Our Lady of Sorrows is one of the invocations of the Virgin Mary, whom we can also know as the Virgin of Bitterness, Virgin of Angustias or simply as La Dolorosa, in this article we are going to tell you what her story is and everything about its celebration of September 15.
Our Lady of Sorrows
The Virgin of Sorrows is recognized by wearing a black or purple dress, which is a sign of her mourning, in Latin she is called Maria Virgo Perdolens o Mother of Sorrows, and is one of the Marian invocations that are venerated in the Catholic Church. In this invocation of Sorrows, the pain and suffering of the Virgin as a mother is manifested by seeing the suffering of her son, and having to go through the seven pains that are linked to the seven moments of Jesus, which are described in the gospels. , and where she suffered in silence while he did his work as Redeemer.
This devotion emerged at the end of the 1239th century, for the year 15 the spirituality of the Diocese of Florence, the Order of the Servites or Friars Servants of Mary, joined the Holy Virgin and the date of its celebration is set on September XNUMX with the name of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Seven Sorrows
The seven sorrows of the Virgin begin when Mary and Joseph take Jesus to his presentation in the temple (Luke 2,22:35), there they meet the old Simeon, who upon seeing the child, told him that he was ready for the ruin and resurrection of many people in Israel and that a sword would pierce her soul, but Mary in her humility and simplicity kept all those words in her heart.
The second of his pains was the persecution of Herod and his flight to Egypt (Matthew 2, 13:15), when Herod learns of the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, he gives the order to kill all children under two years of age, a An angel appears to Mary and Joseph and warns them to take the child and go to Egypt to save him. Imagine the pain and fear she felt when she ran away, fearful that they would be caught by the soldiers.
The third pain is suffered when Jesus is lost in the Temple of Jerusalem for three days (Luke 2, 41:50), they had gone to make the corresponding offerings and when they leave they realize that Jesus is not with them they return to look for them and after three days they find him in the Temple, Mary cried in those three days, she was with several priests and they talked about the laws, when they reprimand him, Jesus replies that he is taking care of his father's affairs.
The fourth pain is received when he sees Jesus carrying his cross, beaten, scourged, humiliated, walking down the street of bitterness on the way to Calvary, on that cross he carried the full weight of the sins of men, which had been committed and that they were about to be committed. He accepted to bear that suffering and feel how he was despised and sentenced to a terrible death, he was flogged like a thief, but the King of kings; A crown of thorns was placed on his head and they girdled it tightly until blood flowed, what pain and what humiliation, just to save us from our sins.
The fifth pain was the crucifixion and death of Jesus (John 19, 17:30), there Mary suffered the greatest pain seeing her son being nailed to the cross and seeing his agony for hours, she suffered the pain of seeing his murderers full of cruelty and making fun of him, this is the greatest pain a woman can have, seeing her son die, that is a sword that pierces to the depths of the soul.
The sixth pain is the one you receive when Jesus is taken down from the cross, but before he is pierced by a spear and then placed in his arms (Mark 15, 42-1-46), that spear was the one that pierced your mother's heart , what a strong pain to have your lifeless son in your arms, a being that you carried in your womb for nine months, you raised him and saw him become a man and that in a short moment is dead and you have to carry him for the last time. You who saw him smiling at your side and kind, now they give him to you dead, he being the victim of the evil of the human being and of our sins.
The seventh pain is when Jesus is buried (John 19, 38:42), she accompanied her son to his last resting place in his earthly body, and this pain is stronger, seeing that he is taken to a sepulcher guarded by soldiers, those who put him to death now guard his tomb, and Mary only forgives and loves. She already knew that Jesus would rise on the third day, but her pain is still great because of the suffering she received.
history of devotion
The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows dates back many centuries, as early as the XNUMXth century, writers on ecclesiastical subjects wrote of the Compassion of the Virgin as referring to her role as the Mother of God suffering the pain of the crucifixion of her only Child. Since then, devotion has been made to the seven sorrows of Mary and hymns began to be written for the faithful to express their affiliation with the Sorrowful Virgin.
In the Middle Ages, it began to be celebrated under the name of the Transfixion of Mary, the Recommendation of Mary on Calvary, and a commemoration was held in her honor on Easter days. In the XNUMXth century, the Servite monks held a celebration to the memory of Mary under the Cross, holding office and mass, and then in the XNUMXth century, the third Sunday of September was established to hold the celebration of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Friday before Palm Sunday there was a special commemoration of the Virgin of Sorrows, and it was known as Friday of Sorrows. Benedict III fixed the celebration of the Fridays of Sorrows in the year 1472 and later Pope Pius VII established the feast for Our Lady of Sorrows in the year 1814 for September 15, the day after the exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The celebration of this festival is a prelude to Holy Week or Seana de la Pasión, where both Jesus and Mary suffered severe suffering. In 1970 Pope Paul VI united both festivities for the last day of summer. This is the devotion with the greatest extension not only of the faithful and devotees but also of countries.
