The Seven Dolors of Mary & the Promises to the Devoted

[Shin]

Devotion to the Dolors of Mary

Many are the promises given to those who show devotion to the Mother of God in the light of her sorrows. It is clearly revealed of the Lord that He has an especial love for the honor given to His Mother's sorrows, and throughout history He has promised to those who show this love special graces.

The Seven Dolors of Mary

The dolors of Mary have often been honored under the title of the Seven Dolors, these particular seven occasions of great sorrow are:

I. The circumcision of Our Lord, when she saw His blood shed for the first time and heard the Prophecy of Simeon.
II. The Holy Family's flight into Egypt to save the life of the little Infant Jesus when Herod was seeking to kill Him.
III. The three days the Holy Family lost the Christ Child in Jerusalem.
IV. When she saw Christ carrying His Cross.
V. The death of Christ on the cross.
VI. When Christ was taken down from the Cross.
VII. When Christ was laid in the sepulchre.

The Promises of Grace to those who are Devoted to the Dolors of Mary

St. Alphonsus Liguori, writes that Our Lord revealed to St. Elizabeth of Hungary four special graces that are given to those who are devoted to the dolors of Mary:

That those who before death invoke the Blessed Mother in the name of her sorrows, should obtain true repentance of all their sins.
That He would protect in their tribulations all who remember this devotion, and that He would protect them especially at the hour of death.
That He would impress upon their minds the remembrance of His Passion, and that they should have their reward for it in Heaven.
That He would commit such devout clients to the hands of Mary, so that she might obtain for these souls all the graces she wanted to lavish upon them.

St. Bridget of Sweden has related that the Blessed Virgin Mary grants these graces to the souls who honor her daily by saying seven Hail Marys and meditate on her tears and dolors:

I will grant peace to their families.
They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
I will console them in their pains and I 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 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 and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.


Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
approved by Pope Pius VII

V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father. . .
R. As it was in the beginning. . .

I. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of your tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by your heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God.

Hail Mary. . .

II. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of your most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and your sojourn there. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety.

Hail Mary. . .

III. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried your troubled heart at the loss of your dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.

Hail Mary. . .

IV. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of your heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude.

Hail Mary. . .

V. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which your generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by your afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel.

Hail Mary. . .

VI. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of your compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding.

Hail Mary. . .

VII. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom.

Hail Mary. . .

Let us pray

Let intercession be made for us, we beseech You, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Your mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Your bitter Passion. Through You, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever.


Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows

Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven, there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court! But since I am still a pilgrim in this vale of tears, receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner, the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage a human creature can offer thee. In thy Immaculate Heart, pierced with so many swords of sorrow, I place today my poor soul forever; receive me as a partaker in thy dolors, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross on which thy only begotten Son expired for me. With thee, O Mary, I will endure all the sufferings, contradictions, infirmities, with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life. All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Dolors which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind, every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows, and of complacency for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven. Since then, O Dear Mother, I now compassionate thy Dolors, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus, that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter); come on my last day and assist me in my last agony, even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory. Amen.

[Shin]

I think the key to this devotion is to truly put your heart into it, and empathize as much as you can.

[Patricia]

I have a little booklet on the seven sorrow prayers and I try to say one each day, but have not been able to since school.  Now it is very difficult for me to meditate on the last three, because it is overwhelming as I can empathize even more.  I hope time will help me again.

[Shin]

There's such grace in meditating from the heart..

  :'(

At the tears of Our Lady..

Words cannot suffice..

'And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven, as it were for half an hour.'

Revelation 8:1

What grace to share in these dolors!

[martin]

This devotion is dear to my heart but not practiced half enough by me.
What graces and consolations Our Blessed Lady has obtained for us all.
I could never repay her for all she has done for me and everyone else who asks her help.
By this devotion she has given us a way to thank and console her in her own sorrow.
Like our dear Lord, she has offered all for us her poor banished children of Eve.

Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, we thank thee and love thee. 

[ChristianCatholic]

There's such grace in meditating from the heart..

  :'(

At the tears of Our Lady..

Words cannot suffice..

'And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven, as it were for half an hour.'

