Ordo Servorum Beatae Mariae Virginis: A Guide to praying "The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of The Blessed Virgin Mary" today to console the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady of Tears
Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites tomorrow + PLUS 7 PROMISES GRANTED TO THOSE WHO HONOUR the 7 SORROWS of MARY revealed to ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN
AN INVITATION / CONVITE: TO UNITE WITH OUR LADY’S SORROWFUL HEART AND REPAIR IT WITH PRAYER1
QUICK LINK TO THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES:
We invite SCHOOLS / PARISHES / CATECHESIS CLASSES to consider LINK TO FULL DOCUMENT OF PRAYERS (45 PAGES THAT CAN BE EDITED BY ANY PARISH TEAM / OFFICE / TEACHER) with the pastor’s guidance / approval for future (Tuesday or) Friday devotions HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gLASl0kr0Vkkm9CIO_ZBGU_OlVFQK3ktARGActyNAH4/edit
Any adult can strive to make the effort on any future Friday and even Good Friday to conduct these devotions as a full-school assembly, in the parish, or classes with children leading (and also learning about these stories, scripture, and teachers) can explore what it means to console the Heart of Jesus and Our Lady.2
LISTEN TO FR. CHRIS ALAR EXPLAIN THE SEVEN SORROWS ROSARY HERE
HOLY COMMUNION, THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST & REPARATIVE PRAYER
The CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) states that “Holy Communion augments our union with Christ” (1391). How? See the following excerpts to reflect on the Real Presence:
1392 continues: “Communion with the flesh of the risen Chris, a flesh “given life and giving life through the Holy Spirit” preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism.
The Rosary before the Holy Mass therefore presents a meaningful way to prepare our hearts to meditate on the wounds of Christ which poured forth the “blood” we drink, “cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins” (1393).
If the Eucharist “strengthens our charity which tends to be weakened in daily life” this “living charity wipes away venial sins.”
It is no wonder that Our Lady did not appear to the 3 Shepherd children at Fátima until they had 1 year of training from the Angel of Portugal on Eucharistic adoration. It was only then that they could pray the Rosary with the proper disposition toward the Sacred Host and to repair Christ’s wounds with the soothing balm of His Mother’s prayer: “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”
Thus, we invite you to relearn and memorize the Angel’s prayer of Reparation which is taught in the original Portuguese by Padre Nuno Rocha here:
The words of this prayer in English are worth reciting daily before any devotion you choose as an act of the Will and reparation to all the communions not received in a state of grace or mishandled in some way.
Thus, it is the “unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church” and thus “Those who receive the Eucharist are united more close to Christ” (CCC 1396).
Our Lady of Sorrows, who appeared at Fátima and as Our Lady of Mount Carmel therefore calls us to console her Immaculate Heart each time we return to the Holy Communion in a state of grace so as to repair the Mystical Body of Christ, wounded by the collective sin of all generations who have blasphemed her or her Son. In this way, on Sept. 13, Oct. 13, Nov. 13, Dec. 13, January 13, Feb. 13, March 13, April 13, May 13, June 13, July 13, August 13, we are called to offer as a Marian Day by the apparitions at Fátima, Portugal; Akita, Japan; and Montichiari in Italy. These three apparitions particularly emphasize reparative prayer on the 13th of the month, as well as the prayer of the Holy Rosary.3
LINK TO THE FOOTNOTES AT THE END OF THIS POST TO INVITE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE TO PRAY A DECADE OF THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT LENT WITH YOU4
Promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
re: 7 Sorrows Meditation
St. Bridget of Sweden received the following visions given to her by the Blessed Mother. These Seven promises are granted to those who meditate on her seven sorrows:
“I will grant peace to their families.”
“They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.”
“I will console them in their pains and will accompany them in their work.”
“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.”
“I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.”
“I will visibly help them at the moment of their death – they will see the face of their mother.”
“I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.”
THE ROSARY OF THE SEVEN DOLORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
provided from source shared by Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, O.Cist
“The Rosary of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary is, in effect, a way of holding in one‘s heart certain events in the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Compassion of His Virgin Mother.