His image is arranged in almost all the churches in the world, even in those more remote towns or villages and it is common to see them in procession in Holy Week, this is because its spread as a devotion was by the Servites from the century XVIII, this Order was founded in 1233 by seven noble people from Florence and they worked in the Chapel of the Annunziatta, according to legend they had a vision of the Virgin where she was dressed in mourning and with many angels around her.
In the Middle Ages, a special devotion was made to the five joys of the Virgin and was complemented with a feast in her honor for the five sorrows of the passion, then these seven were taken to complete the path to Calvary and her life. complete, it was the Servites who felt great devotion to the suffering of Mary, and for this reason they were authorized to make a festivity for her seven sorrows, on the third Sunday of September. The Virgen de los Dolores has special devotion in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Panama, Portugal, Guatemala, Italy and Mexico and she is the Patron Saint of Slovakia.
Devotion in Colombia
In this country it is one of the most important devotions in Popayán, the Friday before Holy Week is the Friday of Sorrows, where a procession is made with the steps of the Virgin followed by Saint John the Evangelist and they make the five painful mysteries. There are three images brought from Spain and dating from the eighteenth century that are the Dolorosa itself, San Juan and the Crucifix. The procession begins at the church of San Agustín and ends there.
Later the Dolorous Virgin is taken out again in precession on Holy Tuesday surrounded by many white flowers. She is considered the Patron Saint of the Colombian Llaneros and also of those from Venezuela, she is venerated in Casanare, Vichada, Meta and Arauca. In the Eastern plains she is called the Virgin of Manare or Virgin of the sorrows of Manare, and a festival is held for her on January. She is the Patron Saint of the Municipality of Paz de Ariporo in the Department of Casanare, where more than 20 faithful come to visit her at her sanctuary.
The image of the Colombian Virgen de los Dolores is made of wood and was brought by the Jesuit father José Gumilla from Spain to Betoyes, where it was venerated as an invocation of the Bon Voyage. When Betoyes Arauca was destroyed, they took it to Manare and then when this town was also destroyed, they took it to Paz de Ariporo on March 18, 1953.
Now, in the municipality of Sonsón in Antioquía, a devotion is made to the Virgen de los Dolores on Holy Saturday, they sing the Stabat Mater to her and take her out in a procession from Soledad, where the faithful follow her with lighted candles as a sign of pain. , this same procession is made in the Municipality of Armenia where the tour is made through the center of the city until they reach the Cathedral.
Devotion in Ecuador
The devotion of the Virgen de los Dolores in Ecuador is done in the cities of Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Riobamba, but on April 20, it is usually done by the religious schools of these communities. It is made that day since it tells a story that on April 20, 1906 the Miracle of the Virgin of the school occurred, when a group of students from the San Gabriel de Quito School were present and a painting of the painful opened and closed its eyes for 15 minutes, Pope Pius XII ordered the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Sorrows in this school and John Paul II named her the Patron Saint of Youth Education.
devotion in Spain
In Spain her devotion is very strong and her cults are held in September and on Fridays of Sorrows, her image is taken in procession during Holy Week in many cities of Spain, among the main ones stands out the Esperanza Macarena of Seville, image of dress under a canopy and the Virgen de las Angustias by Juan de Juni in Valladolid, in all of them we see a totally destroyed Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross.
She is the Patron Saint of the city of Cartagena with the name of Our Lady of Charity, and the Blessed Virgin of Mercy of Capuz also comes out on Good Friday. In these images, the feeling of Mary is seen when she is taking her son who is lowered from the cross, representing the seventh of her sorrows.
In Lorca the main image is that of the Brotherhood of Farmers Paso Azul, the Virgen de los Dolores, which was carved by José Capuz Mamano in 1942, the sculpture is full size, no dresses are placed on it since it is polychrome , he is facing forward with his hands on his chest, and on his knees. The remarkable thing about the image is her face, which is completely beautiful, with an expression of serenity and affliction, in her hands you can see a sword of pain that crosses her heart.
This image is venerated in the Church of San Francisco de Lorca and goes out in procession on Friday of Sorrows, and presides over the procession, also on Good Friday it is taken out behind the image of the Holy Christ of Good Death. Now, on the morning of Friday of Sorrows, a serenade is sung to her, where thousands of people go to the temple to wait for her to come out and her followers follow her in devotion, a salve is sung to her that was composed in 1903 by Juan Antonio Gómez Navarro, and that is played from the organ of the church that has been there since the XNUMXth century.
