About Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows, or Mater Dolorosa, is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary referring to the sufferings she endured as the Mother of Jesus. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was first celebrated in 1244 by the seven founders of the Servite Order to help them focus their devotion and meditation on the Sorrows of Mary. Standing under the cross was the principal devotion of their order. Since the 14th century there are traditionally seven sorrows that have been honored: the Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), the Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:41-50), Mary meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (John 19:17), Mary watches the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30), Mary receives the Body of Jesus down from the Cross (John 19:31-37) and Mary watches as Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (John 19:38-42).
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is dedicated to Mary’s suffering and grief in union with her Son. In her compassion for the sufferings of her Son, she shows the depth of her love as Mother. The image of Our Lady of Sorrows is traditionally shown as dressed in black with seven swords piercing her heart. Each sword depicting a chief sorrow that Mary suffered in union with her Son. The sword piercing Mary’s heart is also seen in the biblical reference, Luke 2:35, where Simon tells her that she herself would be pierced by a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts would be laid bare.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
Our Lady of Sorrows

Novena Begins: September 6

Feast Day: September 15

Patron Saint of: Universal

Day 1 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

On the Cross her Son was dying.
Mary stood beneath Him crying,
Sharing in His saving cross.
As He hangs, her soul is grieving,
and a sword her heart is cleaving
and she weeps the bitter loss.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 2 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

O, the sad, afflicted Mother
of the Son beyond all others:
only Son of God most high.
Full of grief, her heart is aching;
watching Him, her body, quaking,
trembles as her offspring dies.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 3 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Who would see Christ’s mother crying
at the bitter crucifying
without tears of sympathy?
Who could see her depth of feeling — 
thoughts of many hearts revealing — 
and not share her agony?

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 4 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Pardon for our sins entreating,
She saw Him endure the beating.
All our guilt on Him was cast.
She stood by in contemplation
When her Son, in desolation
Breathed His spirit forth at last.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 5 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Font of love, O Blessed Mother,
lend me tears to mourn my Brother.
Never let my ardor dim.
Let my heart be burning freely,
Christ my God be pleased to see me
all on fire with love for Him.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 6 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

This I ask, O Holy Mary,
that His wounds I too may carry:
fix them deeply in my heart.
Mine the burden He was bearing;
let me in His pain be sharing;
of His suffering take a part.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 7 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Let me join in your lamenting,
through my life weep unrelenting
tears for Jesus Crucified.
Let me stand and share your weeping,
all the day death’s vigil keeping,
glad to stand close by your side.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 8 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Queen of all the virgin choir,
judge me not when I aspire
your pure tears to emulate.
Let me share in Christ’s affliction — 
death by bitter crucifixion — 
and His wounds commemorate.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Day 9 – Our Lady of Sorrows Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

O sorrowful Mother, I turn to you in total trust. You suffered the sharpest pains in life, watching your Son die upon the Cross, and yet you remained by Him to the end.

Look with favor upon me, a poor sinner, and obtain for me from your Son all the graces I need to endure the sufferings God allows me to face.

Daily Prayer

Let me taste the pains He offered,
drunk with love for Him who suffered.
May His wounds become my own.
On the day of Christ’s returning
may my heart be lit and burning.
Virgin, aid me at His throne.
May His Cross be interceding
and His death my vict’ry pleading.
May He hold me in His grace.
When my flesh by death is taken,
may my soul to glory waken
and in heaven take a place. Amen.

O Mother of Sorrows, through thy First Sorrow, the Prophecy of Holy Simeon, intercede for me with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the favor I implore 

(mention your request here…)

Say 1: Our Father…  Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Prayer to the Mother of Sorrow

“O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love with which
thou didst stand at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart I commend the
last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest
Lord in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father the most
Precious Blood of Jesus, mingled with
your tears on Calvary, that I may
obtain the grace of receiving Holy
Communion with the most perfect
love and contrition before my death,
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother, when the moment
of my death has at length come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having
offended Him for I know not what
I did. Beg Him to receive me into
His Kingdom of glory to be united
with Him forever. Amen.”