The fruits of this particular prayer are compunction of heart, detachment from the occasions of sin, chastity, humility, reparation, compassion, intimacy with the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and desire to contemplate the Face of Christ.
The power of this prayer — something that many have experienced — comes from allowing one's own heart to be irrigated and purified by the tears of the Mother of God.
The tears of the Sorrowful Mother bring purity and healing wherever they fall.
It is good for the Christian, as The Directory of Popular Piety reminds us:
― Christian piety has signaled out seven particular incidents of sorrow in her life, known as the ‘seven sorrows’ of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the Church does not merely recommend this devotion for popular reasons but gives us this act of piety because this form of the Rosary follows closely the Gospel by emphasizing Mary‘s connection with the saving Passion of Jesus. In devotions connected with the Paschal Mystery of the Lord we are ― … limited merely to the expression of emotion before a sorrowing mother. Rather, with faith in the resurrection, it should assist in understanding the greatness of Christ's redemptive love and his Mother's participation in it (DPP 145).
HISTORY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS or THE “SERVITE ROSARY”
by: The Rosary Hour Podcast
ACCORDING TO: https://www.ourladymountcarmel.com/blog/pray-servite-rosary
“The Servite Rosary owes its origin to the Servite Order founded by the Seven Holy Founders in 1233. From the beginning, they dedicated their lives to Our Lady of Sorrows.
According to Michael Heinlein:
The “Servite Rosary,” also known as the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows or the Chaplet of the Sorrowful Mother.
Contemporaries of St. Dominic, they sought to establish a new religious order called the Servites, dedicated to a life of prayer, penance and service in the name of Our Lord and his Blessed Mother. They promoted devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows as an opportunity to venerate, alongside her crucified Son, his sorrowful Mother (see Jn 19: 25-27).4
Also,
The Servite Rosary is comprised of 7 decades in memory of Mary’s 7 sorrows. It is customary to begin with an Act of Contrition, to call to mind the role our sins had in Mary’s sufferings. At the beginning of each group, the sorrow is announced, followed by an Our Father and seven Hail Marys. At the end of the rosary, we say 3 Hail Marys in honor of Our Lady’s tears.
WE CONTEMPLATE THE MYSTERY OF YOUR SORROW, HOLY MARY
INTRODUCTION
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am truly sorry for having offended Thine infinite goodness and majesty.
I beg pardon for all my sins and detest them above all things, not only because they deserve Thy dreadful punishments, but also because they have crucified and wounded my loving Savior Jesus Christ.
I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy grace, never to offend Thee again.
Teach me to carefully to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Lord, Jesus Christ, son of the Living God. Have Mercy on me a poor sinner. Have mercy on the whole world.
Amen.
Optional Verse to contemplate the Wounds of Christ
O Holy Mother Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, this impart,
Deeply imprint within my heart,
All the wounds my Savior bore.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SEVEN SORROWS ROSARY
LEADER: We praise and we bless you, O Lord.
ALL: Because you willed that the Virgin Mother share in the work of salvation.
LEADER. We contemplate your sorrow, holy Mary.
ALL. May we follow you in the pilgrimage of faith.
RECALLING THE SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THE FIRST SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady accepts in faith the prophecy of Simeon
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34–35).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart upon hearing Simeon‘s prophecy, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to God‘s people Israel (cf. Luke 2:32).
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE SECOND SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady flees into Egypt with Jesus and Joseph
― And an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my Son” (Matthew 2:13–15).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart at the flight into Egypt by night, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, born to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE THIRD SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Mary & St. Joseph seek Jesus lost in Jerusalem
― And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father‘s house?” (Luke 2:48–49).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when together with Saint Joseph you searched for Jesus for three days, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE FOURTH SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady meets Jesus on the way to Calvary
“He was oppressed and was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. . . . Yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53: 7, 12).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when you encountered your Jesus bearing His cross, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, despised and rejected by men‖ (Isaiah 53:3).
