Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like
my sorrow?" (John 19:1!"# Lamentations 1:1$%
The Friar Servants of Mary (commonly known as Servites) began praying the Rosary of the
Seven Sorrows of Mary in the 13th century !t is a Rosary that seeks to share an" me"itate on
the su#ering of Mary in union with $er %ivine Son& 'esus There are various forms of this
Rosary& but they all serve to focus our hearts on Seven Sorrows of (ur )a"y
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Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary Speaks to the World
from the Heart of Afria
!he followin" are e#erpts from the book$ Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary Speaks to the
World from the Heart of Afria$ by %mmaulee %liba"i&a$ from the hapter desribin"
the Kibeho version of the Seven Sorrows Rosary:
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows "ates back to the Mi""le *ges& but it gaine" new popularity
following the Marian apparitions in +ibeho& which have been approve" by the ,atholic ,hurch
%uring Mary-s apparitions to Marie.,laire Mukangango& she assigne" the young visionary a
mission to reintro"uce this special rosary to the worl" /efore her untimely "eath& Marie
,laire "i" 0ust that& traveling wi"ely to teach it to thousan"s of people& who then taught it to
thousan"s of others (Marie.,laire was kille" in the genoci"e of over a million people in
Rwan"a& a trage"y that was foretol" through visions of rivers of bloo" that the young people
in +ibeho receive" several years before the killings)
She (the $oly 1irgin) promise" that when praye" with an open an" repentant heart& the
rosary woul" win us the )or"-s forgiveness for our sins an" free our souls from guilt an"
remorse She also promise" that over time& the rosary woul" "evelop within us a "eep
un"erstan"ing of why we sin& an" that knowle"ge woul" give us the wis"om an" strength to
change or remove any internal 2aws& weaknesses of character& or personality faults causing
unhappiness an" keeping us from en0oying the 0oyous life 3o" inten"e" for us
&ow to pray the 'e(en 'orrows )osary
The following is a "escription of this ama4ing Rosary as the 1irgin Mother herself taught it
to Marie.,laire in +ibeho !t may be praye" alou" or contemplate" in silence& alone or with
others5 the key is for the prayers& re2ections& an" me"itations to always come from the
"epths of our hearts!t is important that& when we reach each of the Seven Sorrows& we take
a moment to me"itate on the magnitu"e of Mary-s su#eringsan" the strength of (ur
Mother-s love
*reparatory *rayers:
'ign of the +ross: !n the name of The Father& an" The Son& an" The $oly Spirit *men
!!!Introdu,tory *rayer:
My 3o"& ! o#er 6ou this Rosary for 6our glory& so ! may honor the Mother of 'esus& the /lesse"
1irgin& so ! can share an" me"itate upon her su#ering an"& through her& the su#ering of 'esus
! humbly beg 6ou to give me true repentance for all my sins& wis"om& an" humility
!!!-,t of +ontrition: ( my 3o"& ! am heartily sorry for having o#en"e" 6ou& an" ! "etest
all my sins because ! "rea" the loss of $eaven an" the pains of hell5 but most of all because
they o#en" 6ou& my 3o"& 6ou 7ho are all goo" an" "eserving of all my love ! 8rmly resolve&
with the help of 6our grace& to confess my sins& to "o penance& an" to amen" my life *men
!!!.hen pray &ail /arys: !n compassion for our Sorrowful Mother-s tears an" to o#er our
tears in union with hers
!!!0efore 1a,h /ystery, *ray: Most Merciful Mother& remin" us always about the Sorrows
of your Son& 'esus
.he 2irst 'word of 'orrow: .he *rophe,y of 'imeon (Luke $:$$!3%
9*n" when the time came for their puri8cation accor"ing to the law of Moses& they brought
$im up to 'erusalem to present $im to the )or" (as it is written in the law of the )or"& 9:very
male that opens the womb shall be calle" holy to the )or"9) There& the ol" priest Simeon hel"
the baby 'esus in his han"s& an" the $oly Spirit 8lle" his heart Simeon recogni4e" 'esus as
the promise" Savior an" hel" the ,hil" high towar" heaven& thanking 3o" for granting his
