Seven Sorrows of Mary
A powerful Marian devotion meditating on the seven sorrows Our Lady endured as the Mother of the Redeemer. Also known as the Servite Rosary.
How to Pray
The Seven Sorrows Rosary consists of seven groups of seven beads (49 beads total), plus three beads at the end.
Opening Prayer
My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so that I may honor Your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so that I may 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.
For Each of the Seven Sorrows
Announce the sorrow, then pray one Our Father and seven Hail Marys while meditating on that sorrow:
The Seven Sorrows
The Prophecy of Simeon
Luke 2:34-35
"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel... and you yourself a sword will pierce."
Mary's heart was pierced by the knowledge of the suffering her Son would endure.
The Flight into Egypt
Matthew 2:13-14
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you."
Mary and Joseph fled in the night to protect Jesus from Herod's murderous decree.
The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
Luke 2:43-45
"After three days they found him in the temple... His mother said to him, 'Son, why have you done this to us?'"
For three days Mary searched anxiously for her Son, not knowing where He was.
Mary Meets Jesus Carrying the Cross
Luke 23:27-28
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Mary met her Son on the way to Calvary, seeing His broken body and the heavy cross.
The Crucifixion
John 19:25
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister.
Mary stood at the foot of the cross, watching her Son die in agony.
Mary Receives Jesus' Body
John 19:38-40
Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus.
Mary held the lifeless body of her Son, the same body she had once held as a baby.
The Burial of Jesus
John 19:41-42
They laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
Mary watched as her Son's body was laid in the tomb and the stone rolled across.
Closing Prayers
After the seven sorrows, pray three Hail Marys in honor of Mary's tears:
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.