Revelation 8:1

What grace to share in these dolors!

Is that the true meaning of that passage of the Apocalypse? That is amazing.

Devotion to Sorrowful Virgin is key to Heaven.

[Shin]

Ah.. what a thought.. what a thought. .

I do not know..

It simply seemed to me that nothing can express the depth of 'The Tears of Our Lady'.. not finding words and even saying not finding words seemed so insufficient..

That passage from Revelation seemed to express the inexpressable silence and awe for such..

Honestly these words all nothing suffices.. it's so pitiful.. so much unworthy dust..

[ChristianCatholic]

Ah.. what a thought.. what a thought. .

I do not know..

It simply seemed to me that nothing can express the depth of 'The Tears of Our Lady'.. not finding words and even saying not finding words seemed so insufficient..

That passage from Revelation seemed to express the inexpressable silence and awe for such..

Honestly these words all nothing suffices.. it's so pitiful.. so much unworthy dust..

That was special grace given by Our Lady for you! I would have never think of connect that quote with the Sorrow of Our Lady if not for you. Thank you!
There are many way to honour 7 sorrows -- I like Chaplet of Tears given by Our Lady of Tears, it is short and easy to pray after Rosary.

[Shin]

Ah.. what a thought.. what a thought. .

I do not know..

It simply seemed to me that nothing can express the depth of 'The Tears of Our Lady'.. not finding words and even saying not finding words seemed so insufficient..

That passage from Revelation seemed to express the inexpressable silence and awe for such..

Honestly these words all nothing suffices.. it's so pitiful.. so much unworthy dust..

That was special grace given by Our Lady for you! I would have never think of connect that quote with the Sorrow of Our Lady if not for you. Thank you!
There are many way to honour 7 sorrows -- I like Chaplet of Tears given by Our Lady of Tears, it is short and easy to pray after Rosary.

Deo gratias et Mariae semper Virgini.

Our Lady of Tears.. chaplet.. thank you for speaking about this.. I am reading about it now.. I think it would be good to post more about..

[Shin]

'A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.'

Matthew 2:18

[Shin]

Bringing this back to attention again..

Amen Amen..!

'From this valley of tears, turn your gaze continually to God, ever awaiting the moment when you will be united to Him in heaven. Often contemplate heaven, and fervently exclaim: What a beautiful abode there is above! It is destined for us! Sigh longingly after its possession. Sometimes say, while your eyes are moist with tears: Nothing in this world pleases me; I no longer care for anything but my God. Yes, I hope, yes, I wish to possess Him, and I hope this of the mercy of God, through the merits of my Saviour's Passion and the dolors of my good Mother Mary.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'I place you in the sacred wounds of Jesus, under the protection of Our Lady of Sorrows; yes, I place you there. I implore the holy Virgin to bathe your heart in her sorrowful tears, that she may impress on it a continual remembrance of the dolorous Passion of her Son, and of her own dolors. I implore her to obtain for you perseverance in divine love, and strength and resignation in suffering. Take, then, for your glorious protectress, Our Lady of Sorrows, and never cease to meditate on the Passion of Christ. May God, in His mercy, bless you! Ask Him to bless me also. Deo Gratias et Maria semper Virgini!'

St. Paul of the Cross

'The soul is a seed which God sows in the field of the Church; to produce fruits, it must die under the strokes of pains, sorrows, contradictions, and persecutions.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Cultivate a tender devotion to the dolors of Mary, to her Immaculate Conception, to your guardian angel, to your patron saints, and the holy apostles.'

St. Paul of the Cross

[Shin]

Hmm, might be an error in the first sorrow above..

I am thinking the circumcision dolor may be from the Black Scapular, and the Prophecy of Simeon from the chaplet devotions and they are separate events it seems.

Two slightly different 'Seven Sorrows' devotions?

What do people think?

[Brigid]

I agree with you on the prophecy of Simeon.

[martin]

I think so too... Wasn't the circumcision meant to be 8 days after birth and the presentation 40 days?
I will check this out as I'm not 100% sure. 

[Brigid]

I think so too... Wasn't the circumcision meant to be 8 days after birth and the presentation 40 days?
I will check this out as I'm not 100% sure. 

Yup.