wish that he woul" live long enough to behol" the Messiah
9;ow 6our servant may "epart this life in peace& my )or"&9 he sai"< Simeon blesse" them
an" sai" to Mary his mother& 9/ehol"& this ,hil" is set for the fall an" rising of many in !srael&
an" for a sign that is spoken against (an" a swor" will pierce through your own soul also)&
that thoughts out of many hearts may be reveale"=
The /lesse" 1irgin knew that she ha" given birth to the Savior of humankin"& so she
imme"iately un"erstoo" an" accepte" Simeon>s prophecy *lthough her $eart was "eeply
touche" by this favor of bearing the /aby 'esus& her $eart remaine" heavy an" trouble"& for
she knew what ha" been written about the or"eals an" subse?uent "eath of the Savior
7henever she saw her Son& she was constantly remin"e" of the su#ering $e woul" be
sub0ect to& an" $is su#ering became her own
*rayer: /elove" Mother Mary& whose $eart su#ere" beyon" bearing because of us& teach us
to su#er with you an" with love& an" to accept all the su#ering 3o" "eems it necessary to
sen" our way )et us su#er& an" may our su#ering be known to 3o" only& like yours an" that
of 'esus %o not let us show our su#ering to the worl"& so it will matter more an" be use" to
atone for the sins of the worl" 6ou& Mother& who su#ere" with the Savior of the worl"& we
o#er you our su#ering& an" the su#ering of the worl"& because we are your chil"ren 'oin
those sorrows to your own an" to those of the )or" 'esus ,hrist& then o#er them to 3o" the
Father 6ou are a Mother greater than all
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he 'e,ond 'word of 'orrow: .he 2light into 1gypt (/atthew $:1!13%
Mary>s $eart broke an" her min" was greatly trouble" when 'oseph reveale" to her the wor"s
of the angel@ they were to wake up ?uickly an" 2ee to :gypt because $ero" wante" to kill
'esus The /lesse" 1irgin har"ly ha" time to "eci"e what to take or leave behin"5 she took her
,hil" an" left everything else& rushing outsi"e before 'oseph so that they coul" hurry as 3o"
wishe" Then she sai"& 9:ven though 3o" has power over everything& $e wants us to 2ee with
'esus& $is Son 3o" will show us the way& an" we shall arrive without being caught by the
enemy9
/ecause the /lesse" 1irgin was the Mother of 'esus& she love" $im more than anyone else
$er heart was "eeply trouble" at the sight of her !nfant Son>s "iscomfort& an" she su#ere"
greatly because $e was col" an" shivering 7hile she an" her husban" were tire"& sleepy&
an" hungry "uring this long travel& Mary>s only thought was about the safety an" comfort of
her ,hil" She feare" coming face to face with the sol"iers who ha" been or"ere" to kill 'esus
because she was aware that the enemy was still in /ethlehem $er heart remaine" constantly
anguishe" "uring this 2ight She also knew that where they were going& there woul" be no
frien"ly faces to greet them
*rayer: /elove" Mother& who has su#ere" so much& give to us your courageous heart Alease
pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you an" accept with love the
su#ering 3o" sen"s our way $elp us to also accept all the su#ering we in2ict upon ourselves
an" the su#ering in2icte" upon us by others $eavenly Mother& you& in union with 'esus& purify
our su#ering so that we may give glory to 3o" an" save our souls
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he .hird 'word of 'orrow: .he Loss of Jesus in the .emple (Luke $:"1!3$%
'esus was the only begotten Son of 3o"& but $e was also Mary>s chil" The /lesse" 1irgin
love" 'esus more than herself because $e was her 3o" ,ompare" to other chil"ren& $e was
most uni?ue because $e was alrea"y living as 3o" 7hen Mary lost 'esus on their way back
from 'erusalem& the worl" became so big an" lonely that she believe" she coul"n-t go on
living without $im& so great was her Sorrow (She felt the same pain her Son felt when $e was
later aban"one" by $is apostles "uring the Aassion)
*s the $oly Mother looke" anBiously for her belove" /oy& "eep pain welle" in her heart She
