Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows

Scriptural Meditations

25 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

We begin with three Hail Marys in memory of the tears of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Hail Mary ×3

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

Simeon said to Mary: 'This child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed — and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword.' (Lk 2:34-35) From the very beginning, Mary's vocation as Mother was inseparable from sorrow. She received this word into her heart and kept it.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream: 'Get up, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt' (Mt 2:13). The Holy Family became refugees, exiles in a foreign land. In their poverty and flight, they mirror all who flee persecution, and Mary's trust in God shone in the darkness.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Third Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

After three days of searching, Mary said to Jesus: 'Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for You with great anxiety.' (Lk 2:48) These three days prefigured the three days in the tomb. Mary's anguish at the loss of Jesus teaches us to seek Him always and with great love.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Fourth Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented Him. (Lk 23:27) Among them was His Mother. She had heard His words: 'When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself' (Jn 12:32). She drew close to the Cross, united to His redeeming sacrifice.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Fifth Sorrow: The Crucifixion

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

Near the cross of Jesus stood His Mother. (Jn 19:25) She stood — not collapsed in despair, but upright in suffering love. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son' (Jn 19:26). At Calvary, Mary became Mother of all the redeemed.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Sixth Sorrow: Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

Joseph of Arimathea came and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took down the body. (Jn 19:38) Mary received her Son's body in her arms. She who had wrapped Him in swaddling clothes at Bethlehem now held Him as He was wrapped for burial. Her love never wavered.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Seventh Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus

We grieve for thee, O Mary, for this thy sorrow,

Have mercy on us and on the souls in Purgatory.

They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as was the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb... There they laid Jesus. (Jn 19:40-42) Mary stood in the silence of Holy Saturday — holding faith when hope seemed gone. She believed in the Resurrection.

Hail Mary ×7

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.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful.

Ora pro nobis, Virgo dolorosíssima.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of Thy mercy, now and at the hour of our death, whose most holy soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrow in the hour of Thine own Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen.

Intervéniat pro nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine Jesu Christe, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ, apud tuam cleméntiam beáta Virgo María Mater tua, cujus sacratíssimam ánimam in hora tuæ Passiónis dolóris gládius pertransívit. Per te, Jesu Christe, Salvátor mundi, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.