In Cangas de Morrazo in Pontevedra it is the head of the Brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows and Solitude and is a wooden sculpture to wear that dates back to the XNUMXth century, its procession is made on Friday of Sorrows and it is a holiday in the locality, that is to say that nobody works, their procession is under a canopy, they are dressed in maroon, bluish mantle and with their respective crown. She is also taken out on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, but on this day she is dressed completely in black. She is present at the descent from the cross that day and at the wake on Holy Saturday night.
In the city of Toro in Zamora, a carving of the Virgin dates from 1792 on Friday of Sorrows that was made by Felipe Gil, she was the venerable image of the Congregation of the Third Order of Servants of Mary or better known as Los Servitas that was founded in 1791 from the parish of San Julián de los Caballeros.
The image was blessed with all honors on May 27, 1792 with great solemnity, but in 1844 the Servites disappeared as a congregation, giving way in 1884 to the formation of an association of women to be owners of the image and it was not until the year 2011 when men are accepted again to be part of the association, thanks to the intervention of the Bishopric of Zamora.
His association begins to organize to make the procession of the Friday of Sorrows and also the novena that is made in his honor in previous days. In addition, the image is part of the transfer of Santo Ecce Homo on Holy Tuesday to the Church of Santa Catalina and also for the procession of the brotherhood of the Dulce Nombre de Jesús Nazareno, of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias and of the Ánimas de la Campañilla that they leave on Good Friday at dawn, in the latter it was incorporated in 1957, the women for this procession dress in mourning and must wear their comb and mantilla.
Now the brotherhood of Vera Cruz worships the Blessed Mary of Angustias Coronada, a work that was made by José Montes de Oca between 1723 and 1724. Her veneration is attested through a testament of Sister Catalina García dated September 16, 1645, there it rules that the brotherhood of Santa Vera Cruz must leave three prayed masses. Isabel de Castillo also left a testimony with her testament of this veneration that dates from January 26, 1726 where she also orders masses to be done in her name.
This Vera Cruz sculpture is 1 meter 62 centimeters tall, and has all the typical details of its sculptor: a face full of serenity and purity, the eyelids and the furrows of his eyes are well defined, his eyebrows are thick and straight with a slight angle, the nose is straight and proportionate, small mouth and bulbous lips leaving it ajar where his white teeth can be seen in detail, a well-defined dimple can be seen on his chin.
The Brotherhood of Solitude, has its image of the Lady of Sorrows in her Coronada solitude, whose sculptor is not known, but it is believed that it dates from the 1156th century, for the year 1582 the local Bartolomé Ximenes ordered that on Fridays of each month a mass was made to the image. It was in the year XNUMX when it is known that the procession of the brotherhood of Solitude began to go out together with that of the Hospital of San Bartolomé.
This image of the Virgin has a closed mouth, where it can be seen that the corner of her lips is sunken, her face maintains the tradition of serenity and has a wide neck with no peculiarities in her anatomy. Its figure is hieratic and with its sober expressiveness they make it have features used in the baroque that are loaded with a lot of drama, they make it charged with serenity and have a great balance, this is one of the oldest images known to exist. They go out in procession throughout the Province of Seville and they come out on Good Friday.
Other places where the Virgin of Sorrows is worshiped in Spain are in Corral de Amaguer Toledo, Arroyo de la Miel in Malaga, Cuenca, La Rinconada, Zahara de la Sierra Cádiz, Almeria, Santa Fe, Almuñécar, Fuente Vaqueros, Montilla, Ortigueira de A Coruña. This devotion was brought to Latin America by the conquerors.
In conclusion, practically the devotion of the Virgen de los Dolores or Our Lady of Sorrows is done throughout Spain, apart from those that we mentioned that are the ones with the greatest center of devotion, whether they call it La Piedad, Dolores, Angustias, Tears, Soledad, we are talking about hundreds of Virgins of Sorrows that are in this nation that it would be impossible to name them all, what matters from all of them is the love and devotion of the Spanish people for the Virgin Mary.
Devotion in Guatemala
The Virgen de los Dolores or de la Soledad in Guatemala has thousands of devotees who go to her as a sign of devotion and also for promises during Lent and Holy Week, in this country her feast is held on September 15 with many celebrations in different temples, but they are called wakes, these are done with the great solemnity of the mass.
During Holy Week, all the images of María Santísima de los Dolores go out in procession followed by her faithful devotees who are in charge of carrying them and make the walk after processional step after Jesus the Nazarene or the Lord in his grave. There are several churches and temples that have this image of Marian dedication, all are dressed in beautiful clothes, tunics and velvety cloaks embroidered with gold or silver threads.