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE FIFTH SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady stands near the cross of her Son
But standing by the Cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother‘s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‗Woman, behold your son!‘ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!‘ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:25-27).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when you saw your Child‘s hands and feet nailed to the wood of the Cross and His side pierced by the soldier‘s lance, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus Crucified, bowed in death
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE SIXTH SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady receives the Body of Jesus taken down from the cross
What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Sion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can restore you? Cry aloud to the Lord! O daughter of Sion! Let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite (Lamentations 2:13, 18).
Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when you beheld the lifeless Body of Jesus taken down from the cross, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, beautiful above the sons of men (Psalm 44:3).
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
THE SEVENTH SORROW OF OUR LADY OF TEARS
Our Lady places the Body of Jesus in the tomb, awaiting the Resurrection
“Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid it in a rock–hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the Day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how the body was laid; then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:52–55).
MEDITATION: Holy Mother of God, I remember the sorrow of your heart when you beheld the Body of Jesus wrapped in a linen shroud and laid in the tomb, and I desire to contemplate with you the Face of Jesus, covered with a veil in death.
Our Father
Seven Hail Marys
CONCLUSION OF THE SEVEN SORROWS ROSARY
LEADER: We praise you, O Holy Mary.
ALL: Faithful Mother at the cross of your Son.
Acclamation 1.
Blessed are you, Queen of Martyrs: united to the passion of Christ, you became our Mother and a sign of hope in our life.
RECITE:
Hail Holy Queen,
Mother of Mercy.
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve:
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Dismissal
LEADER: May the Virgin Mary protect us and lead us kindly on life’s journey.
ALL: Amen.6
LEADER: Three Hail Marys in Honor of Our Lady’s Tears:
O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, grant that I may weep for my sins:
Hail Mary…
O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, soften the hardened hearts of sinners:
Hail Mary…
O Mother of Sorrows, by the tears thou shed, allow me to make reparation for my sins:
Hail Mary…
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS: EXTRA NOTES ABOUT THE SERVITE ORDER
According to Franciscan Media:
“In 1240, seven noblemen of Florence mutually decided to withdraw from the city to a solitary place for prayer and direct service of God. Their initial difficulty was providing for their dependents, since two were still married and two were widowers.
Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by constant visitors from Florence. They next withdrew to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario.
In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine and adopting the name of the Servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the older monastic Orders.”
SOURCE: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/seven-founders-of-the-servite-order/
According to Encyclopedia Britannica:
“The Servites’ apostolic work consists primarily in preaching, administering parishes, giving missions, and in fostering devotion to Mary, especially under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Servite family also includes sisters, traditionally known as Mantellate Sisters, engaged in many active works, and nuns devoted entirely to prayer within the monastery.”7
According to Ascension Press:
THE CHARISMS OF THE SERVITES INCLUDE
POVERTY, CHASTITY, OBEDIENCE
FRATERNITY:
HOSPITALITY
DEEP INTIMATE FRIENDSHIPS
SERVICE TO OTHERS:
CHRIST TO EACH OTHER
CHRIST FOR THE WORLD - MISSION
DEVOTION TO OUR LADY:
LISTEN TO CARDINAL COLLINS PROVIDE DIRECTION ON DEVOTION TO OUR LADY
LEARNING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH?
STUDY WITH PETER KREEFT via the LUKE HART SERIES w/ AUDIO
https://www.kofc.org/en/who-we-are/our-faith/cis/booklets.html
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOKLETS ABOVE
FOOTNOTES:
GOALS / PRAYER IDEAS FOR FRIDAYS & LENTEN OBSERVANCE by the RHP team:
__ Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries
__ Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary (below) on Fridays
__ Pray the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy, especially for Holy Souls in Purgatory
__ Pray Stations of the Cross on Fridays through Lent
__ Pray the 3 PM Prayer to honour the Wounds of Christ
__ Pray the Wounds of Christ prayers taught to St. Bridget of Sweden
__ Pray the Wounds of Christ prayers here: woundsofchrist.substack.com
The following page has been prayed through by members of our RHP team, and edited by Amelia, member of Children’s Rosary.
