Our Lady of Sorrows

 Our Lady of Sorrows feast day: September 15th.

Oh! on what a sea of sorrow

Was the Virgin-Mother cast, 

When her eyes with tears o'erflowing

Gazed upon her Son aghast,

From the bloodstained gibbet taken,

Dying in her arms at last.

In her better desolation,

His sweet mouth, His bosom too,

Then His riven side beloved,

Then each hand, both wounded through,

Then His feet, with blood encrimsoned,

Her maternal tears bedew.

She, a hundred times and over,

Strains Him closely;

 to her breast

Hearts to heart, arms arms enfolding,

Are His wounds on her impressed:

Thus, in sorrow's very kisses, 

Melt her anguished soul to rest.

Oh, dear Mother! we beseech thee,

By the tears thine eyes have shed,

By the cruel death of Jesus

And His wounds' right royal red,

Make our hearts o'erflow with sorrow

From thy heart's deep fountainhead.

To the Father, Son, and Spirit, 

Now we bend on equal knee:

Glory, sempiternal glory,

To the Most High Trinity;

Yea! perpetual praise and honor

Now and through all ages be.

                                    ASCRIBED TO THE SERVITE,

                                          CALLISTO PALUMBELLA

     The Seven Sorrows of Mary

1.  The prophecy of Simeon.
2.  The flight into Egypt.
3.  The loss of Jesus in the Temple.
4.  Meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary.
5.  Jesus dies on the Cross.
6.  Jesus being taken down from the Cross.
7.  Jesus is laid in the tomb.

A Precious Offering

O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, I beseech thee, by the inexpressible tortures thou didst endure at the death of thy Son, offer to the Eternal Father, in my stead, thy beloved Son all covered with Blood and Wounds, for the grace of (mention your intention). Amen.

~ St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars 

Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows, by St. Bridget

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst cooperate in the benefit of my redemption by thine innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh, make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins, and that, persevering till death in His grace. I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.

Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us.

Prayer To Our Lady of Sorrows

I compassionate thee, O most sorrowful Mother! Thy heart was pierced with a sword of grief when Simeon foretold to thee in the Temple the ignominious death and the desolation of thy divine and most dear Son, which thou west destined one day to witness. By the great anguish of thy suffering heart, O gracious Queen of the universe, impress upon my mind, in life and in death, the sacred Passion of Jesus and thine own sorrows. Amen.

~~ by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Stabat Mater Dolorósa

At the cross her station keeping
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing
now at lenght the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying, glorious Son.
 
Is there one who would not weep,
'whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?
 
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent.
 
For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
 
O sweet Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord.
 
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ, my Lord.
 
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified.
 
Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.
 
Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.
 
By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.
 
Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;
 
Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.
 
Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;
 
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
 
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;
 
While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.