(Novena for the Feast of Mater Dolorosa)
INDEX OF WEEKLY LENTEN DEVOTIONS
DAILY:
Prayers in honor of the Holy Face of Jesus
Prayer for Mercy for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
SUNDAY:
Prayer for Holy Church
MONDAY and THURSDAY:
Veneration of the Thorn-Crowned Head of the Savior
An Act of Contrition
Devotions in Honor of the Five Holy Wounds
To Our Lord on the Cross
Prayer for Those in their Last Agony
MONDAY, cont'd:
Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus
Prayer to Our Sorrowful Mother by St. Alphonsus Maria
Lenten Hymn
TUESDAY:
Stations of the Cross (Liguori or Franciscan) & Stabat Mater
To Our Lord on the Cross
To Mary, Queen of Martyrs for Resignation in Tribulation
WEDNESDAY: (Lenten Sermon and reflection)
Chaplet of Our Sorrowful Mother (Wednesday version)
Prayer in Honor of the Tears of Mary
Litany of Our Sorrowful Mother
Hymn to Our Sorrowful Mother
THURSDAY: (as above-Monday)
To Mary, Queen of Martyrs for Resignation in Tribulation
For Holy Church
For Sincere Contrition
Lenten Hymn
FRIDAY: Stations of the Cross (De Montfort) & Stabat Mater
To Our Lord on the Cross
Commemoration of the Stigmata of St. Francis
Adoration of the Holy Cross
Prayer to Our Blessed Lady
SATURDAY:
Chaplet of Our Sorrowful Mother (Saturday version)
Litany of Our Lady of Seven Dolors
Hymn to Our Sorrowful Mother
PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
The Holy Face of Jesus
(After the Holy Shroud of Turin)
"By offering My Face to My Eternal Father; nothing will be refused,
and the conversion of many sinners will be obtained."
(Private revelation to Sister Mary of St. Peter)
SUNDAY:
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, and most ineffable Name of Jesus be forever praised, blessed, loved, and adored, by all the creatures of God; and may reparation be made to His Most Holy Face for all of the outrages committed against His Holy Countenance. Amen. O Divine Jesus, through the ignominies inflicted upon Thy Holy Face, save us.
MONDAY:
O Divine Redeemer, consoled in Thy bitter Passion by the tender ministration of the holy woman Veronica, who wiped Thy Sacred Face and received the reward of her charity and valor by the imprint of Thy Holy Countenance upon her veil; imprint upon our hearts the remembrance of the sufferings and humiliations Thou didst endure for love of us, and keep us from ever insulting Thee again by our sins.
TUESDAY:
O Almighty and Eternal God, look upon the Face of Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus. We present It to Thee with confidence, to implore Thy pardon. The All-Merciful Advocate opens His mouth to plead our cause; hearken to His cries, behold His tears, O Father God, and through His infinite merits hearken to Him when He intercedes for us poor miserable sinners. Amen.
WEDNESDAY:
O good Jesus, Who hast said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you", grant us, O Lord, in virtue of Thy resplendent Face upon which the Eternal Father gazes with ineffable love, that faith which obtains all, or supply in us what may be deficient; grant us, by the pure effect of Thy charity, and for Thine eternal glory, the grace of sincere contrition for our many sins, a firm purpose of amendment, and final perseverance in Thy love. Amen.
THURSDAY:
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the adorable Face of Thy Beloved Son for the honor and glory of Thy Name, for the conversion of sinners and for the salvation of the dying. Be merciful to us, O God, and reject not our prayers, when amid our afflictions, we call upon Thee and seek with love and confidence Thine adorable Face. Amen.
FRIDAY:
O Lord Jesus Christ, in presenting ourselves before Thine adorable Face to ask of Thee the graces of which we stand most in need, we beseech Thee, above all, to grant us that interior disposition of never refusing at any time to do what Thou dost require of us by Thy holy commandments and Divine inspirations. Amen.
SATURDAY:
Adorable Face of my Jesus, my only love, my light and my life, grant that I may know, love and serve Thee alone; that I may live with Thee, in Thee, by Thee, and for Thee. O merciful Mother, Mary most Sorrowful, let thy tender hand wipe from my soul not only the stains of sin, but also its consequences, which would paralyze the effects of thy reign in my heart. Restore to the souls of thy children the image of Jesus in all its beauty. Obtain for us great purity of heart, of body, and of mind, that we may contemplate the Face of God in Heaven forever. Amen.
V. Light of the Sacred Countenance of Jesus;
R. Shine down upon us!
PRAYER FOR MERCY FOR THE POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY
Daily in Lent
Have mercy, O gentle Jesus! on the souls detained in Purgatory. Thou Who for their ransom didst take upon Thyself our human nature and suffer the most cruel death, pity their sighs and the tears shed when they raise their longing eyes toward Thee; and by virtue of Thy Passion, alleviate the penalty due to their sins. May Thy Blood, O tender Jesus, Thy Precious Blood, descend into Purgatory to solace and refresh those who there languish in captivity. Reach forth Thy hand to them, and lead them into the realms of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying,
set free the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
VENERATION OF THE THORN-CROWNED HEAD OF OUR SAVIOR
Mondays and Thursdays
And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head. They began to spit upon Him, and they gave Him blows. Others smote His face and said: "Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee?"