Devotion in Nicaragua
Several ceremonies and acts are performed for the Virgen de los Dolores in Nicaragua, during Holy Week processional processions are performed for her, carrying her on shoulders and walking through many streets in various cities. On Friday of Sorrows there is a concert with sacred music, people must meditate at this time and then they make the procession of the Way of the Cross with the sculptures of Jesus; Sorrowful Mary and Saint John the Evangelist.
Other cities where the Virgen de los Dolores is taken in procession in Nicaragua is in León where it is taken on Holy Monday together with Our Lord of Consuelo de la Reseña.
In Granada, as in León, there is a parade on Holy Tuesday in the morning with Jesús Nazareno de los Pobres and the Señora de las Amarguras and later in the afternoon there is the procession of Jesús del Gran Poder and Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Coronados. , which has a journey that lasts hours, until it returns to the Xalteva church at night.
On Good Friday, the meeting of the image of the Virgin with Saint John and Jesus of Nazareth is made when the Via Sacra is made, in several cities of Nicaragua, the meeting is done precisely in the fourth station, already at night the procession is made solemn of the Entombment of Recumbent Christ that is followed by the image of the Sorrowful.
The next day, Glory Saturday, the procession of Our Lady of Solitude is held, with Saint John and Mary Magdalene to meditate on the seventh sorrow. Later, on September 15, the mass is held in honor of the Virgin and a procession called Dolores Gloriosos.
Devotion in Mexico
In this country we find many invocations of this devotion, on the sixth Friday of Lent the display of the Virgin of Dolores is made on a large altar, the difference of this devotion with respect to other countries is that in Mexico the times in that the Hail Marys should be said, which are usually seven, one for each pain, they also usually add glories, beginning or beginning prayers. They also make a closing prayer composed of three Hail Marys, an Our Father and a Glory Be, as well as an aspiration to the Virgin of Sorrows and a final offertory.
As for the celebrations that they do, we have that on the Friday before Good Friday, which is known as Friday of Sorrows, a first party is held, placing an altar with many glass containers filled with liquids of various colors that represent tears and they place a golden dagger in his chest.
A second religious festival is held on September 15, there Mexicans associate the Virgin with their declaration of independence, that is, when the War of Independence began, which they call the Grito de Dolores, which occurred on September 15, 1810, precisely In the Parish of Our Lady of Dolores, Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato, there is a solemn mass dedicated to its patron saint.
In Teocaltiche, Jalisco, the patron saint festivities are held in honor of La Dolorosa, which are from November 1 to 11, during which time the inhabitants carry out many activities to worship the Lady of Sorrows, such as:
Sing the mornings to the Virgin
After the mornings mass is done in his name
A theater for the people in the main square
Miss Teocaltiche is elected
Absent Son Celebration
Dances, balls, parades, charreadas, and an exhibition of typical popular crafts.
In the State of Queretaro, specifically in the Basilica of Los Dolores de Soriano, the same is done as in Teocaltiche, in addition to a tour of the Virgin through the city, where she passes through several churches and parishes, in this pilgrimage through the various parishes they sing to him, throw flowers at him and end with concerts.
Devotion in Panama
In Panama there is a procession on Friday of Sorrows in Natá de los Caballeros and later they take it out on Good Friday, in a procession of about six hours that ends at three in the morning, when it enters the Basilica the music is placed by Hail Regina. Many years ago it was customary at the end of the Holy Burial to sing the Dolorosa standing next to the Cross.
On March 20, 2010, the image that was brought from Spain was taken to the Basilica, Our Lady of Bitterness and Hope, a sorrowful Mary carrying Jesus in her arms when he was lowered from the cross. The anecdote of this image is that more than 24 men had to carry it to be able to place it inside the basilica since they could not handle it.
Other countries that follow the Devotion
This dedication is followed in other parts of the world, so we are going to mention some of them, which we consider important for you to know:
Argentina: has devotions in Dolores in Buenos Aires, Villa Eloisa in Santa Fe; in the province of Córdoba it is done in Villa Dolores and Río Ceballos and Exaltación de la Cruz in Buenos Aires.
Colombia: in Cundinarmaca in Bojacá and Guatavita where their parties are held when the Dorado Festival is held.
Venezuela: the Virgen Dolorosa in the patron saint of the city of Valencia, but there she is known by the name of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, her story is better known as the recipient error, since at the time of delivering the image in the city expected a Virgen del Socorro and not a Dolorosa, but they received her equally and called her as they had planned.
They also have this Marian dedication in the Portuguesa State, in Paraíso de Chabasquen, in the Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, their feast is held on September 15, after the celebration of the Virgin of Coromoto, who is the patron saint of all country. In Altagracia de Orituco, in the Camoruco sector is the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, here there is a chapel that in 2006 was named a parish, raising the chapel to a Church.
