Our Lady of Sorrows Prayer
Our Lady of Sorrows is a title of the Virgin Mary that honors her suffering throughout the life, passion, and death of her Son. She is invoked by those who are grieving, by those who suffer, and by those who seek strength in carrying their own cross.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
Catholic tradition identifies seven events in Mary's life as her Seven Sorrows:
- The prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation — a sword shall pierce your own soul (Luke 2:35)
- The flight into Egypt to escape Herod's massacre
- The loss of the child Jesus in Jerusalem for three days
- Meeting Jesus carrying his cross on the way to Calvary
- Standing at the foot of the cross as Jesus died (John 19:25)
- Receiving the body of Jesus from the cross into her arms
- The burial of Jesus in the tomb
These seven sorrows are meditated upon in the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, a Servite devotion that has been practiced since the 13th century.
Feast Day
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on September 15 — the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The two feasts are intentionally connected, honoring both the cross of Christ and the compassion of his mother who stood at its foot.
Our Lady of Sorrows,
you stood at the foot of the cross
when there was nothing left to do
but stand there.
You did not leave.
You did not look away.
Pray for us in our grief —
when we have done everything we can do
and it was not enough,
when we must simply stand
and witness what we cannot stop.
Give us something of your courage.
Give us your certainty
that suffering witnessed in love
is never wasted.
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us. Amen.
Original composition by Rosarycard.net. Biographical information sourced from the Gospel of Luke, Gospel of John, and Catholic tradition.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Our Lady of Sorrows?
- Our Lady of Sorrows is a title of the Virgin Mary honoring her suffering throughout the life and passion of Jesus. Catholic tradition identifies seven specific sorrows, beginning with Simeon's prophecy at the Presentation and ending with the burial of Jesus. Her feast day is September 15.
- What are the Seven Sorrows of Mary?
- The Seven Sorrows are: Simeon's prophecy at the Presentation; the flight into Egypt; the loss of Jesus in Jerusalem; meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary; standing at the foot of the cross; receiving Jesus from the cross; and the burial of Jesus.
- When is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows?
- The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is September 15, intentionally placed the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14, connecting the cross of Christ with the compassion of his mother.
- Is there a prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows in Spanish?
- Yes. The Spanish form begins Nuestra Señora de los Dolores... Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
- What is the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows?
- The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows is a Servite devotion dating to the 13th century in which seven sets of seven Hail Marys are prayed, one set for each of Mary's seven sorrows. It is a traditional way to meditate on Mary's compassion and ask for her intercession in suffering.
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