Holy Week: The Seven Sorrows of Mary
I heard someone say the other day that “Mary didn’t do all that much. I don’t see what the big deal is.” This person was right. (Put the rocks down…I have more to say.) We don’t see Mary explicitly spoken of in Sacred Scripture often, but we catch glimpses and shadows of her presence. If we stop, and meditate, and ponder, those glimpses teach us. Sometimes by what she is doing and sometimes by what we do not hear. The the Catholic, Mary is the first Christian and the perfect example of devotion to Christ. We catch only glimpses of her life because she is also an exampled of quiet service, devotion, and humility. She serves Our Lord and loves Him in spite of the humiliation. Try being a pregnant unmarried woman in Israel 2000 years ago or publicly admitting that your Son is being shamefully executed by the Romans. Sacred Scripture doesn’t record any great honor bestowed in her in this earthly life other than the love and care of her Son. I shared the following written by John Paul the Great not too long ago and it bears repeating:
The Magnificat is followed by silence. Nothing is said to us about the three months that Mary stayed with her kinswoman Elizabeth. Yet perhaps we are told the most important thing: that goodness works quietly, the power of love is expressed in the unassuming quietness of daily service.
Homily by John Paul II, 15 August 2004 from Silence Transformed into Life: The Testament of His Final Year
And so, in honor of Holy Week, for those who do not already know of this old Catholic meditation (sorry, I don’t know how old this devotional practice is) I would like to share the “Seven Sorrows of Mary.” A chance to sit and think about parts of Sacred Scripture that you may have skimmed over in the past. Blessings.
V: O God, come to my assistance;
R: O Lord, make haste to help me.
V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
R: As it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
1. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affiction off thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy hear so afficted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the Gift of the holy Fear of God.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
2. 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 they heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of Generousity, especially toward the poor, and the Gift of Piety,
Hail Mary….
3. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried they troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus in the Temple. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and Gift of Knowledge.
Hail Mary….
4. 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.
Hail Mary…
5. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony on the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the Gift of Counsel.
Hail Mary…
6. 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 before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the Gift of Understanding.
Hail Mary…
7. 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 bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the Gift of Wisdom.
Hail Mary…
Catholic Prayers by TAN Publishers has this prayer as well as many other lovely old traditional Catholic Prayers in a purse-sized book.
