The Seven Sorrows Rosary is a devotional prayer practice within the Catholic tradition that focuses on meditating upon the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This unique form of the rosary encourages believers to reflect on key moments of sorrow in Mary’s life, emphasizing her role as the Mother of Sorrows.
The prayer involves specific beads and mysteries, each corresponding to a particular sorrowful event.
Devotees use this spiritual exercise to deepen their connection with Mary and to seek her intercession in times of difficulty.
In this guide, we will explore the steps and intentions involved in praying the Seven Sorrows Rosary, offering a meaningful way to engage in contemplative prayer within the rich tapestry of Catholic spirituality.
Why do we Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary?
We pray the Rosary to learn how to face challenges with love, just like Mary, Jesus’ mother, did.
The 7 Sorrows Rosary helps us understand our struggles, mistakes, and sorrows.
This understanding guides us to live a joyful life in the service of others, following the example of St. Bridget.
As we pray with Mary and reflect on her seven sorrows, we feel a deep connection with her, her Son, our Savior, our neighbors, and ourselves.
This practice helps us embrace empathy and love in the face of suffering.
When do we Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary?
You can recite the Rosary at any moment, wherever you are, and during any phase of life.
Feel free to dedicate your prayers to someone going through a tough time, whether it’s a friend, family member, yourself, or the world.
This devotion becomes a source of comfort when seeking guidance from the Blessed Virgin or when we need a reminder of the joy that can emerge from life’s challenges.
Additionally, it’s a common practice to pray this Rosary on September 15th, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Seven Sorrows Rosary Prayer
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Pray the Introductory Prayer
My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so I can honor your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering. I humbly beg you to give me true repentance for all my sins. Give me wisdom and humility, so that I may receive all the indulgences contained in this prayer.
3. Pray the Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
4. Pray 3 Hail Mary’s and Most Merciful Mother
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
5. The First Sword of Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:22-35)
Prayer
Beloved Mother Mary, whose Heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way.
Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus.
Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world.
You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children.
Join those sorrows to your own and those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father. You are a Mother greater than all.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
6. The Second Sword of Sorrow: The Flight Into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
Prayer
Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give us your courageous heart.
Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way.
Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others.
Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
7. The Third Sword of Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-35)
Prayer
Beloved Mother, teach us to accept all our sufferings because of our sins and to atone
for the sins of the whole world.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
8. The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31)
Prayer
Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful Heart and that of Jesus.
In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently.
Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
9. The Fifth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27)
Prayer
Beloved Mother, Queen of the Martyrs, give us the courage you had in all your sufferings so that we may unite our sufferings with yours and give glory to God.
Help us follow all His commandments and those of the Church so that Our Lord’s sacrifice will not be in vain, and all sinners in the world will be saved.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
10. The Sixth Sword of Sorrow: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross (John 19:38-40)
Prayer
We thank you, Beloved Mother, for your courage as you stood beneath your dying Child to comfort Him on the Cross.
As our Savior drew His last breath, you became a wonderful Mother to all of us; you became the Blessed Mother of the world.
We know that you love us more than our earthly parents do. We implore you to be our advocate before the Throne of Mercy and Grace so that we can truly become your children.
We thank you for Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, and we thank Jesus for giving you to us. Please pray for us, Mother.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
11. The Seventh Sword of Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42)
Prayer
Most Beloved Mother, whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Jesus, and Mother to us all, we are your children and we place all our trust in you.
Teach us to see God in all things and all situations, even our sufferings.
Help us to understand the importance of suffering, and also to know the purpose of our suffering as God had intended it.
You yourself were conceived and born without sin, were preserved from sin, yet you suffered more than anybody else. You accepted suffering and pain with love and with unsurpassed courage.
You stood by your Son from the time He was arrested until He died. You suffered along with Him, felt His every pain and torment.
You accomplished the Will of God the Father; and according to His will, you have become our Mother. We beg you, dear Mother, to teach us to do as Jesus did. Teach us to accept our cross courageously.
We trust you, most Merciful Mother, so teach us to sacrifice for all the sinners in the world. Help us to follow in your Son’s footsteps, and even to be willing to lay down our lives for others.
Then, pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
12. Pray the Concluding Prayer
Queen of Martyrs, your heart suffered so much.
I beg you, by the merits of the tears you shed in these terrible and sorrowful times, to obtain for me and all the sinners of the world the grace of complete sincerity and repentance. Amen.
Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us (repeat three times)
Then, end with the Sign of the Cross.
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