Witnessing the pain endured by the Holy Mother
Our Lady of Sorrows
We have always looked up to Mary as the mother of Christ, the queen of angels, and the most blessed one. Now, it may seem strange to think of Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows! She’s the most blessed of all women, the greatest of all creatures, eternally beloved and honored by God Almighty in a way the rest of us can only dream of.” How is she “Our Lady of Sorrows”?
The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as Mater Dolorosa or Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, centers around the profound suffering and sorrow experienced by the Virgin Mary during the life, crucifixion, and death of her son, Jesus Christ. This devotion reflects on the emotional and spiritual pain that Mary endured as a mother witnessing the events of Jesus' passion.
The Seven Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows mainly represents the seven sorrows that pierced her heart. The below picture signifies the seven swords representing the seven sorrows and one of the swords piercing her heart making Mary, “Our Lady of Sorrow”.
Traditionally, the Seven Sorrows are:
1) The Prophecy of Simeon: Simeon's prophecy, as recounted in Luke 2:22-35, predicted that a sword would pierce Mary's heart, foretelling her sorrow at Jesus' suffering and death.
2) The Flight into Egypt: Mary and Joseph were forced to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod's persecution. This event would have brought Mary great distress and uncertainty.
3)The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem: Mary and Joseph lost the 12-year-old Jesus during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They searched for Him anxiously, only to find Him after three days.
4) Mary meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, the Fourth station of the Cross which is not found in Bible: Mary encountered Jesus as He carried the heavy cross to Calvary. Seeing her son's suffering would have been agonizing for her.
5)The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and especially John 19; Mary stood at the foot of the cross, witnessing Jesus' crucifixion and death. This is perhaps the most profound and heart-wrenching of Mary's sorrows.
6) Jesus's Descent from the Cross in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19; After Jesus' crucifixion, His body was taken down from the cross and placed in Mary's arms.
7) The Burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea also in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19; Mary witnessed her son's body being placed in the tomb.
Rosary for Our Lady of Sorrows
People recite the The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows which dates back to the fourteenth century. Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, appeared to St. Bridget of Sweden and revealed this Rosary devotion to her. There is also a Litany of Seven Sorrows of Our Lady composed by Pope Pius VII (1740-1823) that is recited along with the Rosary of Seven Sorrows.
The prayers and structure of the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows are as follows:
Introductory Prayers: Begin with the Sign of the Cross. On the Crucifix, pray the Act of Contrition or any other personal prayer.
First Sorrow: Pray an Our Father. Pray seven Hail Marys while meditating on the First Sorrow. Pray a Glory Be.
Second Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Third Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Fourth Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Fifth Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Sixth Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Seventh Sorrow: Repeat the pattern: Our Father, seven Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Closing Prayers: Pray three Hail Marys to honor Mary's tears.
Pray the Prayer to Our Sorrowful Mother.
End with the Sign of the Cross.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is a meditative prayer that invites believers to accompany Mary in her journey of sorrow, reflecting on her role in the salvation story and the deep compassion she showed for humanity's sufferings. It is a devotion that fosters empathy, humility and a deeper connection to Mary's maternal intercession and spiritual presence.
Feast and Procession
September is the month of “Our Lady of Sorrows”. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is liturgically celebrated every 15 September. In 1668, a separate feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, celebrated on the third Sunday in September, was granted to the Servites. Pope Innocent XII renamed it the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Pope Pius VII introduced it into the General Roman Calendar in 1814. In 1913, Pope Pius X, in view of his reform giving precedence to Sundays over ordinary feasts, moved this feast to September 15, the day after the Feast of the Cross. It is still observed on that date.
Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
Also known as Pilgrimage Church St. Mary in the Pear Tree in Sielenbach, Upper Bavaria, Germany. The eponymous event for the construction of a pilgrimage sanctuary, outside the village of Sielenbach in the Ecknachtal region, was a pear tree bearing a miraculous image in the form of a so-called pietà. Because the latter presumably performed divine healings, a church was built surrounding the tree in 1661. An early change of plans initiated the addition of three towers and the semicircular sacristy in the west, followed by a conch that harbored the pear tree until 1866.
The architecture that was planned by the Munich Electoral Master Builder, Konstantin Pader, seemingly traced back to suggestions of Philipp Jakob von Kaltenthal, a patron who traveled widely and was highly educated in architecture. As commander of the Teutonic Order, von Kaltenthal resided at the nearby castle Blumenthal. He had spent a lot of time in Rome where he had become acquainted with the model for the architectural idea that was later to be authenticated by himself: the domed rotunda in the Pantheon – the most symbolic Marian Church of the Eternal City at the time.
Prayer to Our Sorrowful Mother
"O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart a tender compassion for those suffering trials and afflictions.
Grant to me, O Virgin, most holy, a heart that is contrite and humble, constant in prayer, and generous in works of charity. May I be ever united with you in enduring the sufferings of life, so that, through the merits of your martyrdom and the compassion of your maternal heart, I may be worthy of obtaining the favor I ask in this prayer.
(Here mention your request.)
Obtain for me, O Mother of sorrows, the virtue of faith, so that my soul may fervently reach eternal life in your company. Amen."
Credit: prepared by Iris Abraham of OITS