Our Lady of Sorrows, 15 September

SEPTEMBER 15 - You will hear Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Mother of Sorrows, the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Mater Dolorosa in reference to this day.  In Luke's Gospel, Simeon predicts that a sword of sorrow would pierce Mary's heart "so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:35)  Sacred images of Mary under this title often show her with a single sword piercing her heart (below) or with seven swords, one for each of the seven biblical sorrows. Deepen your devotion to Mary by meditating on her Seven Sorrows today.

The seven sorrows of Mary are:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
   
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
   
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
   
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
   
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
   
6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
   
7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

Here is a link to the Office of Readings (Matins) for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows - http://bit.ly/Ouexgi  It contains a beautiful Marian sermon by St. Bernard.

The famous Sequence hymn for this day is the Stabat Mater.  The complete Latin/English texts and the history of this beautiful poem are available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabat_Mater