Origins of the devotion
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on 15 September, the day after the Glorious Cross. It is rooted in meditation on the sufferings experienced by the Virgin Mary, particularly at the time of her Son's Passion. From the 13th century onwards, the Servites of Mary, a religious order founded in Florence, spread this devotion widely, inviting the faithful to contemplate the compassion of the Mother of Christ.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
Christian tradition has summed up the Virgin's sorrow in seven major episodes known as "the seven sorrows". They include Simeon's prophecy in the Temple, the flight into Egypt, the loss of Jesus in Jerusalem, the meeting on the way to the cross, the crucifixion, the descent from the cross and the burial. These moments underline Mary's profound union with her Son's suffering, lived with faith and total abandonment to God's will.
Spiritual Signification
The Virgin of Sorrows reveals to us a path of hope at the heart of trial. By contemplating her tears, Christians discover a mother who is close to their own suffering. She thus becomes a model of fidelity and courage, and a source of consolation for all those going through times of trial.
A universal feast
All over the world, churches celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows on 15 September. Processions, prayers and songs mark the day. Many shrines, such as Kevelaer in Germany or Mater Dolorosa in Spain and Latin America, welcome pilgrims every year who come to entrust their sorrows to the compassionate Virgin.
Conclusion
Our Lady of Sorrows is a sign of hope in the midst of suffering. She invites us to look beyond our tears to discover that God transforms pain into life and always opens a path to resurrection.
Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, you who shared your Son's passion in unfailing fidelity, turn your gaze towards us in our distresses.
Welcome our sufferings and unite them with those of Christ so that they may become a source of life.
And teach us to stand firm in our trials, confident in the promise of the resurrection.
Console our hearts and guide us always towards your Son Jesus, our Saviour.
Amen.