Peru: Our Lady of Sorrows is in Cajamarca and she is the patron saint and Queen of the city, as is Angia, and her celebration is the Friday before Holy Week or Friday of Sorrows. The image they have there is one of the oldest known and was donated by Emperor Carlos V, it can be found in the Temple of San Francisco, in a beautiful altar.
This image was crowned on June 14, 1942 while the I Diocesan Eucharistic Congress of Cajamarca was taking place, the coronation was made by Pope Pius XII through his representative in the Apostolic Nuncio of Peru, Monsignor Fernando Cento.
Other cities with representations of the Virgen de la Dolorosa is the city of Ayacucho, where one of the most massive processions takes place. In Tarma, Holy Week is in the Sevillian style and in the Cathedral Church of this city there is a baroque-style wood carving that has a Spanish crown, with a face full of unique pain and serenity, which is taken in procession in Holy Week from Friday of Sorrows to Good Friday.
In the Capital of Peru, Lima, there are also three images of Our Lady of Sorrows, which go out in procession in the Holy Week, under the custody of the Monastery of the Trinitarian Nuns of the Barrios Altos on Holy Sunday, the other two images from the Convent of San Agustín does not go out in procession and the one from the Santuario de la Soledad does its procession on Good Friday.
Other images that we can highlight in this country are that of the District of Santiago de Surco, which is from the colonial era, that of the District of Chorrillos, that of the city of Huancayo, that of the Pueblo de la Soledad of the Parcoy district and the from the city of Chancay.
Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
This prayer to the Virgen de los Dolores is the best known and prayed by its faithful and devotees, it can be done on a daily basis since it is quite short and easy to learn.
Our Lady of Sorrows! That you were serene and strong next to the cross of your holy Son Jesus. That you offered your Son to God the Father as a token for the redemption of the world.
Knowing that you were losing him, although you also knew that he was taking care of his Father's things, at the same time you were winning him since he became the Redeemer of the World and the friend who even gives his life for that of all his friends.
Mary, how beautiful it must be that you have listened to the words of your sacred son when he said his wise words "There you have your Son, there you have your mother".
It is good that we can be received in a house just as Juan received you in his, that is why we want you to be in our homes, where we live together as a family, but that you can also be in the house of our hearts, where we will be it also joins the Holy Trinity. Amen.
Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
When you begin to do this novena, you must first make the sign of the cross, and then continue doing the prayers and considerations, so it is important that when you do it you are completely in a place without noise, so that you can meditate on the daily consideration, and internalize the words you are receiving.
Opening Prayer
This initial prayer must be done with great faith, remember that it is the beginning of the novena, and we must begin it with encouragement, to continue forward and obtain the favor of the Virgin.
Oh Virgin, the one who suffered the most in the whole world!, the one who suffered the most after her son Jesus, and with the pains that you had to endure eternally for his death, I ask you to give me the strength to pay for my sins. .
Just as you suffered for them, so that when I am crucified for my feelings and lusts on the cross of Christ, I can carry it as a great duty through the path of my life, and following in the footsteps of my Lord Jesus Christ, to be persevering to your side.
Beloved mother that like you who were always at the foot of the cross next to Jesus, I can live and die with you, finding my redemption and that it be sanctified with the powerful blood of Jesus, I ask you for your great pains to listen to what you I ask through this novena and if it is for your conviction and for my benefit, you can grant it to me. Amen.
First Day: Mary gives birth in a manger
According to the scriptures Joseph of the family of David, had to leave Nazareth to go to Bethlehem in Judea, and register in the census with Mary, his wife, she was pregnant, and it turns out that when they arrived in Bethlehem the time came to have her son, but all the inns were full, so she had to have her son in a manger, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and placed him on dry grass.
Prayer
This Prayer should be done at the end of the daily meditation of the novena, that is throughout the nine days.
O Sorrowful Virgin! That you were the leafy and fruitful tree, and that you should have been afflicted, and here I am like the dry and sterile grass, today I want to ask you to live by your side, be modest and fight against adversity, I ask you to grant me to have the soul of penance , be humble and achieve Christian suffering in order to imitate you and your beloved son, who died on the cross for me, Amen.
Second day: Mary and old Simeon
Mary and Joseph felt admiration for the things they said about their son, but old Simeon approaches them and blesses them and tells Mary that this child would be the cause of falls and elevations of many in the people of Israel and that for her it would be a sword that would pierce her heart. Today we beg you not to allow us to fall into the worldliness of our enemies but to be among those who make the profession of your teachings that demonstrate our Christian essence and that in the same way it is also among those for whom Jesus will be the resurrection and the life. .
Third day: Mary flees to Egypt
After the wise men visit Mary and the child, an angel appears to Joseph while he was sleeping and told him to take the child and the mother and go to Egypt and stay there until the Lord commands them, since Herod looking for the child to kill him, he did as the angel ordered and remained in Egypt until Herod died.