O holy Redeemer! Thou art clothed with a scarlet cloak, a reed is placed in Thy Hands for a sceptre, and the sharp points of a thorny crown are pressed into Thy adorable Head.
My soul, thou canst never conceive the sufferings, the insults, and indignities offered to our Blessed Lord during this scene of pain and mockery.
I therefore salute Thee and offer Thee supreme homage as King of Heaven and earth, the Redeemer of the world, the Eternal Son of the living God.
O my afflicted Savior! O King of the world, Thou art ridiculed as a mock king. I believe in Thee and adore Thee as the King of kings and Lord of lords, as the supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth.
O Jesus! I devoutly venerate Thy Sacred Head pierced with thorns, struck with a reed, overwhelmed with pain and derision.
I adore the Precious Blood flowing from Thy bleeding wounds. To Thee be all praise, all thanksgiving, and all love for evermore.
O meek Lamb, Victim for sin! May Thy thorns penetrate my heart with fervent love, that I may never cease to adore Thee as my God, my King, and my Savior.
V. Behold, O God, our Protector;
R. And look upon the Face of Thy Christ.
Let us Pray: O my beloved Savior, at sight of Thy most Holy Face disfigured by suffering, at sight of Thy Sacred Heart so full of love, I cry out with St. Augustine: "Lord Jesus, imprint on my heart Thy Sacred Wounds, so that I may read therein sorrow and love: sorrow, to endure every sorrow for Thee; love, to despise every love for Thee." Amen.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee,
because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION
Monday and Thursday in Lent
O Most loving Redeemer, humbly prostrate at the foot of the Cross, I implore from the bottom of my heart pardon for all my sins, which were the cause of Thy bitter Passion and of the overwhelming sorrow of Thy most afflicted Mother. O good Jesus, let not Thy Precious Blood be shed for me in vain. May Thy five Sacred Wounds ever plead before Thy Eternal Father on behalf of my misery; and through the infinite merits of Thy Sacred Death and the bitter anguish of Thy holy Mother, grant me, dearest Lord, to atone for the past and to persevere in Thy love for the future. Amen.
DEVOTIONS IN HONOR OF THE FIVE HOLY WOUNDS
Mondays and Thursdays
As I kneel before Thee on the Cross, most loving Savior of my soul, my conscience tells me it is I who have nailed Thee to that Cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my monstrous ingratitude.
My God, my chief and most perfect Good, worthy of all my love, seeing Thou hast ever loaded me with blessings, I cannot now undo my misdeeds, as I would most willingly, but I can and will loathe them, grieving greatly for having offended Thee, Who art infinite Goodness. And now, kneeling at Thy Feet, I will try at least to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask of Thee pardon and contrition. Wherefore, with heart and lips I say,
TO THE WOUND OF THE LEFT FOOT: Holy Wound of the Left Foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love whereby Thou wast wearied in overtaking me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most Sacred Humanity, in atonement for my sins, all of which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
By Thy Holy Wounds, O Lord, may we be healed of our spiritual afflictions.
TO THE WOUND OF THE RIGHT FOOT: Holy Wound of the Right Foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasures I have granted to my passions. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most Sacred Humanity, and I pray unto Him for grace to weep over my transgressions with burning tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the commandments of my God.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
By Thy Holy Wounds, O Lord, may we be healed of our spiritual afflictions.
TO THE WOUND OF THE LEFT HAND: Holy Wound of the Left Hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for having in Thy love, spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins have merited. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most Sacred Humanity, and I pray Him to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and so disarm the angry justice of my God.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
By Thy Holy Wounds, O Lord, may we be healed of our spiritual afflictions.
TO THE WOUND OF THE RIGHT HAND: Holy Wound of the Right Hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my miserable obstinacy. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most Sacred Humanity, and I pray Him to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the holy Will of God.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
By Thy Holy Wounds, O Lord, may we be healed of our spiritual afflictions.
TO THE WOUND OF THE SACRED SIDE: Holy Wound in the Side of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy Side and Heart to be pierced, that the last drops of Blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to abound. I offer to the eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most Sacred Humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners, and from it may never more depart.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
By Thy Holy Wounds, O Lord, may we be healed of our spiritual afflictions.
Sweet Heart of my Jesus, grant that I may ever love Thee more and more.
TO OUR LORD ON THE CROSS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday
My Crucified Jesus, mercifully accept the prayer which I now make to Thee for help in the moment of my death, when at its approach all my senses shall fail me.
When, therefore, O sweetest Jesus, my weary and downcast eyes can no longer look up to Thee, be mindful of the loving gaze which I now turn on Thee, and have mercy on me.
When my parched lips can no longer kiss Thy most Sacred Wounds, remember then those kisses which now I imprint on Thee, and have mercy on me.
When my cold hands can no longer embrace Thy Cross, forget not the affection with which I embrace it now, and have mercy on me.