The images for this post are taken by TDSHP from “The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows” in Portugal, a chapel on the Camino to Santiago and which dates back to the XVI century and which was visited by Blessed Alexandrina da Costa whose house is only 20 minutes away by car from this chapel which has been featured on our podcast in the past, especially in the September procession / festival days leading up to the 14th and 15th of that month.
One of the images / statues is famously recorded by fishermen / family members on “miracle” posters which can be viewed at the local museum, and in which there are claims to miraculous healings / intercessions of “Nossa Senhora das Dores”, (though we are not aware of any Vatican approvals at this time.)
This particular chapel houses both indoor carvings of the 7 Sorrows of Our Lady, as well as outdoor statues in separated outdoor representations of the scenes dedicated to the Dolors of Our Lady and it is visited by many people from all over the world.
Each year leading up to the 22nd of March or the Friday before Good Friday there is a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows with weekly Rosary, Mass, and sermon that focuses on the seven sorrows of Our Lady, a lovely way to pilgrimage and pray while travelling in Portugal, though you can also join in prayer virtually with our podcast readers!
This year, Rev. Father Giovane who leads most of the masses at the Basilica will prepare the homilies. If you are visiting the Porto / Braga area, there is still time to hop on the new bus system, and to be part of this set of weekly reflections and/or take time to honour Our Lady and also see the installations and unite in prayer.
A copy of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in Portuguese and reviewed by Padre Nuno will be available soon. For now, you can learn the basic prayers using his website:
Thanks to Fr. Peter for his workshop on Sept. 12, 2024 on the Holy Name of Mary in which he explained the beautiful story of this approved Marian apparition, which he will take his parish / prayer groups interested to in 2025. Fr. Peter, today, on Sept. 13, 2024, began a perpetual 13th of the month devotion in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary along with First Saturday devotions which he implemented as perpetual in February 2022, and then the First Friday masses, which he implemented as perpetual in September 2023. Fr. Peter will offer tomorrow a lunch talk on Marian apparitions for Seniors to help them also learn about the various stories we don’t often learn about and which are so important to developing a love for prayer and realizing the power of praying the Holy Rosary everyday.
Fr. Nuno Rocha has implemented a Rosary led by children 52 weeks a year before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, led by children and their teachers on rotation, and implementing Marian Hymns and inviting the Youth Groups and Young Professionals also to lead the Rosary on the First Sunday of the Month.
Like Fr. Peter, who invited the Mother of Carlo Acutis to speak to his students in English, Fr. Nuno will also explore with his students at both his parishes the question of Sanctity and the Secret of Joy in Portuguese with the Mother of Carlos Acutis prior to the canonization of her son. Fr. Chris Alar will assist in introducing this podcast ENCONTRO with the help of Fr. Josemaria Barbin who will help produce this recording as part of the Year of Prayer.
LEADER 1: The 1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will"' (Mt 26:36-39).
We offer Thee, O Lord Jesus, this decade in honor of Thy mortal Agony in the Garden of Olives and we ask of Thee, through this mystery and through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, perfect contrition for our sins and the virtue of perfect obedience to Thy Holy Will. (Composed by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, “The Secret of the Rosary”)
[Child goes to the podium; adult makes adjustments]
LEADER 2:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
R. (ALL): 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.
LEADER 2 [REPEATS X10 on the ten (10) beads of the Rosary]
LEADER 2:
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
R. (ALL): Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen
LEADER 2:
Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. (ALL): As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
LEADER 2: Oh Mary, conceived without sin,
R. (ALL): Pray for us who have recourse to thee.
LEADER 2: Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell,
R. (ALL): Lead all souls to Heaven, and help those most especially in need of thy mercy.
LEADER 2: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
R. Save us. Save _______________________ (insert country)
LEADER 2: Oh, Glorious St. Joseph
R. Pray for us.
LEADER 2: St. Michael the Archangel (Sat. Novena anticipating Sept. 29)
R. Pray for us.