St. Joseph being warned by an angel, she had to flee by night in order to preserve her beloved Child from the slaughter
decreed by Herod. What anguish was hers, in leaving Judea, lest she should be overtaken by the soldiers of the
cruel king! How great her privations in that long journey! What sufferings she bore in that land of exile, what
sorrow amid that people given to idolatry! But consider how often you have renewed that bitter grief of Mary, when
your sins have caused her Son to flee from your heart.
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.
The Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross
"And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him." Luke 23: 27.
Meditation: Come, O ye sinners, come and see if ye can endure
so sad a sight. This Mother, so tender and loving, meets her beloved Son, meets Him amid an impious rabble, who
drag Him to a cruel death, wounded, torn by stripes, crowned with thorns, streaming with blood, bearing His heavy
cross. Ah, consider, my soul, the grief of the blessed Virgin thus beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing
this Mother's grief? But who has been the cause of such woe? I, it is I, who with my sins have so cruelly wounded
the heart of my sorrowing Mother! And yet I am not moved; I am as a stone, when my heart should break because of
my ingratitude.
The Crucifixion
"They crucified Him. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother. When Jesus therefore had seen His
Mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, He said to His Mother: Woman: behold thy son. After that he said
to the disciple: Behold thy Mother." John 19: 25-27
Meditation: Look, devout soul, look
to Calvary, whereon are raised two altars of sacrifice, one on the body of Jesus, the other on the heart of Mary.
Sad is the sight of that dear Mother drowned in a sea of woe, seeing her beloved Son, part of her very self, cruelly
nailed to the shameful tree of the cross. Ah me! how every blow of the hammer, how every stripe which fell on the
Savior's form, fell also on the disconsolate spirit of the Virgin. As she stood at the foot of the cross, pierced
by the sword of sorrow, she turned her eyes on Him, until she knew that He lived no longer and had resigned His
spirit to His Eternal Father. Then her own soul was like to have left the body and joined itself to that of Jesus.
The Taking Down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross
"Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counselor, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen."
Mark 15: 43-46
Meditation: Consider the most bitter
sorrow which rent the soul of Mary, when she saw the dead body of her dear Jesus on her knees, covered with blood,
all torn with deep wounds. O mournful Mother, a bundle of myrrh, indeed, is thy Beloved to thee. Who would not
pity thee? Whose heart would not be softened, seeing affliction which would move a stone? Behold John not to be
comforted, Magdalene and the other Mary in deep affliction, and Nicodemus, who can scarcely bear his sorrow.
The Burial of Jesus
"Now there was in the place where He was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein no
man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Pasch eve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulcher
was nigh at hand." John 19: 4l-42
Meditation: Consider the sighs which
burst from Mary's sad heart when she saw her beloved Jesus laid within the tomb. What grief was hers when she saw
the stone lifted to cover that sacred tomb! She gazed a last time on the lifeless body of her Son, and could scarce
detach her eyes from those gaping wounds. And when the great stone was rolled to the door of the sepulcher, oh,
then indeed her heart seemed torn from her body!
Say Daily if possible throughout Lent.
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