And when, at length, my swollen and lifeless tongue can no longer speak, remember that I called upon Thee now.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, to Thee I commend my soul. Amen.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ
to heal the wounds of our souls.
COMMEMORATION OF THE STIGMATA OF ST. FRANCIS
Fridays throughout the year
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who when the world was growing cold, didst, in order to renew in our hearts the flame of love, imprint the marks of Thy suffering on the body of our blessed father Francis, mercifully grant, that upon his merits and prayers we may persevere in bearing the cross, and bring forth worthy fruits of penance. Who livest and reignest forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.
ADORATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Fridays throughout the year
I adore thee, Holy Cross, which has been adorned with the tender loving hands and feet of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and imbued and dyed with His Precious Blood. I adore Thee, my Lord, nailed to the Cross for the love of me. I again adore thee, O most holy Cross, for the love of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
By the sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O our God!
PRAYER FOR THOSE IN THEIR LAST AGONY
Mondays and Thursdays
O Most Merciful Jesus, Lover of Souls: I pray Thee, by the Agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Thy Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and are to die this day. Amen.
Heart of Jesus Agonizing, have mercy on the dying.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we love Thee, save souls.
COMMEMORATION
OF THE PASSION OF JESUS
Mondays in Lent
O my God, Who, for the Redemption of the world, wouldst be born and circumcised, be rejected by the Jews, betrayed with a kiss by the traitor Judas, bound with cords, carried as an innocent lamb to be a Victim, and shamefully brought as a malefactor before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod; accused by false witnesses, buffeted, spat upon, crowned with thorns, struck with a reed, covered with a veil, and despoiled of Thy garments; nailed to the Cross, and raised upon it, reputed with the thieves, drenched with gall and vinegar, and pierced with a lance: Thou, O Lord, by these Thy most holy sufferings, which I, an unworthy sinner, honor now, and by Thy Holy Cross and Death, deliver me from the torments of Hell, and vouchsafe to take me to Paradise, whither Thou hast taken the good Thief crucified at Thy side; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER TO OUR SORROWFUL MOTHER
by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori -- Mondays in Lent
O my afflicted Mother! Queen of Martyrs and of Sorrows, thou didst so bitterly weep over thy Son, Who died for my salvation; but what will thy tears avail me if I am lost? By the merits, then, of thy Sorrows, obtain for me deep contrition for my sins, and a true amendment of life, together with constant and tender compassion for the sufferings of Jesus and thy Dolors. And if Jesus and thou, being so innocent, have suffered so much for love of me, obtain that at least I, who am deserving of Hell, may suffer something for thy love. "O Lady," will I say with St. Bonaventure, "if I have offended thee, in justice wound my heart; if I have served thee, I now ask wounds for my reward. It is shameful to me to see my Lord Jesus wounded, and thee wounded with Him, and myself without a wound." In fine, O my Mother, by the grief that thou didst experience in seeing thy Son bow down His head and expire on the Cross in the midst of so many torments, I beseech thee to obtain for me a holy death. Ah, cease not, O Advocate of sinners, to assist my afflicted soul in the midst of the combat in which it will have to engage in its great passage from time to eternity. And as it is probable that I may then have lost my speech and strength to invoke thy sweet name and the Holy Name of Jesus, Who art all my hope, I do so now; I invoke thy Son and thee to succor me in that last moment; and I say, Jesus and Mary, to Thee I commend my soul. Amen. (Silent reflection... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
PRAYER TO OUR BLESSED LADY
Fridays during Lent and September
O Mary, ever Virgin, most august Sovereign and Queen of Martyrs, no human mind can conceive, no human tongue express, the immensity of the sorrow which filled thy heart with bitterness and bathed thy face with tears, during the Passion and at the Death of thy most beloved Son, Jesus. After His sad farewell, when He parted from thee to go to the Sacrifice, came that awful night when thou didst in spirit contemplate Him sweating blood in the garden, taken captive, tortured in a thousand ways, and imprisoned as a malefactor. And when morning was come, thou didst see Him dragged from tribunal to tribunal, equaled with, nay, rejected for Barabbas, treated as a fool, cruelly scourged, and crowned with sharp thorns.
Thou didst hear the sentence of His condemnation, the echoes of the trumpets. Thou didst follow Him as He carried the Cross on His wounded Shoulders, fell on the ground, and received fresh wounds from His falls. Thou didst see Him on that Way of Sorrow, unable to look at thee because of the spittings, the blood, and the tears which filled His Divine eyes. Thou wast present there, when the executioners pierced His Hands and His Feet with large nails, lifted Him on the Cross between two thieves, and thy garments were sprinkled with His Most Precious Blood.
Thou didst hear His Seven Words on the Cross, which as seven arrows pierced through thy compassionate Heart; that especially by which He gave thee John, and in his person all men as thy sons in His stead. Thou didst witness the cruelty of His enemies when, parched with thirst, He was given gall and vinegar to drink. Thou didst behold Him in the last pangs of His three hours' Agony; and when, bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit, thy soul too seemed to be rent from thy body. But, as if He had not been insulted enough, thou didst see an impious soldier, even after His Death, pierce with a lance His Sacred and most loving Heart.
