September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows

During this month of September, the Church turns her attention in a particular way to Our Lady of Sorrows.  In last weekend’s bulletin we discussed this title of the Blessed Virgin Mary and both this weekend and next weekend you will find devotions which can be used in your own prayer life as we honor Our Lady of Sorrows.

Antiphon: There stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Salome and Mary Magdalene.
-Woman behold thy Son,
-Son, behold thy Mother.
Let us pray: O God, at Whose Passion, according to the prophecy of holy Simeon, a sword of grief pierced the most sweet soul of glorious Mary, virgin and mother, grand in Thy mercy, that we who honor the memory of her sorrows may obtain the happy fruit of Thy suferings.  Who live and reign, world without end.  Amen.

O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object.  Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God.  Amen.

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among 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.
 
O, mother most holy and sorrowful, Queen of Martyrs, you who stood by your Son as He agonized on the cross; by the sufferings of your life, by that sword of pain that pierced your heart, by your perfect joy in heaven, look down on me kindly as I kneel before you, sympathizing with your sorrows and offering you my petition (here place your petition) with childlike trust. 

Dear Mother, since your Son refuses you nothing, ask of His Sacred Heart to mercifully grant what I ask, through the merits of His sacred passion, along with those of your sufferings at the foot of the cross.
Mother most merciful, to whom shall I go in my misery if not to you who pities us poor sinful exiles in this valley of tears? In our name, offer Jesus but one drop of His most precious blood, but one pang of His loving heart. Remind Him that you are our sweetness, our life and our hope, and your prayer will be heard. Amen.
 
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer me. Amen.
 
(This article is part of a series that will appear over the course of this year on the Monthly Devotions of the Church’s year).
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