Fourth day: Jesus lost in the temple
Every year Joseph went to Jerusalem for Jewish Passover, and when Jesus was 12 years old, they went and at the end of the celebration they were back home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem and they had not noticed, since they were in a caravan, after a day of walking they began to look for him among his acquaintances, not finding him they returned to Jerusalem, after three days they found him in the temple, surrounded by many priests who listened to him and asked him questions.
When his parents approached him they were amazed, but Mary told him why he had done that to them, since they were both looking for him, to which Jesus replies that they were looking for him if he was busy with his father's things, Mary and Joseph did not understand the words of their son, and then the three returned to Nazareth where Jesus lived according to what his parents told him.
And Mary kept these things in her heart, since as her son grew, he became wiser and more favored before God and men. Today we beg you not to allow us to fall into sin and that if at any time I fall I can look for you repentant and that I look for you and find you to make my confession in the temple and I can continue in the only true religion.
Fifth day: Mary suffers because Jesus is not understood
Very close to the Jewish festival of the Huts, the brothers told him not to stay there, but to go to Judea so that his disciples from there could also see everything he was doing, because when someone wants to be known, he does not do hidden things, and as and he made them manifest before the world. Jesus' brothers did not believe in him.
But he told them that their time had not yet come, but that for them any time was good, the world did not hate them but Jesus, because he was the witness that their deeds were bad, he told them to go to the party, since his time had not yet been fulfilled and that is why he would not go.
Sixth day: Mary at the foot of the Cross
When Jesus is crucified, on the cross was his mother Mary, and her sister, the wife of Cleofás and also Mary Magdalene. When he sees his mother and sees John his beloved disciple, he said to his mother: "Woman, there is your son" and then he said to him "Son, there you have your mother", and from that moment the disciple received her in his house.
We ask you to help us take advantage of the results of the passion so that we can be true Christians united in the crucifixion with Christ, that we know that it is an honor to suffer for being a Christian and that we must also practice Christian virtues.
Seventh day: Mary sees Jesus die on the cross
Jesus gives a loud cry and stops breathing, the veil that was in the temple was torn in two and the centurion who was in front of him said that in truth that man was the Son of God, the women who were in the distance, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, who always followed Jesus and had served him, there were also other women, when Jesus is taken down from the cross, we must think about asking him for forgiveness for our faults, which caused him to die and for We have those wounds in our minds and hearts, as proof of his love, which is until our death.
Eighth day: Jesus is buried and Mary feels alone
Joseph of Arimathea arrives in the afternoon, he was also one of the disciples of Jesus, and goes to Pilate to ask him to give him the body of Jesus, Pilate agrees. Then José takes the body and wraps it in clean sheets and takes it to a tomb dug out of rock, a large rock was made to slide to cover the entrance and then he left, there were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary alone.
For that pain of burying your son we ask you to grant us that we can die in the Christian religion and that once buried we are faithful to Christ so that when the final judgment arrives we can resurrect as Christians and be at the right of Christ.
Ninth day: pain becomes joy
Many women who came from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb, they saw how the body was placed. They went home to prepare the balms and perfumes to put on, but they had to wait until Sunday, because on Saturday they had to rest.
On Sunday first thing in the morning they are going to take the balms and put them on the body, they saw that the stone had been moved, and they fell into a great bewilderment, two men appear with very white clothes and the fearful women did not raise their eyes from the ground. They ask them why they were looking for the living among the dead, that he was not there since he had risen, and the women remembered the words of Jesus.
Final prayer for every day
This prayer is done at the end of each daily meditation recitation, every day of the novena:
Father who gives us comfort and who is full of immense mercy and kindness that you could give us to Mary so that she would be the model Mother of all Christians, so that our faith would increase and give us the strength for our hopes and that the virtue of charity so that it would be the sign of the love you have for all of us.
You who know better than anyone what our sorrows and pains are, we ask that through your will you can free us from them, we also ask that there is nothing, that no person can make us be separated from you and your love, and may the desire to live never be taken away from us. Today we raise this prayer to you through Jesus Christ, who is Our Lord, your Son, the Son of Mary the Sorrowful Virgin, who lives and reigns by your side through all the centuries, Amen.
Poem to the 7 Sorrows of the Virgin Mary
This poem is a beautiful compilation that was made in honor of the Dolorous Virgin, and her seven sorrows, in which she is exalted as the Mother of God.
Today I ask you, queen full of Glory, Daughter of our eternal father, who was the mother of the Divine Word, and the wife of the Holy Spirit, I ask you to grant me pious protection for sinners, with devotion, tears and fervor, with compassion and much or affection through your diete pains.