All the wounds of thine own heart were reopened, when, receiving in thine arms His lifeless Body, thou didst count the numberless wounds and scars with which It was covered, and didst, disconsolate, bathe them with burning tears. And now thy desolation reached its height, when, after having left Him in the sepulcher, thou didst return alone and bereft to Jerusalem, and there in thy solitude didst again, one by one, go over the sad scenes of His torments and Death.
To what shall I compare thee, O most Sorrowful Mother? To what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O Virgin Daughter of Sion? For indeed great as the sea is thy destruction; who shall heal thee? I wish, O afflicted Mother, I wish I could weep with thee in these thy most cruel sufferings, with tears of blood, thus to blot out my iniquities, which were the accursed cause of the anguish and desolation of thy soul. I beseech thee, most compassionate Virgin, by the torments of thy Divine Son and these thy bitter Sorrows, obtain for me grace to hate sin, to become thy devoted servant, and to console thee by a holy life. Deign also to assist me in all my necessities, spiritual and temporal; but, above all, stand by me at the hour of my death, that by thy powerful protection I may reap the fruit of so great sufferings, and bless my loving Savior and thyself, my Sorrowful Mother, with eternal gratitude in the heavenly Kingdom. Amen.
FOR RESIGNATION IN TRIBULATION
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lent
O Mary, Queen of Martyrs, Mother of God, and my most loving Mother, humbly prostrate at thy feet I dedicate myself to the compassion of thy Sorrowful Heart, which was plunged into such an abyss of woe and humiliation, and at the same time was such a prodigy of meekness, of patience, of charity, and of all virtues. O beloved Mother, this sacrifice of thy Heart was offered to show me the inestimable price of humiliations, to teach me that I too must take up my cross and follow my Jesus in the way of suffering, which is the true way to Heaven. Alas! until now I understood it not, and instead of following Jesus, I separated myself from Him, to run after honors and pleasures. Henceforward it shall not be so; I will follow Him, bearing whatever crosses He may be pleased to send me; I will imitate thee, the true model of invincible patience; I will accept tribulations with Jesus and thee, to be united with Him Crucified, and with thee, and that the more, because my sins were the cause of thy sufferings and His.
But thou knowest, my enemies never cease from attacking me and laying snares before me, to lead me astray from the royal way of the Cross. Do thou, therefore, O tender Mother, strengthen me, sustain me, and ever keep before me both thy sufferings and the example of thy fortitude. Obtain for me that I may ever have a lively faith, a firm hope, and an ardent charity, and that, being comforted by the remembrance of thy Sorrows, I may willingly accept the chalice of my tribulations, thus faithfully and cheerfully to accompany Jesus in His Sufferings. And in the great passage from time to eternity, do thou assist me in a special manner; deign to come with Jesus to mine aid; obtain for me that I may invoke thine and His most sweet Names, saying with my lips and my heart, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I die with Thee in peace." Amen. (Silent reflection... three Hail Mary's)
O Mother most Sorrowful, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
FOR HOLY CHURCH
Sundays and Thursdays during Lent
O Mary, Mother of the Universal Church, Who didst consent to remain in exile upon earth after the Ascension of thy Divine Son, and for long years to be deprived of His visible presence, that thou mightest be the guide, the Mistress, and the loving Mother of the infant Church, do thou now as ever extend upon Her thy maternal care. Thou seest the persecutions to which She is exposed, the dangers to Her children, the tribulations of Her Pastor. Remember the last words of thy dying Son, by which He gave thee to us to be our Mother, and deign to protect us, the children of thy sorrow, that none of us may be lost, but that all may remain steadfast in the true Faith and the practice of virtue.
Let thy maternal compassion extend also to those unfortunate children of thine, to those pitiable souls who have denied the One, True Church and have fallen into schism and heresy, that they may soon return to the true Catholic Church, and lovingly submit to Her authority and to the Shepherd appointed by Christ.
Have pity also on those children of thine, who know not thy Son, the Light and Life of the world; may thy supplications and tears move the depths of Divine mercy, that He may enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death! Oh! may all true Catholics, through thy powerful intercession, remain faithful to their God and their Mother the Church! May all the stray sheep be brought back to the fold! May all heathens walk in the light of the new Jerusalem, that all men may know, and love, and serve, and bless thy Divine Son forever and ever! Amen.
(Silent reflection... Hail Mary...)
