“If all the sorrows of the world were united, they would not equal that of the glorious Virgin Mary.” St. Bernardine of Sienna
As the warmth of summer gives way to cooler evening breezes signaling the coming of Fall, we are reminded that the seasons of our lives bring change as well, triumph and joy, sacrifice and sorrow. The dedication of September invites Catholics to turn their hearts and minds towards the seven sorrows that marked the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Mother of Our Lord who gave birth to the Son of God in all joy and elation, was soon after to receive from St. Simeon the prophesy that would turn her joy into the deepest sorrow. St. Alphonsus Liguori tells us in The Glories of Mary that Our Lady’s martyrdom exceeds that of all the martyrs in that its duration was longer and the suffering greater than all others.
Get the Full Guide: How to Pray the Seven Sorrows of Mary
St. Anserm is quoted in the same work saying, “[H]ad not God by a special miracle preserved the life of Mary in each moment of her life, her grief was such that it would have caused her death.”
St. Bernardine adds to that by saying, “[T]he grief of Mary was so great that, were it divided amongst all men, it would suffice to cause their immediate death.” And she bore this grief and suffering with peaceful resignation for the salvation of mankind.
Let’s look more closely at the Church’s devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, how many of the feasts of the month fit in with this devotion, and what the saints have had to say about Mary’s Heart so abandoned to the will of God that she offered up her dearest Treasure in full cooperation with Him. As we learn about this devotion, let’s also begin to incorporate it into our spiritual lives and consider the enduring lessons the sorrows of Mary hold for us who find solace in the embrace of her compassionate Heart.
Why is September Dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows?
As with all the monthly devotions in the Catholic Church, the development took place over time. Devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows, supported in Sacred Scripture, dates back to the early Church Fathers contemplating Mary’s sufferings at the foot of the cross. Throughout Church history, various orders and saints have had a special devotion to Our Lady under this title and as such, have focused their ministries on prayer and penance. September eventually became known as the month of Our Lady of Sorrows because Her feast day of that title had been fittingly appointed for September 15th, the day following The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Although The Blessed Virgin endured more interior pain than we can comprehend, the Church has given us seven sorrows on which we can meditate in identification with Our Mother of Sorrows. Our Lady herself has promised graces to those who honor Her in this way.
The Seven Sorrows are:
- St. Simeon’s Prophesy
- The Flight into Egypt
- The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
- The Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
- Mary Receives the Body of Jesus taken down from the Cross
- The Burial of Jesus
While these seven events are the focus of our meditation this month, you can explore the full history, prayers, and specific promises of the Seven Sorrows in our dedicated devotion guide.
Key Catholic Feast Days in September
September is a month rich in Marian liturgical celebrations:
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 commemorates the birth of the Mother of God and points to the coming of the Savior.
The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary on September 12 is a recognition of the dignity and holiness associated with Mary’s name and the virtues it represents such as purity, humility, and obedience.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14 was established very early in the Church to honor the finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helena, the mother of Constantine.
The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15 is the reason for our monthly devotion and invites Catholics to reflect on the deep compassion, humility, and strength of the Virgin Mary as she experienced the reality of Her Son’s mission and accompanied Him through His Passion and Death.
The Feast of St. Padre Pio on September 23 commemorates a beloved modern saint who bore the stigmata throughout his priestly life. He identified with Our Lord and Our Lady in his suffering and offered it in penance and love.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mercy also known as Our Lady of Ransom on September 24 commemorates the Mercedarian order founded by St. Peter Nolasco who received an apparition of Our Lady showing him the white habit of the order, which would ransom Christians captured by the Moors in Spain.
The Feast of the Archangels on September 29 honors St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. Our Lady is Queen of the Angels and they are always at her service.
View all Catholic Feast Days in September.
7 Ways to Grow in Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows this September
Here are a few ideas to help you honor Our Lady of Sorrows and grow in devotion to her.
- Meditate on each of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
- Learn the Seven Promises given to those who meditate on Our Lady’s Sorrows (see below).