blame" herself& asking why she "i"n>t take greater care of $im /ut it was not her fault5 'esus
no longer nee"e" her protection as before 7hat really hurt Mary was that her son ha"
"eci"e" to stay behin" without her consent 'esus ha" please" her in everything so far@ $e
never annoye" her in any way& nor woul" $e ever "isplease $is parents She knew that $e
always "i" what was necessary& however& so she never suspecte" $im of being "isobe"ient
*rayer: /elove" Mother& teach us to accept all our su#erings because of our sins an" to
atone for the sins of the whole worl"
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he 2ourth 'word of 'orrow: /ary /eets Jesus on the 6ay to +al(ary (Luke
$:$5!1%
Mary witnesse" 'esus carrying the heavy cross aloneDthe cross on which $e was to be
cruci8e" This "i"n>t surprise the /lesse" 1irgin because she alrea"y knew about the
approaching "eath of (ur )or" ;oting how her son was alrea"y weakene" by the numerous
har" blows given by the sol"iers> clubs& she was 8lle" with anguish at $is pain The sol"iers
kept hurrying an" pushing $im& though $e ha" no strength left $e fell& eBhauste"& unable to
raise $imself *t that moment& Mary>s eyes& so full of ten"er love an" compassion& met her
Son>s eyes& which were paine" an" covere" in bloo" Their hearts seeme" to be sharing the
loa"5 every pain $e felt& she felt as well They knew that nothing coul" be "one eBcept to
believe an" trust in 3o" an" "e"icate their su#ering to $im *ll they coul" "o was put
everything in 3o">s han"s
*rayer: /elove" Mother& so stricken with grief& help us to bear our own su#ering with courage
an" love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful $eart an" that of 'esus !n "oing so& may we
give glory to 3o" 7ho gave you an" 'esus to humanity *s you su#ere"& teach us to su#er
silently an" patiently 3rant unto us the grace of loving 3o" in everything ( Mother of
Sorrows& most aEicte" of all mothers& have mercy on the sinners of the whole worl"
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he 2ifth 'word of 'orrow: /ary 'tands at the 2oot of the +ross (John 19:$3!
$5%
The /lesse" 1irgin Mary continue" to climb the mount to ,alvary& following behin" 'esus
painfully an" sorrowfully& yet su#ering silently She coul" see $im staggering an" falling with
the cross some more& an" she witnesse" her Son being beaten by sol"iers who pulle" $is hair
to force $im to stan" up %espite $is innocence& when 'esus reache" the top of ,alvary& $e
was or"ere" to confess in front of the crow" so they coul" laugh at $im Mary "eeply felt her
Son>s pain an" humiliation& particularly when $is tormentors force" $im to strip o# what was
left of $is clothing The /lesse" 1irgin felt sick at heart seeing these tyrants crucifying her
Son nake"& shaming $im terribly merely to amuse the 0eering crow" ('esus an" Mary felt
more "isgrace than normal people "i" because they were without sin an" holy)
The /lesse" 1irgin Mary felt pain beyon" bearing when 'esus was stretche" out on the ,ross
$is mur"erers sang merrily as they approache" $im with hammers an" nails They sat on $im
heavily so that $e coul" not move when they spike" $im to the woo" *s they hammere" the
nails through $is han"s an" feet& Mary felt the blows in her heart5 the nails pierce" her 2esh
as they tore into her Son>s bo"y She felt her life fa"ing away
*s the sol"iers lifte" the ,ross to "rop it into the hole they ha" "ug& they "eliberately 0erke"
it& causing the force of $is bo"y weight to tear through the 2esh an" eBpose $is bone The
pain shot through $is bo"y like li?ui" 8re
'esus en"ure" three eBcruciating hours skewere" on the ,ross& yet the physical pain was
nothing compare" to the agoni4ing heartache $e was force" to bear seeing $is mother
su#ering below $im Mercifully& $e 8nally "ie"
*rayer: /elove" Mother& Fueen of the Martyrs& give us the courage you ha" in all your
su#erings so that we may unite our su#erings with yours an" give glory to 3o" $elp us
follow all $is comman"ments an" those of the ,hurch so that (ur )or">s sacri8ce will not be
in vain& an" all sinners in the worl" will be save"