O Mother Most Sorrowful, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
FOR SINCERE CONTRITION
Thursdays during Lent
O Virgin, all burning with love, O Mary, Mother of Dolors, I am most unworthy to stand in thy presence; but when I remember that thou art the Mother of Mercy, the Comforter of the Afflicted, the Treasurer of Divine Grace, I feel confidence revived in my heart. I therefore have recourse to thee with all the power and affection of my soul, hoping to obtain what I come to ask of thee, namely, a true contrition for my many sins and my great ingratitude, a deep sorrow for having offended my Jesus, Who has never ceased to load me with favors since He created me. Obtain for me, O tender Mother, that my sorrow for having lost Divine grace may be like to that which thou didst feel, when thou didst lose thy beloved Son; pierce my ungrateful heart with that sharp sword with which thine own was transfixed at the foot of the Cross; implore for me the frequent remembrance of death, that I may always keep before me the sense of my nothingness, and obtain for me the grace of final perseverance, that I may die the death of the just. Remember, O my beloved Mother, that if I obtain these graces through thy intercession, I shall here below be more faithful to thy beloved Son, thus giving joy to thy heart, and shall one day be with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven, there to bless thee and thy Divine Son for ever. From thee I ask these favors, O my loving Mother; through thee I "expect" them: in thee I place my trust, because thou art the Mother of my Savior. Amen. (Silent reflection... Hail Mary...)
O Mother most Sorrowful, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
THE CHAPLET of OUR SORROWFUL MOTHER
for Wednesdays
Via Matris Dolorosa -- Our Mother's Cross Path of Sorrows
"May we never let the memory grow dim of our Mother's agonies!"
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy Passion, may intercede for us before the throne of mercy, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow, to endure every sorrow for thee: love, to despise every love for thee. Amen.
Lily of Prayer for the First Sorrow
The Prophecy of Holy Simeon
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the bitter pain which thy soul did suffer when thy Son Jesus was presented in the Temple, and thou didst hear from the prophetic mouth of Simeon that He was set for the fall of many on account of their malice, and for a sign which should be contradicted, and that a sword should pierce thine own soul; I pray thee, obtain for me this grace - that the infinite merits of Jesus may not be vain and unfruitful through my own fault. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Second Sorrow
The Flight into Egypt
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the grief thou didst suffer when, in order to withdraw thy most innocent Son from the cruelty of impious Herod, who was seeking to destroy Him, thou wast obliged in the midst of hardship and privation to flee by stealth into Egypt; obtain, I beseech thee, that I may never through sin force my Redeemer to leave my heart. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Third Sorrow
The Loss of Jesus in Jerusalem
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the anguish thou didst suffer when, without any fault of thine, thou didst lose thy most beloved Son Jesus, Who had remained in the Temple to fulfill the will of the Eternal Father, and didst seek Him anxiously for three days; obtain for me the grace to find Jesus at once, if by misfortune I ever come to lose Him through sin. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Fourth Sorrow
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother on the Way to Calvary
O Virgin most sorrowful, by that keen grief with which thy soul was embittered when thou didst meet thy beloved Son on the way to Calvary, lacerated by the scourges, wet with blood, crowned with thorns, and bearing on His shoulders the heavy Cross on which He was to die for my salvation; obtain for me strength and courage, that, like thee, I may follow my Redeemer on the way of the Cross, and submit myself with willingness to whatever tribulations it may please Him to send me. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Fifth Sorrow
The Blessed Virgin Mary at the Foot of the Cross
O Virgin most sorrowful, and my sweet Mother, since thou wert left to me as such by the last will of thy Jesus, by the unspeakable pangs which thou didst experience on Calvary at the foot of the Cross, when, abandoned by all, despised by the people, given gall to drink, after three hours of agony and having cried out with a loud voice, thy dearest Son commended His Spirit to His Eternal Father; obtain for me a great love of suffering, and the grace to love and serve thee as my most Sorrowful Mother. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Sixth Sorrow
The Blessed Virgin Mary Receives the Crucified Body of Jesus from the Cross
O Virgin most sorrowful, by that grief which so bitterly afflicted thy most pure soul when thy well beloved Son, taken down from the Cross, was placed in thy bosom, and thou didst see in all its detail the cruel torment which my sins had caused Him; soften, I pray thee, my ungrateful heart, that I may bewail my sins and learn truly to compassionate thee. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
Lily of Prayer for the Seventh Sorrow
The Blessed Virgin Mary Returns from the Tomb
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the bitter grief which thou didst bear when thou didst accompany the inanimate body of thy beloved Jesus and wert constrained to consign Him to the tomb; grant that the memory of His Sacred Passion and Death be deeply impressed upon my heart, that I may be consumed with love for my God and for thee, my sweetest Mother. Hail Mary... (three times)
O most sorrowful Virgin, pray for us!
PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE TEARS OF MARY
Hail, countless and bitter tears which flowed in such profusion from thine eyes, O Mary, in thy loving and tender compassion for thy Son, our Crucified Savior! Men and Angels shall honor and revere these tears, and all sinners shall flee to them for refuge, for they have their source in thy most compassionate Heart, O Sorrowful Mother! Even as the crimson Blood flowed from the Wounds of Jesus, so did the tears flow from thine eyes, O Mary, mingled with unutterable bitterness on account of the agony with which thy soul was overwhelmed. Hail Mary...
O burning tears, O bitter tears, O mournful tears which moved the Angels to pity and touched the Heart of the Eternal Father! Soften my hard heart that it also may be moved to pity and to a true sorrow for my innumerable sins. O holy tears, wash me! O bitter tears, purify me! O mournful tears, cleanse me! O gentle tears, soften my heart! O burning tears, inflame it! O tears rich in merit and grace, enrich and adorn me! Hail Mary...
