Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as “Mater Dolorosa” in Latin, is a prominent title for the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. The title honors her intense suffering and grief during the Passion and death of her Son Jesus. The Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15, immediately after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14. In addition, the entire month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
While Mary’s most significant sorrow was the death of Jesus, the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows expands to include not just one but seven sorrows that Mary endured in her lifetime – thus calling it the “Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.”
These Seven Sorrows are:
1. The First Sorrow – The Prophecy of Simeon
o The prophet Simeon tells Mary that a sword will pierce her soul. (Luke 2:33–35)
2. The Second Sorrow – The Flight into Egypt
o Joseph and Mary take Jesus into Egypt to escape Herod. (Matthew 2:13–15)
3. The Third Sorrow – The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
o Joseph and Mary search for the young Jesus for three days. (Luke 2:41–50)
4. The Fourth Sorrow – The Meeting with Jesus on the Way to Calvary
o Mary encounters Jesus carrying His heavy cross. (Luke 23:27–31)
5. The Fifth Sorrow – The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
o Mary stands at the foot of the Cross as Jesus dies on the Cross. (John 19:25–30)
6. The Sixth Sorrow – Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
o Mary cradles the lifeless body of Jesus. (John 19:31–37)
7. The Seventh Sorrow – The Burial of Jesus
o Jesus is laid to rest in the tomb. (John 19:38–42)
Images of the Sorrowful Mother often depict Mary’s heart pierced with a sword, which signifies the sword of grief that pierced her soul when Jesus died on the Cross. Such images are a pictorial representation of the prophecy that was given to Mary by the prophet Simeon at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:35). In some other images, Mary is depicted with seven swords in her heart – each sword representing the seven sorrows of her life. Another striking representation of the Sorrowful Mother is the “Pietà” – a marble sculpture carved by Michelangelo which depicts the Blessed Mother cradling the lifeless body of Jesus in Her lap.
While pious and devout souls are drawn to prayerful devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, the ones who would truly relate to her under this title are those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, or those who have had to endure serious trials, sorrows, and sufferings in this life. A personal experience of grief unites us to Our Lady of Sorrows in a very deeply spiritual way. She is especially a refuge for those who suffer difficult hardships in life, or those who may be going through a faith crisis. As for true disciples, they especially turn to her under this title when they desire to grow in virtues such as faith, patience, and acceptance of God’s Will.
In Sacred Scripture, the Lord teaches us: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). Alongside this assurance, the Lord also gives us His Mother under the title of “Our Lady of Sorrows” as a sure refuge whom we can turn to in the most difficult moments of our lives. Her maternal compassion can not only help us navigate our life’s sorrows, but can also assist us in finding meaning and purpose in those very sorrows. St. Padre Pio’s advice for those who suffer grief or any kind of insurmountable sorrow in this life is: “Like our Lady, remain at the Cross of Jesus and you will never be deprived of comfort.”
In Catholic tradition, we hold a particular belief that Mary suffered an “interior martyrdom of the heart” owing to her profound spiritual suffering and compassion during Christ’s Passion. Though she did not suffer a martyr’s death in the literal sense, saints and theologians describe her overwhelming love and grief as a true martyrdom of the soul. In this regard, St. Anselm writes: “While other martyrs suffered by sacrificing their own lives, the Blessed Virgin suffered by sacrificing her Son’s life, a Life that she loved far more than her own; so that she not only suffered in her soul all that her Son endured in His Body but moreover, the sight of her Son’s torments, brought more grief to her heart, than if she had endured them all in her own person.”
History of the Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows
The devotion to the Sorrows of Our Lady has existed since the early centuries of the Church. However, it gained significant importance in the thirteenth century when Our Lady appeared to the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, officially known as the Order of the Servants of Mary. In the apparition, Our Lady gave the seven hermits a black garment as their habit – the color symbolizing her grief and mourning over the sufferings and death of Jesus. She instructed them to meditate on her Seven Sorrows, and to observe the “Via Matris” (Way of the Mother). Thereafter, the Servite Order was largely responsible for spreading this devotion throughout the Catholic Church.
Later in the fourteenth century, Our Lady revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden, seven special graces that she would grant to all those who practiced sincere devotion to her Sorrows. She revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden many details about the Passion of Jesus and her own Sorrows. According to tradition, Our Lady made these specific Seven Promises to those who would devoutly recite Seven Hail Marys daily while meditating on her tears, sorrows, and sufferings:
1. I will grant peace to their families.
2. They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries.
3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death – they will see the face of their Mother.
7. I have obtained this grace from my Divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and sorrows will be taken directly from this earthly life into eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.
