1
First sorrow
The prophecy of Simeon
Scripture · Luke 2:21-35
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many… and you yourself a sword will pierce.”
Meditation
Mary, through the sorrow you felt when Simeon announced that a sword would pierce your soul, you obediently accepted your Son’s destiny for our salvation. Help us to receive with courage the sorrows that life brings us.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
2
Second sorrow
The flight into Egypt
Scripture · Matthew 2:13-15
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt… Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Meditation
Virgin Mary, through the hardships you suffered fleeing so far while your Son was so small, you join in the pain of the persecuted. Give us a free heart to surrender our sorrows and find comfort in God’s final victory.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
3
Third sorrow
The loss of Jesus in the Temple
Scripture · Luke 2:41-51
“Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
Meditation
Mary, through the tears you shed during three days of searching, intercede for us. If we ever lose Jesus through sin, help us to find him again in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
4
Fourth sorrow
Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary
Scripture · Fourth Station of the Cross
Jesus carries his cross and meets his Mother on the Via Dolorosa.
Meditation
Mary, seeing your Son burdened with our sins, you offered him a balm of faithfulness with your gaze. Teach us to suffer in silence and to recognize Jesus in our brothers and sisters who suffer injustice or illness.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
5
Fifth sorrow
The crucifixion and agony of Jesus
Scripture · John 19:23-30
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother… Jesus said, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’”
Meditation
At the foot of the cross, Mary, you received the inheritance of being our Mother. Through the sorrow of seeing your Son die to give us life, grant us the strength to stand by the cross of those who suffer today.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
6
Sixth sorrow
Jesus is taken down from the cross
Scripture · Mark 15:42-46 and John 19:32-34
One soldier thrust a lance into his side… Joseph of Arimathea took the body down and wrapped it in a linen cloth.
Meditation
Sorrowful Virgin, you received into your arms the lifeless body of your Son, feeling in your heart the blow of the lance. We ask you to intercede for our difficulties and allow us to unite our sorrows to the Passion of Christ for our conversion.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
7
Seventh sorrow
The burial of Jesus and Mary’s solitude
Scripture · John 19:38-42
“They laid Jesus there… and a stone was rolled across the entrance.”
Meditation
Mary, you were left alone and full of grief after the burial, yet you kept alive the flame of hope in the resurrection. Give us perseverance in prayer and the certainty that no power can separate us from our bond with God.
Pray: 1 Our Father · 7 Hail Marys · 1 Glory Be
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