O most gentle Virgin, I recall to thee the heartfelt compassion which thou didst feel for thy Divine Son during His Passion, and the countless tears which then flowed from thine eyes. I beseech thee, through these bitter tears, to obtain for me the gift of tears and a true and heartfelt sorrow for my sins. Oh, would that I could shed such efficacious and salutary tears over the cruel sufferings of my Savior, and over my sins, as thou didst shed at the foot of the Cross. O most merciful Virgin, offer, I beseech thee, thy bitter tears to the Eternal Father in satisfaction for my tepidity and hardness of heart; and through their merit obtain for me mercy and pardon of all my sins. And when, O dearest Mother, I lie upon my deathbed, give me but one of thy precious tears wherewith to wash and purify my sinful soul and guilty conscience. Amen. Hail Mary...
Let us Pray
Oh! Mother of Sorrows, given from the Cross to be our Mother, who didst behold the red drops of the Precious Blood falling down to the ground, remember the Sorrows which then overwhelmed thee like the waves of the sea, and which no other creature but thyself ever suffered on earth.
Oh! Mother of Sorrows, plead for us to the Eternal Father, intercede for us with thy Son, pray for us to the Holy Ghost, that after this our pilgrimage is over, we may behold the face of thy Son, and dwell with Him forever in eternal joy. Amen.
LITANY OF OUR SORROWFUL MOTHER
Wednesdays in Lent -- Tuesdays in September
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Holy Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of our Saviour Crucified,
Mother most sorrowful,
Mother most tearful,
Mother most afflicted,
Mother most lonely,
Mother most desolate,
Mother pierced by the sword of sorrow,
Queen of Martyrs,
Comfort of the sorrowful,
Help of the needy,
Protectress of the forsaken,
Support of widows and orphans,
Health of the sick,
Hope of the troubled,
Haven of the shipwrecked,
Refuge of sinners,
Hope of the despairing,
Mother of mercy,
Through the poverty in the stable of Bethlehem, we beseech thee, hear us.
Through thy sorrow at the prophecy of Simeon,
Through thy sad flight into Egypt,
Through thy anxiety when seeking thy lost Child,
Through thy grief when seeing thy Divine Son persecuted,
Through thy fear and anxiety when Jesus was apprehended,
Through the pain caused thee by the treason of Judas and the denial of Peter,
Through thy sad meeting with Jesus on the way of the Cross,
Through the tortures thy loving heart suffered at the Crucifixion of Jesus,
Through thy agony at the death of Jesus,
Through the sword of sorrow that pierced thy Heart when the side of Jesus was transfixed by the lance,
Through thy lamentations over the dead Body of thy Divine Son lying on thy bosom,
Through thy deep mourning at His tomb,
Through thy desolation after the burial of Jesus,
Through the tears thou didst shed for thy beloved Son,
Through thy wonderful resignation to the will of God in all thy sufferings, O Queen of peace,
In all our tribulations,
In our illnesses and pains,
In our sorrows and afflictions,
In our need and destitution,
In our fears and dangers,
In the hour of our death,
Against the day of Judgment,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O Sorrowful Virgin,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: We beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, let Thy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the hour of Thy Passion, implore Thy mercy for us, both now and at the hour of our death, Who livest and reignest forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.
THE CHAPLET of OUR SORROWFUL MOTHER
for Saturdays
Via Matris Dolorosa -- Our Mother's Cross Path of Sorrows
"May we never let the memory grow dim of our Mother's agonies!"
Act of Contrition
Dearest Mother, I am filled with remorse at having offended thy beloved Son, my Lord and my God. The sins by which I bruised His Body have been the swords which pierce thy Heart. I repent and am resolved never to cause thee sorrow again. Help me with thy strength, fill me with a ray of thy beauty.
The First Sorrow
Mary Hears the Prophecy of Simeon
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the bitter pain thy soul suffered when, presenting thy Son Jesus in the Temple, thou didst hear the prophetic words of Simeon: "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted, and thine own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed", I ask of thee this mercy-that the infinite merits of Jesus may not be in vain nor unfruitful for me through my negligence.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
O Heart most pure of the blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!
The Second Sorrow
Mary Flees with Her Son into Egypt
O Virgin most sorrowful, Mary, Mother of God, when thou didst learn from St. Joseph the Angel's warning, thou hadst to rise at night and flee into Egypt to save thy Divine Infant Son from the murderous plot of Herod. I pray thee by the fears and anxieties of that dangerous journey and by the hardships of thy years of exile in pagan Egypt, to keep me in thy motherly care, that like thee I may always bow to God's holy Will.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
My Queen, my Mother, I consecrate to thee my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self; O loving Mother, as I am now thine own, keep me, defend me as thy property and possession.
The Third Sorrow
The Three Days Loss of Jesus
O Virgin most Sorrowful, thy Heart was entombed in appalling darkness during the three days' loss of Jesus; by the weariness and anxiety of thy three full days search for thy Son, may I never lose Jesus by driving Him by sin from my immortal soul.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.
