September 15 + Our Lady of Sorrows

The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” given to the Blessed Virgin Mary focuses on her intense suffering and grief during the passion and death of Our Lord. Traditionally, this suffering was not limited to the passion and death event; rather, it comprised “the seven dolors” or “seven sorrows” of Mary, which were foretold by the Priest Simeon who proclaimed to Mary, “Behold this child (Jesus) 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 2:34-35)

The 7 Sorrows of Our Lady included: the prophecy of Simeon; the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt; the loss (later finding) of the child Jesus in the Temple; Mary’s meeting of Jesus on His way to Calvary; Mary’s standing at the foot of the cross when our Lord was crucified; Mary holding of Jesus when He was taken down from the cross; and then our Lord’s burial.

Today's feast was introduced by the Servites in order to intensify devotion to Our Lady's sorrows. In 1817 Pius VII — suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession — extended the feast to the Universal Church.

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance. With each new suffering was received with the courage, love, and trust that echoed her fiat, “let it be done unto me according to Thy word,” first uttered at the Annunciation.

If you are suffering right now, either physically, mentally or emotionally, ask Our Lady of Sorrows to comfort you. She understands your grief for no other woman in history has ever suffered more than she has.