- Learn the Four Graces given to those devoted to Our Lady and her Sorrows.
- Memorize Scripture verses that highlight the sorrows Mary experienced like, Luke 2:34-35 and John 19:25-27
- Place an image or icon of Our Lady of Sorrows next to a crucifix in your home.
- Read the Revelations of Saint Bridget: On the Life and Passion of Our Lord and the Life of His Blessed Mother to learn about this saint and meditate on the sufferings of Jesus and Mary.
- Unite your own sufferings with those of Jesus and Mary, a meritorious action pleasing to Our Lord and Our Lady.
Further Reading on Our Lady of Sorrows
Several books provide valuable insights for those interested in deepening their understanding of this devotion.
- Contemplating the Seven Sorrows of Mary – Sophia Institute Press, by Joseph Hallcraft and Ruth Berghorst, guides the reader in mental prayer meditating on the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Liguori.
- Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother, by the Benedictine Convent of Clyde, is a prayer booklet explaining Our Lady’s sorrows and the importance of growing in love for Mary through devotion to her seven sorrows.
- The Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori, shares the four principal graces the Lord promised to those devoted to Our Lady and her sorrows.
- Our Lady of Sorrows – Sophia Institute Press, by Patrick O’Hearn. A book for children to be read as a family to teach and instill a love for Mary in her sorrows.
- Praying With Our Sorrowful Mother: Reflections on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, by Fr. Jacob Powell, explores the riches of the interior life of Mary and how, through her seven sorrows, the Blessed Virgin’s soul is uniquely opened to humanity.
Prayers Honoring Our Lady of Sorrows
There are several prayers dedicated to honoring Our Lady of Sorrows in the Catholic tradition.
Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
Dear Mother Mary, your heart was pained so much on your earthly pilgrimage by the sufferings your family and your nation endured. A sword of sorrow pierced your loving heart each time you experienced the pain of sin which wounded your innocent Son and all those around you. We need you, Mary, to be with us in our sorrows, that we may not give up or despair, but keep hoping in God’s love for us, and in the fulfillment of His promises. We too want to console your tender heart, so pained by our sins, which continue so grievously against your Son today. Sweet Mother of Sorrows, we love you. Amen.
Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sorrowful Mother
O, my afflicted Mother! Queen of martyrs and of sorrows, thou didst so bitterly weep over thy Son, who died for my salvation; but what will thy tears avail me if I am lost? By the merit, then, of thy sorrows, obtain me true contrition for my sins, and a real amendment of life, together with constant and tender compassion for the sufferings of Jesus and thy dolors. And if Jesus and thou, being so innocent, have suffered so much for love of me, obtain that at least I, who am deserving of hell, may suffer something for your love. “O Lady,” will I say with St. Bonaventure, “if I have offended thee, in justice wound my heart; if I have served thee, I now ask wounds for my reward. It is shameful to me to see my Lord Jesus wounded, and thee wounded with Him, and myself without a wound.” In fine, O my Mother, by the grief thou didst experience in seeing thy Son bow down His head and expire on the cross in the midst of so many torments, I beseech thee to obtain me a good death. Ah, cease not, O advocate of sinners, to assist my afflicted soul in the midst of the combats in which it will have to engage on its great passage from time to eternity. And as it is probable that I may then have lost my speech, and strength to invoke thy name and that of Jesus, who are all my hope, I do so now; I invoke thy Son and thee to succor me in that last moment; and I say, Jesus and Mary, to you I commend my soul.
Amen.
Let’s Answer the Call
The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is a rich tradition stemming from the earliest moments of the Church, and now it is enveloped in the entire Month of September. Our Lady has asked us to meditate on her sorrows and provided promises to those who will be faithful to this devotion. This month, let’s take the opportunity to answer the call, praying and reflecting on her sufferings and what they teach us about sacrifice, compassion, and trust in God’s will amidst the challenges and contradictions of this life. As we accompany Mary in her sorrows, we will discover the hope and strength we need to face our own trials and an enduring reminder that we are cradled in the arms of a compassionate Mother, whose love and intercession know no bounds.
