1. The prophecy of Simeon: "And Simeon blessed them, and said
to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection
of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy
own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be
revealed." – Luke II, 34-35.
Meditation: How great was the shock to Mary's Heart at hearing the
sorrowful words, in which holy Simeon told the bitter Passion and death
of her sweet Jesus, since in that same moment she realized in her mind
all the insults, blows, and torments which the impious men were to offer
to the Redeemer of the world. But a still sharper sword pierced her soul.
It was the thought of men's ingratitude to her beloved Son. Now consider
that because of your sins you are unhappily among the ungrateful.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
2. The flight into Egypt: "And after they (the wise men) were
departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying:
Arise and take the child and His mother and fly into Egypt: and be there
until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek
the child to destroy Him. Who arose and took the child and His mother by
night, and retired into Egypt: and He was there until the death of Herod." – Matt. II, 13-14.
Meditation: Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt when, St.
Joseph being warned by an angel, she had to flee by night in order to preserve
her beloved Child from the slaughter decreed by Herod. What anguish was
hers, in leaving Judea, lest she should be overtaken by the soldiers of
the cruel king! How great her privations in that long journey! What sufferings
she bore in that land of exile, what sorrow amid that people given to idolatry!
But consider how often you have renewed that bitter grief of Mary, when
your sins have caused her Son to flee from your heart.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple: "And having
fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem;
and His parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they
came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him." Luke
II, 43-45.
Meditation: How dread was the grief of Mary, when she saw that she
had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase her sorrow, when she sought
Him diligently among her kinsfolk and acquaintance, she could hear no tidings
of Him. No hindrances stayed her, nor weariness, nor danger; but she forthwith
returned to Jerusalem, and for three long days sought Him sorrowing. Great
be your confusion, O my soul, who has so often lost your Jesus by your
sins, and has given no heed to seek Him at once, a sign that you make very
little or no account of the precious treasure of divine love.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross: "And
there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed
and lamented Him." – Luke XXIII, 27.
Meditation: Come, O ye sinners, come and see if ye can endure so
sad a sight. This Mother, so tender and loving, meets her beloved Son,
meets Him amid an impious rabble, who drag Him to a cruel death, wounded,
torn by stripes, crowned with thorns, streaming with blood, bearing His
heavy cross. Ah, consider, my soul, the grief of the blessed Virgin thus
beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing this Mother's grief? But
who has been the cause of such woe? I, it is I, who with my sins have so
cruelly wounded the heart of my sorrowing Mother! And yet I am not moved;
I am as a stone, when my heart should break because of my ingratitude.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
5. The Crucifixion: "They crucified Him. Now there stood by
the cross of Jesus, His Mother. When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother
and the disciple standing whom he loved, He saith to His Mother: Woman:
behold thy son. After that he saith to the disciple: Behold thy Mother." – John XIX, l8-25-27.
Meditation: Look, devout soul, look to Calvary, whereon are raised
two altars of sacrifice, one on the body of Jesus, the other on the heart
of Mary. Sad is the sight of that dear Mother drowned in a sea of woe,
seeing her beloved Son, part of her very self, cruelly nailed to the shameful
tree of the cross. Ah me! how every blow of the hammer, how every stripe
which fell on the Saviour's form, fell also on the disconsolate spirit
of the Virgin. As she stood at the foot of the cross, pierced by the sword
of sorrow, she turned her eyes on Him, until she knew that He lived no
longer and had resigned His spirit to His Eternal Father. Then her own
soul was like to have left the body and joined itself to that of Jesus.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross: "Joseph
of Arimathea, a noble counselor, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and
begged the body of Jesus. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking Him
down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen." – Mark XV, 43-46.
Meditation: Consider the most bitter sorrow which rent the soul
of Mary, when she saw the dead body of her dear Jesus on her knees, covered
with blood, all torn with deep wounds. O mournful Mother, a bundle of myrrh,
indeed, is thy Beloved to thee. Who would not pity thee? Whose heart would
not be softened, seeing affliction which would move a stone? Behold John
not to be comforted, Magdalen and the other Mary in deep affliction, and
Nicodemus, who can scarcely bear his sorrow.
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
7. The burial of Jesus: "Now there was in the place where
He was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein
no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the parasceve of
the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulcher was nigh at hand."
John XIX, 41-42.
Meditation: Consider the sighs which burst from Mary's sad heart
when she saw her beloved Jesus laid within the tomb. What grief was hers
when she saw the stone lifted to cover that sacred tomb! She gazed a last
time on the lifeless body of her Son, and could scarce detach her eyes
from those gaping wounds. And when the great stone was rolled to the door
of the sepulcher, oh, then indeed her heart seemed torn from her body!
Say one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
The Seven Sorrows Devotion
St. Gabriel of The Sorrowful Mother, said he was never denied any
petition that he confided to the Mater Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows)
Mater Dolorosa Ora Pro Nobis!
