THE FEAST OF THE SEVEN DOLOURS OF OUR LADY
FEAST OF THE SEVEN DOLOURS OF OUR LADY
15 SEPTEMBER
“Oh God, at whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of sorrow pierced the most sweet soul of the glorious virgin and mother Mary: mercifully grant, that we who with devotion, honour her sorrows, may obtain the happy fruit of Thy Passion: Who livest and reignest…”
The Servite Order was established by some Tuscan youths in 1232. They took up the sorrows of Our Lady, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order.
Today’s Gospel is the Gospel of John 19: 25-27:
“Near the Cross of Jesus stood His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing His Mother and the disciple He loved standing near her, Jesus said to His Mother, “Woman, this is your son.”
Then to the disciple He said, “This is your mother.” And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”
In handing Our Lady to St John, Christ gave her to His Church as our Mother – she is thus the mother to all of us. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is a Rosary that originated with the Servite order. It is a Rosary of seven beads separated by a small medal depicting one of the seven sorrows.
THE ROSARY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS:
The Seven Dolours (or Sorrows) are meditations on events in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They can be prayed at once or over a period of a week, with a meditation each day.
The devotion begins with the sign of the Cross and an Act of Contrition.
V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord make haste to help me.
V. Glory be, etc.
R. As it was etc.
A series of three beads before the first sorrow are dedicated to prayer in honour of the Blessed Mother’s tears.
Each Sorrow is announced, together with the relevant meditation and a verse of the Stabat Mater Dolorosa. The Meditations, as set out in the Raccolta * are set out below:
After the prayer for meditation, an Our Father is said, followed by a Hail Mary for each of the seven beads.
I. THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God.
Our Father.
Hail Mary etc.
II. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and thy sojourn there. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially for the poor, and the gift of piety.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
III. THE LOSS OF THE CHILD JESUS IN JERUSALEM
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
IV. THE MEETING OF OUR LADY WITH HER SON ON THE VIA DOLOROSA
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.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
V. THE CRUCIFIXION
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 heart afflicted in such wise, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
VI. THE PIERCING OF THE SIDE OF JESUS AND HIS DESCENT FROM THE CROSS
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
VII. THE BURIAL OF OUR LORD
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.
Our Father
Hail Mary etc.
The septet is closed by three Hail Marys dedicated to her sorrow, a Glory Be and the prayer:
V. Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy bitter passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest world without end. Amen
*(2018), Loreto publications, at IV 383, p.275, for BVM sorrowing.
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