Two Ways of Practicing this Devotion:
The Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows can be practiced in two ways:
I. Shorter Devotion:
The shorter devotion can be easily practiced on a daily basis, as it is both brief yet meaningful. You can begin by making the Sign of the Cross on the Crucifix of a Decade Rosary. Thereafter, announce each Sorrow one at a time, and recite a Hail Mary after each Sorrow. On the last three beads of the Decade Rosary, pray three Hail Marys in honor of the tears of Our Sorrowful Mother. You may conclude by praying the Act of Contrition since this devotion has a penitential aspect. This shorter devotion is ideal to include on Fridays or into your daily prayer routine if time permits.
II. Longer Devotion:
The longer devotion is more or less similar to the shorter one, just with more prayers included in it. A special Rosary with seven beads in each decade is available in order to help you pray this devotion. Begin by making the Sign of the Cross on the Crucifix. Announce the First Sorrow, and then pray the Our Father. Thereafter, pray seven Hail Marys while meditating on the Sorrow. At the conclusion of each Sorrow, pray “Holy Mother, hear my prayers, and renew in my heart each wound of Jesus, my Savior.” Repeat these steps for all the Seven Sorrows. At the end, pray three Hail Marys in honor of the tears of Our Sorrowful Mother. You may conclude by praying the Act of Contrition or the Litany of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. This longer devotion is also known as the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, and a separate Rosary is available for it.
Saints Dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows:
Apart from the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, we have a few other Saints in the Catholic Church who have been deeply devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows. The most prominent is St. Gabriel Possenti, a young saint of the Passionist Order, who took his religious name in honor of the Sorrowful Mother, calling himself St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Among the Saints of old, St. Anselm and St. Bernard heavily promoted early medieval devotions and writings regarding the weeping Mother of Christ at the Foot of the Cross.
Saint Quotes on Our Lady of Sorrows:
Our Lady of Sorrows has been praised and venerated by many Saints in their sermons and writings. Some of the most profound Saint quotes on the Sorrowful Mother are:
“Turn your eyes incessantly to the Blessed Virgin; she, who is the Mother of Sorrows and also the Mother of Consolation, can understand you completely and help you. Looking to her, praying to her, you will obtain that your tedium will become serenity, your anguish change into hope, and your grief into love.” – Pope St. John Paul II
“Let us bind ourselves tightly to the Sorrowful Heart of our Heavenly Mother and reflect on its boundless grief and how precious is our soul. The Mother of Sorrows is my confidante, my teacher, my counselor, and my powerful advocate. When you see yourself in the face of suffering, look at Mary who suffered the most, and draw strength from her fortitude.” – St. Padre Pio
“The sorrow of Mary was so great that if it were divided among all creatures capable of suffering, it would be enough to cause their immediate death.” – St. Bernardine of Siena
“The sorrows of Mary were more than all the martyrs united.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
“The Passion of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary are but one same sacrifice.” – St. John Eudes
“Mary suffered almost as much as her Son… so much did she love Him.” – St. Louis de Montfort
“The suffering of Mary exceeded that of all others, for she loved more than all.” – St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn
“What you suffered, O Blessed Virgin, surpasses all understanding.” – St. Ildephonsus of Toledo
“She endured in her soul what Christ endured in His body.” – St. Augustine
“The grief of the Mother of God at the Cross surpasses all human grief.” – St. John Damascene
“Mary’s suffering was great because her love was great.” – St. Teresa of Avila
“My daughter, the tears which you shed in compassion for My sufferings are pleasing to Me, but bear in mind that on account of My excessive love for My Mother, the tears you shed in compassion for her sufferings are still more precious.” – Jesus reveals to Blessed Veronica of Binasco
Stabat Mater – The Hymn to Our Lady of Sorrows:
The most commonly known hymn to Our Lady of Sorrows is the “Stabat Mater,” which is considered to be one of the seven greatest Latin hymns of all time. It originated in the thirteenth century, when the Franciscan devotion to the Crucified Jesus was at its peak. Although it has been attributed to Pope Innocent III and St. Bonaventure, its most real author is considered to be the Franciscan Friar Jacopone da Todi.
The hymn is based on Simeon’s prophecy that a sword of sorrow would pierce Mary’s heart (Luke 2:35); and it is often associated with the Stations of the Cross. Its title comes from the first line of the hymn – “Stabat Mater Dolorosa” which translates to “The Sorrowful Mother was standing” – highlighting that even on Calvary, during the most difficult moment of her life, Mary “stood” and did not faint at the foot of the Cross. The hymn honours the Sorrowful Mother for her extraordinary courage and resolve in the face of unimaginable suffering.
The hymn consists of twenty stanzas, just three of which have been mentioned here for prayerful reflection:
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 length the sword had passed.
Oh how sad and sore distressed
was that mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!
The complete hymn along with its Latin-English translation can be found here:
Mary, Queen of Martyrs, Pray for us.
More Resources On Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children
Our Lady of Sorrows: A Compilation of the Teachings of St. Alphonsus Liguori
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