Seven Sorrows

As we prepare to go through Holy Week, and the Passion of Christ, we need to recall that someone else suffered tremendously during those days and last hours of Christ's suffering:

His Mother.

September is the month set aside to honor the Sorrowful Mother, specifically September 15th, but I thought this might also be an appropriate time to share what sufferings Mary went through during her life with the Son of God.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary are:

1. The prophesy of Simeon. (Luke 2:22-25)

2. The flight into Egypt. (Mt 2:13-18)

3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.  (Luke 2:41-51)

4. Mary meets Jesus on the road to Calvary. (Revealed in a vision to Blessed Anne Catherine  Emmerich)

5. Standing at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)

6. Taking Jesus down from the cross. (Revealed in a vision to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich)

7. The burial of Christ. (John 29:38-42)

There is a whole devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary.  When I learned them, I was taught to say the sorrow and then pray a Hail Mary.

This web site, www.catholictradition.org/Mary/7sorrows.htm, has fantastic artwork and either commentary or scripture verses to take you through the sorrows, or Dolors as they are also called.  


May our Lady lead you to Our Lord.