In your first pain, I feel like Simeon's prophecy that told you that a sword would pierce you with great pain, Oh My, what a rigorous day that would be for us.
In your second pain, I feel that our beloved Jesus in an unexpected warning to Egypt in winter sent you Oh what an eternal feeling!, with longing, fear and pain, in your chest it felt.
In your third pain, it pains me that your heart was pierced, when your son was lost, and that he did not pass until he was found. Oh with what pain and care! You lost your son and that Mother would not look for him.
In your fourth pain it hurts me to see your son on the ground with a cross, so you went to help him and give him encouragement and a gang of beasts prevented you from doing it, how bloody this cruelty and rudeness would be for you.
In your fifth pain it hurts me to see you cry at the foot of the cross, there you saw the cruelties they did so that the voice would only say Holy, holy, holy. Oh what anguish! It would be everything that afflicted you there.
In your sixth pain it hurts me to see your son in your arms, that Jesus badly wounded and all shattered. Oh what great agony! What a sad life, my mother, in your chest you would feel.
In your seventh and last pain, it hurts me very tenderly, that you left it buried in a cold cave. Oh what great bitterness! Your chest would feel when without it you already saw yourself.
I hope just as I tell you that through your seven pains we can achieve the favors of this your hurt devotee, what crime did our dear teacher, Jesus, your son, commit, that's why on this day we make you a Hail Mary.
The Seven Graces of Our Lady of Sorrows to Saint Bridget
It is said that the Virgin Mary of Sorrows presented herself to Saint Brigid, giving her the message of those who honored her daily along with her pains and tears and prayed seven Hail Marys to her, she would grant them seven graces in her life:
It would give their families peace.
They would have illumination in the Divine Mysteries.
It would give them consolation in their sorrows and be their company in their work.
He would give them everything that was asked of him as long as they did not oppose the will of his divine son and the sanctification of souls.
In their spiritual struggles he would defend them against any enemy and give them protection at any time in their lives.
Give them assistance at the moment of death, there they would see the face of their Mother.
She would get from her Divine Son that those souls who made the propagation of her devotion to her tears and her pains could have in this earthly life a great eternal happiness since their sins would be erased and that her Son and her would be our consolation and happiness.
Rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows
If you make this Rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows, you must do it with true faith and repentance, so that you get forgiveness for your sins and so that your soul is freed from your guilt and repentance. At the beginning you must make the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Opening Prayer
This prayer is made at the beginning of the Rosary, firstly to offer it to the seven sorrows of Mary and secondly, for the intentions of healing and health that are desired for someone in particular.
My God and Lord! I offer you this rosary that is for your glory, to honor you as the Holy Mother, our Virgin Mary, to share and meditate on all the suffering you went through, with humility I beg you to help me repent of all my sins, I I ask that you give me wisdom and make me a more humble person so that I can receive your indulgences with love and kindness through this Prayer. Amen.
Act of Contrition
The act of contrition is the way to ask for forgiveness or repent of sins, before praying the mysteries of the rosary.
OMG! Today I feel very sorry for having caused you such serious offenses, since I know that I can lose heaven and suffer from the pains of hell, but it weighs me more because I offended you who are a good god and that the only thing you expect from me it is my love, today I firmly desire and through your help, confess my sins, do the penances that they order and correct the path of my life. Amen. (At the end, pray 3 Hail Marys).
First Sorrowful Mystery
Simeon makes his prophecy to Mary precisely at the time of purification that according to the Law of Moses, they should take the child to the Temple of Jerusalem and present him to the Lord, since the law said that every male who opened the womb would be called holy and was for the Lord. There Simeon holds the child in his arms and his heart rises through the Holy Spirit, he recognizes him as the promised savior and therefore praised God for having given him life to contemplate the Messiah.
Now he could die in peace, he gave them his blessing and told Mary that her son would be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel and for her he would be a sword that would pierce her heart and soul. Mary already knew that her son would be the Savior of human beings, and she accepted Simeon's prophecy since she understood her words.
Even so, his heart felt sorry and was filled with confusion, since he knew the suffering and death that his son had to suffer, so every time he looked at him he thought of that suffering that he should be subjected to and that was also the cause for him to die. she suffered.
Prayer
This prayer is made after the description of each mystery and at the end, the Our Father and the seven Hail Marys are prayed.
Beloved Mother, that your heart must have suffered a pain stronger than expected, we ask you to teach us to suffer by your side and to show us that love you have, so that we accept the suffering that God deems necessary that we must suffer. Allow us to suffer and that through our suffering only the Lord knows him, just as he knew yours and that of Jesus. Do not let the world know our sorrows, that they have a meaning and that this is to serve as atonement for our sins.
