The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

This devotion, instituted in the course of the thirteenth century, honors the Sorrows endured by the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is recited on a Rosary comprised of seven decades containing seven beads in each decade. Each decade of seven is divided from the rest by medals representing the seven principal sorrows of Her life.

The chaplet is said by offering a Hail Mary on each of the beads, with an Our Father each seven Hail Mary's. Completion of the chaplet requires three Hail Mary's at the end in honor of the sorrowful tears of Our Lady.

First Sorrow:

Reflect on the sorrow of Our Blessed Lady, when She presented Her Divine Child in the Temple and heard from the aged Simeon that a sword of grief would pierce Her soul.

Second Sorrow:

Reflect on Her sorrow when, to escape the cruelty of King Herod, She was forced to fly into Egypt with St. Joseph and Her Beloved Child. Pray for those who kill children today by abortion.

Third Sorrow:

Reflect on Her grief when, in returning from Jerusalem, She found that She had lost Her dear Jesus, Whom She sought for three days.

Fourth Sorrow:

Reflect on Her meeting Her divine Son, all bruised and bleeding, carrying His Cross to Calvary, and seeing Him fall under its heavy weight.

Fifth Sorrow:

Reflect on Her standing by, when Her Divine Son was lifted up on the Cross and the blood flowed in streams from His Sacred Wounds.

Six Sorrow:

Reflect on Her sorrow, when Her Divine son was taken down from the Cross, and placed in Her arms.

Seven Sorrow:

Reflect on Her following His Sacred Body as it was borne by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to the sepulcher.

From Prayerbook

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