The Fourth Sorrow
Mary Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross
O Virgin most sorrowful, only the Angels could fathom the depth of thy sorrow as thou didst meet thy Son on the way to Calvary; thou didst see agony in His Eyes, His thorn-crowned Head, His scourged Body streaming with Blood and staggering under the Cross on which He willed to be crucified for my salvation. Obtain for me strength and courage to follow my Redeemer with thee on the way of the Cross, and to submit myself willingly, confidently, to whatsoever task He may give me, seeking no other reward than to know I am doing His Divine Will.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
Holy Mother, pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified!
The Fifth Sorrow
Mary Witnesses the Death Agony of Jesus
O Virgin most sorrowful, my sweet Mother, at the Cross thou wert left to me to be my Mother as the last gift of thy dying Son. By the unspeakable pangs thou didst suffer at the foot of the Cross, when, after three hours of Agony, thou didst hear thy reviled and abandoned Son commend His Spirit into the Hands of His Heavenly Father, obtain for me the privilege to value suffering and to know and serve thee as my own dear Mother.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee!
The Sixth Sorrow
Mary Receives the Crucified Body of Jesus from the Cross
O Virgin most sorrowful, by the bitter grief which afflicted thee when the outraged Body of thy Son was taken from the Cross and laid in thine arms, thou didst note in all its detail the terrible torment my sins caused Him, soften my ungrateful heart; may I piercingly, overwhelmingly hate sin and grieve with thee in thy sorrows.
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
O Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
The Seventh Sorrow
Jesus Is Laid in the Sepulchre
O Virgin most sorrowful, whose Heart was charged with bitter desolation when the lifeless Body of thy Son was laid in the sepulchre, grant that the memory of His Passion and Death be deeply engraved upon my mind, and my heart be fired with love for Him and for thee. May I use the knowledge that His Crucifixion and thy sword-pierced Heart are the price of entrance into Heaven of the Poor Souls in Purgatory!
Our Father, once; Hail Mary, seven times.
O Mother most sorrowful, pray for us!
V. Deign that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies!
I compassionate thee, most holy Mother, with all my heart plunged in thy Son's infinite tenderness. He, Who was all thy delight, the center and life of thy affections, lies dead in the darkness of the tomb and thou art tossed by a surge of sorrow immense as the sea. O Mother of Sorrows, relying on the grace of Jesus and thy care, I promise no more to renew thy sorrows by my sins, but to serve my God faithfully that I may come to share with thee the eternal joys of Paradise.
"In honor of the tears Our Lady shed." (three Hail Mary's)
O Lord Jesus Crucified, so that we should consider ourselves the children of the sorrows and the fruit of the tears of Thy sweet Mother, with Thy dying breath Thou didst place us under her mediation by making her truly our Mother also. Offering our grateful remembrance of her sorrows we implore Thy mercy in her name. By her tender intercession, may we obtain the happy fruits of Thy Passion and Death. Amen.
With all our heart and voice we acknowledge, we praise and we bless Thee, God the Father unbegotten, Thee, the only-begotten Son, Thee, the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, O holy and undivided Trinity.
O Sorrowful Virgin Mary, bless us with thy Holy Child!
LITANY OF OUR LADY OF THE SEVEN DOLORS
Saturdays in Lent - Fridays in September
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of the Crucified,
Sorrowful Mother,
Mournful Mother,
Sighing Mother,
Afflicted Mother,
Forsaken Mother,
Desolate Mother,
Mother most sad,
Mother set around with anguish,
Mother overwhelmed by grief,
Mother transfixed by a sword,
Mother crucified in thy Heart,
Mother bereaved of thy Son,
Sighing Dove,
Mother of Dolors,
Fount of tears,
Sea of bitterness,
Field of tribulation,
Mass of suffering,
Mirror of patience,
Rock of constancy,
Remedy of perplexity,
Joy of the afflicted,
Ark of the desolate,
Refuge of the abandoned,
Shield of the oppressed,
Conqueror of the incredulous,
Solace of the wretched,
Medicine of the sick,
Help of the faint,
Strength of the weak,
Protectress of those who fight,
Haven of the shipwrecked,
Calmer of tempests,
Companion of the sorrowful,
Retreat of those who groan,
Terror of the treacherous,
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,
Treasure of the faithful,
Light of confessors,
Pearl of virgins,
Comfort of widows,
Joy of all saints,
Queen of thy servants,
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Ant. We fly to thy impregnable patronage, O Dolorous and Blessed Virgin Mary; look down upon us in these present perils, and save us by the power of Jesus Christ thy Son, our Redeemer, Who triumphed over the power of darkness. Amen.
V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin;
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: O God, in Whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Dolors, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion Who livest and reignest forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.
JESUS, MY GOD
Jesus, my God, behold at length the time
When I resolve to turn away from crime.
CHORUS:
Oh, pardon me, Jesus, Thy mercy I implore,
I will never more offend Thee (repeat),
No, nevermore.
Since my poor soul Thy Precious Blood hath cost,
Suffer me not forever to be lost.
Kneeling in tears, behold me at Thy feet,
Like Magdalen forgiveness I entreat.
