Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15)

Altar of Our Lady of Sorrows in Santa Maria dei Servi, Siena, Italy

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Fr. A) in the Modern Roman Catholic Calendar. (More Info: A Catholic View). There is a Feast of the Seven Sorrows in the Traditional Catholic Calendar which occurs in April.

Our Lady of Sorrows is a devotion that I am particularly... devoted to, for lack of a better term. Someone at my parish gave me a "7 Sorrows Rosary/Chaplet" and after praying it the first time, I found myself drawn deeply into the mysteries of the Seven Sorrows, which are:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

The "Seven Sorrows Chaplet" is similar to Praying the Rosary, only the meditations are based on the Sorrows, or Dolors, of Mary. I wrote more about my thoughts on the Meditations here: "7 Sorrows" 

You can find more info on how to pray the Seven Sorrows Devotion at:

• How to Pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet
• Seven Dolors of Mary
• Scriptural Dolours Chaplet
• Simple Seven Sorrows Chaplet
• "Rosary" of the Seven Sorrows

Here are some great thoughts on the Seven Sorrows by Taylor Marshall:

• Do you know the Seven Sorrows of Mary?
• Did you know the Seven Sorrows conform to the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Also, on this Feast, please remember me in prayer. My family and I are trying to discern some pretty big life decisions, and the days have been a struggle for us recently. We appreciate any "extra" prayers you can offer for us.

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