Your Mother who suffered next to your son Our Savior, we give you all our suffering and that of the world since we are your children, we ask you to join all that suffering together with yours and those of your Holy Son Jesus Christ, so that they may be taken before God our Creator, and that he knows that we are his work, since you are the best mother in the world.
Pray the Our Father and three Hail Marys.
Second Sorrowful Mystery
The family must flee to Egypt, because of a message that Joseph receives in a dream from an Angel, Mary's heart is filled with half, they get up in a hurry and flee to Egypt because Herod had ordered the killing of all the little children to destroy the Messiah. She takes her son in her arms and they hurry, but God has the power of all things and that is why he helps them in their flight, he shows them which is the way just as he shows it to us so that we know how to reach our destination without our enemies catch us.
Maria's heart was filled with more consternation, it was winter and it was cold, tired, sleepy and hungry they make the long trip just looking for safety for their son and for him to be comfortable, always afraid that the soldiers would find them, since they had not left Bethlehem, at that time his heart was always anguished, but he knew that they would arrive at a place where they would be received.
Third Sorrowful Mystery
Jesus is lost in the temple, he was the only Son of God and also of Mary, and she loved him more than anything since God was her father. When she lost him for three days in the temple of Jerusalem, she thought that the world was immense and that she was alone and she thought that she could not live without him, it was a great pain since Jesus had never caused her any affliction and was very obedient. to their earthly parents.
She felt guilty for having lost him, but in reality Jesus no longer needed to be cared for by her, the pain she felt was that Jesus had stayed without her permission. That same pain she would feel when Jesus was abandoned by his apostles in his passion and death.
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
Mary is one of the people who sees how her son is taken to Calvary carrying his heavy cross, to be crucified on it, she saw him weaker and weaker as the soldiers kept whipping him and her heart was filled with more anguish and pain. . Between rushes and pushes he was losing more energy, until he fell tired and could not get up, Mary's eyes were filled with love and tears until she met the eyes of Jesus, in which she saw pain and blood.
Both hearts were carrying a very heavy load, every pain that Jesus feels is felt by her, but she also knows that she can do nothing but continue to believe and trust in God and give him her sufferings so that everything will remain in his hands.
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
Mary followed her son through all this suffering until they reach Calvary. His suffering was silent, he saw how he fell several times with his cross and saw how in each fall he was beaten by the soldiers, and they forced him to get up, she knew that her son was innocent, but even so they made fun of him, Maria He suffered and cried, they humiliated him when they took his clothes off, Mary's heart suffers when her son is nailed to the cross, her pain was intense since neither she nor Jesus knew what sin was since they had always been invested with holiness.
Each nail that was placed in her body Maria felt the pain in her heart and in each pain her life was gone. When the cross is raised, it shook violently causing the weight of Our Lord to tear his aching flesh and more and more pain went through his body like cast iron, for three hours he suffered hanging on the cross, but I also suffered when I saw his mother suffering pain for him, she was at his feet until he died, then he is taken down from the cross and placed in his arms, Mary screamed in pain.
Sixth Sorrowful Mystery
It was the friends of Jesus who took him down from the cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and placed him in the arms of Mary, she knew that her son was the incarnate God and that his trash can be the savior of humanity. He saw the whipped and flagellated body, large strips of skin were torn from his back, he had wounds from head to foot, his head was shattered by the thorns of the crown that had been put on him, seeing him in those conditions he knew that his suffering and his agony were very strong.
She cleaned his body and in a short time she saw the life of her son since he was born in the manger, she was very distressed since they had to prepare his burial, but she became stronger and braver, and became the Queen of Martyrs, anointed to his son and prayed that he could see his riches in paradise and that he would reach heaven and he also prayed for every soul in this world to be received with love by God.
Seventh Sorrowful Mystery
Jesus is taken to a sepulcher in a curve of carved rock, but his life was always linked to Mary's and she thought that for him to continue living, she only consoled herself knowing that her son's suffering was over. She as a mother with the help of Juan and the holy women who always accompanied her, carried her body with great care and devotion and left her there alone.
Mary goes home and there she continues to suffer, since for the first time she is alone without Jesus, she did not know what loneliness was until that moment, it was a new bitter and painful feeling, each time her heart died little by little since her son had died, but she knew the prophecy of his resurrection.
For this reason, Queen of Martyrs, for that heart that suffered, we beg you that through your tears shed for your Sacred Son in those sad and painful moments, you can obtain for us and for all those who have sinned the graces of being completely sincere and achieve true repentance.
Note: after the reading of each mystery, pray the prayer detailed in the first mystery, followed by the prayer of the Our Father and the 7 Hail Marys. At the end Repeat three times: Mary, who was conceived without sin, and who suffered for all of us, we ask you to pray for us. The rosary is finished by making the sign of the cross.
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