Feast of the Sorrowful Mother....................... September 15th

PRAYERS BY ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI

Litany of the Sorrowful Mother

Prayer to the Sorrowful Mother

Most holy Mother of Sorrows, by that soul-piercing martyrdom thou didst undergo at the foot of the Cross during the three hours' agony of Jesus, deign to assist me also, who am the child of thy Sorrows, in my agony, so that by thine intercession I may be found worthy to pass from my deathbed to thy blessed society in Paradise.

V. From a sudden and unprovided death,
R. Deliver me, O Lord.
V. From the snares of the devil,
R. Deliver me, O Lord.
V. From everlasting death,
R. Deliver me, O Lord.

Let us pray.

O God, Who for the salvation of mankind hast made for us in the most bitter death of Thy Son both an example and a refuge; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be found worthy.

The Seven Sorrows

1. The prophecy of Simeon.

2. The flight into Egypt.

3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple.

4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.

5. The Crucifixion.

6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.

7. The burial of Jesus.

Ways to Observe the Feast day

* Begin the day by saluting Our Blessed Mother under the title "Mother of Sorrows."  Pray one or more of the prayers in honor of her sorrow throughout the day.  Attend Mass if at all possible.  Pray the rosary.

* See if you have a purple veil to add to a family statue of the Blessed Mother, or a wreath of purple and black flowers, as a reminder that this is a day to compassionate with our Heavenly Mother.

*  We know and look forward to the joyful and glorious, but today we remember the sorrow. Observe, if possible, then, a hushed silence through the day, behaving as you would if you shared your rooms with someone grieving.  Omit sweets this day.  If there are children at home, have them memorize the Seven Sorrows if they haven't already done so.  For an art lesson, they could illustrate one or several of them.  Alternatively, two coloring pages follow.  Just click and print:

*  Prayers and images from CatholicTradition.org.