Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as the “Sorrowful Mother,” is a popular devotional title for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is often depicted in art as a sorrowful mother, standing at the foot of the cross as her son Jesus is crucified. The Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows is a devotion that consists of nine consecutive days of prayer to honor Mary and ask for her intercession.
Why pray the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows?
The Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows is a powerful devotion that can bring comfort and solace in times of sorrow, suffering, and hardship. It is believed that Mary, as the mother of Jesus, understands and shares in the pain and suffering of her children. By praying the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows, we ask Mary to intercede for us and to bring us closer to her son Jesus, who is the source of all comfort and healing.
How to pray the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
There are several different ways to pray the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows, but one common way is to recite the following prayer each day for nine consecutive days:
“O most sorrowful Mother, behold us prostrate before thee,
we who are thy children and who venerate thy sufferings.
In thy maternal love thou didst willingly undergo the pains of thy most cruel Passion;
and thou didst open to us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven,
when thou didst shed thy precious Blood for us on the Cross.Behold us, therefore, O Mother of Sorrows,
and deign to receive our petitions through the merits of thy sufferings.
Obtain for us all the graces we need in the trials and sufferings of this life,
that we may be able to bear them with courage and resignation,
and may merit an eternal crown of glory in Heaven.
Amen.
It is also common to recite the Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows during the Novena. This consists of reciting the “Hail Mary” prayer seven times while meditating on the seven sorrows of Mary: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of the child Jesus in the Temple, the meeting of Mary and Jesus on the Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion, the taking down of Jesus from the Cross, and the burial of Jesus.
The Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows is a powerful and meaningful devotion that can bring comfort and solace in times of suffering. By praying this Novena, we honor Mary and ask for her intercession, and we draw closer to her son Jesus, who is the source of all comfort and healing. Whether you are experiencing sorrow, suffering, or hardship, consider making the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows and entrusting your cares to Mary and Jesus.