Adriaen Isenbrant (c. 1485-1551), "Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows" (photo: NCRegister.com)
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The Seven Dolors (Sorrows) of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Promises of Our Lady
Our Blessed Mother revealed these seven promises to St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century. Our Lady said she would bestow seven graces to the those souls honoring her daily by saying seven Hail Marys while meditating on her tears and sorrows:
(1) I will grant peace to their families.
(2) They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.
(3) I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
(4) 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.
(5) I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
(6) I will visibly help them at the moment of their death — they will see the face of their Mother.
(7) I have obtained this grace from My divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to My tears and sorrows 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.
Promises of Jesus
In his book, The Glories of Mary, St. Alphonsus also lists the four promises Jesus made for those devoted to his Mother’s sorrows. Alphonsus recounts the revelation made to St. Elizabeth of Hungary “that after the assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, St. John the Evangelist desired to see her again. The favor was granted him; his dear Mother appeared to him, and with her Jesus Christ also appeared; the St. then heard Mary ask her Son to grant some special grace to all those who are devoted to her dolors. Jesus promised her four principal ones:
(1) That those who before death invoke the divine Mother in the name of Her Sorrows will obtain true repentance of all their sins;
(2) That He will protect all who have this devotion in their tribulations, and will protect them especially at the hour of death;
(3) That He will impress on their minds the remembrance of His Passion;
(4) That He will place such devout servants in Mother Mary’s hands to do with them as She wishes and to obtain for them all the graces She desires.
In The Glories of Mary, Saint Alphonsus Liguori said that Jesus revealed to Blessed Veronica Binasco: “My daughter, the tears which you shed in compassion for my sufferings are pleasing to me, but bear in mind that on account of my excessive love for my Mother, the tears you shed in compassion for her sufferings are still more precious.”
Pray Along Video
The Seven Dolors (Sorrows) of the Blessed Virgin Mary
According to a form approved by Pope Pius VII (1815)
V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(The Hail Mary is said after each verse.)
1. The Prophecy of Simeon
“Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35)
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, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
2. The Flight into Egypt
“Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15)
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...
3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days
“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple…” (Luke 2:41-46)
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...
4. The Carrying of the Cross
“Carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, In Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17)
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...
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala... When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” (John 19:25, 30)
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...
6. Jesus Taken Down from the Cross
“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out... Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.” (John 19:33-34, 39-40)
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...
7. Jesus Laid in the Tomb
“Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.” (John 19:41-42)
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 world without end. Amen.
About Us
We would like to dedicate this site to the incredible story and testimony of near death experiences from Gloria Polo and Father Stephen Scheier and their miraculous recovery, including what they have shared with us - how they were judged after life - and moreover, how Jesus' grace and mercy and Mother Mary interceded for them in their final moment.