LORD OF MERCY
Lord of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity down on me,
Father, let me call Thee Father,
'Tis Thy child returned to Thee.
CHORUS:
Jesus, Lord I ask for mercy,
Let me not implore in vain,
For pardon of my sins, and grace
Never more to sin again.
See! our Savior bleeding, dying
On the Cross of Calvary,
To that Cross my sins have nailed Him
And He bleeds and dies for me.
WHAT A SEA OF TEARS AND SORROWS
What a sea of tears and sorrows did the soul of Mary toss,
To and fro upon its' billows, while she wept her bitter loss;
In her arms her Jesus holding, torn so newly from the Cross.
Oh that mournful Virgin Mother, see her tears how fast they flow
Down upon His mangled Body, wounded Side and thorny Brow,
While His Hands and Feet she kisses, picture of immortal woe.
O SACRED HEAD
O Sacred Head, surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!
O Bleeding Head so wounded, reviled and put to scorn!
Death's pallid hue comes o'er Thee, the glow of life decays;
Yet angel hosts adore Thee,
<<And tremble as they gaze.>>
I see Thy strength and vigor all fading in the strife,
And death with cruel rigor bereaving Thee of life.
O agony and dying! O Love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
<<O turn Thy Face on me.>>
O COME AND MOURN WITH ME
O come and mourn with me awhile;
See Mary calls us to her side;
Oh, come and let us mourn with her,
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs,
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
Come, take thy stand beneath the Cross,
And let the Blood from out that Side
Fall gently on thee drop by drop;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
BY THE BLOOD THAT FLOWED
By the Blood that flowed from Thee,
In Thy bitter Agony,
By the scourge so meekly borne;
By Thy purple robe of scorn.
CHORUS:
Jesus, Savior, hear our cry;
Thou wert suffering once as we;
Hear the loving litany, we Thy children sing to Thee.
By the thorns that crowned Thy Head;
By Thy sceptre of a reed;
By Thy Footsteps faint and slow,
Weighed beneath Thy Cross of woe.
By the nails and pointed spear;
By Thy people's cruel jeer;
By Thy dying prayer which rose
Begging mercy for Thy foes.
FAITHFUL CROSS
Faithful Cross, O tree all beauteous,
Tree all peerless and Divine!
Not a grove on earth can show us
Such a flow'r and leaf as thine.
Sweet the nails and sweet the wood,
Laden with so sweet a Load.
Lofty Tree, bend down thy branches
To embrace thy sacred Load;
Oh! relax the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood.
Gently, gently bear the Members
Of thy dying King and God.
OUR MOTHER OF SORROWS
Our Lady, who is full of grace,
Stood in anguish at her place;
Stood erect beneath the Cross,
Close to Him Who died for us.
What must we, the guilty feel,
As beside the Cross we kneel?
Ours the voices of the foe;
Ours the hands that struck the blow.
Help us, Mary, full of grace,
To look upon His suffering Face;
Then may we closer to thee move,
And learn to look upon His love.
I CAN SCARCELY SEE THEE, JESUS
I can scarcely see Thee, Jesus,
For the tears that fill my eyes,
When I know on Calv'ry hanging
My dear Savior for me dies.
Ah, why not the Victim changing;
Why not I, the sinner, bleed?
Mine the sin, my dearest Savior;
Mine, yes mine, the wicked deed.
Gazing on Thy Cross so lowly,
I see there Thy Hands and Feet,
Torn by cruel nails and bleeding;
Who could Jesus so mistreat?
Whence the thorns Thy Head encircling;
Whence the spear that pierced Thy Side?
All one bleeding wound the Body
Of my Jesus Crucified.
All my sins have made me guilty
Of the torments Thou didst bear;
Let my love and service henceforth
All my wicked life repair.
In Thy Death my hopes reposing,
On Thy love my soul relies;
Let me suffer with Thee, Jesus,
That with Thee I may arise.
1. At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.
2. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword had passed
3. Oh, how sad and sore distressed, was that Mother, highly blessed, of the sole begotten One!
4. Christ above in torment hangs: she beneath beholds the pangs of her dying glorious Son.
5. Is there one who would not weep, 'whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ's dear Mother to behold?
6. Can the human heart refrain, from partaking in her pain, in that Mother's pain untold?
7. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender Child, all with bloody scourges rent.
8. For the sins of His own nation, saw Him hang in desolation, till His spirit forth He sent.
9. O thou Mother! fount of love, touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord.
10. Make me feel as thou hast felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ, my Lord.
11. Holy Mother, pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified.
12. Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all our sins was slain, Who for me in torments died.
13. Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him Who mourned for me, all the days that I may live.
14. By the Cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, is all I ask of thee to give.
15. Virgin of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: let me share thy grief Divine.
16. Let me, to my latest breath, in my body bear the Death of that dying Son of thine.
17. Wounded with His every wound, steep my soul till it hath swooned in His very Blood away.
18. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, lest in flames I burn and die, in this awful judgment day.
19. Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, be Thy Mother my defense, be Thy Cross my victory.
20. While my body here decays, may my soul Thy goodness praise, safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen
Visit also: www.marienfried.com
