Our Lady of Sorrows

Powerful Prayer to the Mother of Sorrow

“O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love with which
thou didst stand at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart I commend the
last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest
Lord in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father the most
Precious Blood of Jesus, mingled with
your tears on Calvary, that I may
obtain the grace of receiving Holy
Communion with the most perfect
love and contrition before my death,
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother, when the moment
of my death has at length come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having
offended Him for I know not what
I did. Beg Him to receive me into
His Kingdom of glory to be united
with Him forever. Amen.”

About Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows, or Mater Dolorosa, is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary referring to the sufferings she endured as the Mother of Jesus. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was first celebrated in 1244 by the seven founders of the Servite Order to help them focus their devotion and meditation on the Sorrows of Mary. Standing under the cross was the principal devotion of their order. Since the 14th century there are traditionally seven sorrows that have been honored: the Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), the Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:41-50), Mary meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (John 19:17), Mary watches the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30), Mary receives the Body of Jesus down from the Cross (John 19:31-37) and Mary watches as Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (John 19:38-42).

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is dedicated to Mary’s suffering and grief in union with her Son. In her compassion for the sufferings of her Son, she shows the depth of her love as Mother. The image of Our Lady of Sorrows is traditionally shown as dressed in black with seven swords piercing her heart. Each sword depicting a chief sorrow that Mary suffered in union with her Son. The sword piercing Mary’s heart is also seen in the biblical reference, Luke 2:35, where Simon tells her that she herself would be pierced by a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts would be laid bare.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!

Feast Day: September 15
Patron Saint of: Universal

Why do we celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows?

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th, the day after the feast of the Holy Cross, to show the close connection between Jesus’ Passion and Mary’s Sorrows. Also to be mentioned are the earliest Church Fathers: Ambrose, Anselm and Bernard — all of whom preached/meditated on Mary’s sorrows. 

Where is Our Lady of Sorrows Church?

Our Lady of Sorrows Church is in Latvia (Riga). Situated in north-eastern Europe with a coastline along the Baltic Sea, Latvia shares borders with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania.

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