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he 'i7th 'word of 'orrow: /ary )e,ei(es the 8ead 0ody of Jesus in &er
-rms (John 19:9!":%
The frien"s of 'esus& 'oseph an" ;ico"emus& took "own $is /o"y from the ,ross an" place" !t
in the outstretche" arms of the /lesse" 1irgin Then Mary washe" !t with "eep respect an"
love because she was $is mother She knew better than anyone else that $e was 3o"
incarnate who ha" taken a human bo"y to become the Savior of all people
Mary coul" see the terrifying woun"s from the 2ogging 'esus ha" receive" while at Ailate>s
$is 2esh ha" been shre""e" an" large strips ha" been torn from $is back $is entire bo"y
ha" been so lacerate" that gaping woun"s crisscrosse" $im from hea" to toe Mary foun"
that the woun"s from the nails were less severe than those cause" by the 2ogging an" by
carrying the ,ross She was horri8e" at the thought that her Son ha" manage" to carry the
heavy& splintere" ,ross all the way to ,alvary She saw the circle of bloo" the ,rown of Thorns
ha" ma"e on $is forehea" an"& to her horror& reali4e" that many of the barbe" thorns ha"
"ug so "eeply into $is skull they ha" penetrate" $is brain )ooking at her broken /oy& the
$oly Mother knew that $is agoni4ing "eath was far worse than the torture reserve" for the
wicke"est of criminals
*s she cleane" $is "amage" /o"y she envisione" $im "uring each stage of $is short life&
remembering her 8rst look at $is beautiful new born face as they lay in the manger& an"
every "ay in between& until this heart ren"ing moment as she gently bathe" $is lifeless /o"y
$er anguish was relentless as she prepare" her Son an" )or" for burial& but she remaine"
brave an" strong& becoming the true Fueen of Martyrs
*s she washe" her Son she praye" that everybo"y woul" know the riches of Aara"ise an"
enter the 3ates of $eaven She praye" for every soul in the worl" to embrace 3o">s )ove& so
her Son>s torturous "eath woul" bene8t all humankin" an" not have been in vain Mary
praye" for the worl"5 she praye" for all of us
*rayer: 7e thank you& /elove" Mother& for your courage as you stoo" beneath your "ying
,hil" to comfort $im on the ,ross *s our Savior "rew $is last breath& you became a
won"erful Mother to all of us5 you became the /lesse" Mother of the worl" 7e know that you
love us more than our own earthly parents "o 7e implore you to be our a"vocate before the
Throne of Mercy an" 3race so that we can truly become your chil"ren 7e thank you for
'esus& our Savior an" Re"eemer& an" we thank 'esus for giving you to us Alease pray for us&
Mother
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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.he 'e(enth 'word of 'orrow: .he 0ody of Jesus is *la,ed in the .omb (John
19:"1!"$%
The life of the /lesse" 1irgin Mary was so closely linke" to that of 'esus she thought there was
no reason for her to go on living any longer $er only comfort was that $is "eath ha" en"e"
$is unspeakable su#ering (ur Sorrowful Mother& with the help of 'ohn an" the $oly women&
"evoutly place" the /o"y in the sepulchre& an" she left $im She went home with great pain
an" tremen"ous Sorrow5 for the 8rst time she was without $im& an" her loneliness was a new
an" bitter source of pain $er heart ha" been "ying since her Son>s heart ha" stoppe"
beating& but she was certain that our Savior woul" soon be resurrecte"
*rayer: Most /elove" Mother& whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers& Mother of Mercy&
Mother of 'esus& an" Mother to us all& we are your chil"ren an" we place all our trust in you
Teach us to see 3o" in all things an" all situations& even our su#erings $elp us to un"erstan"
the importance of su#ering& an" also to know the purpose of our su#ering as 3o" ha"
inten"e" it
6ou yourself were conceive" an" born without sin& were preserve" from sin& yet you su#ere"
more than anybo"y else 6ou accepte" su#ering an" pain with love an" with unsurpasse"
courage 6ou stoo" by your Son from the time $e was arreste" until $e "ie" 6ou su#ere"
along with $im& felt $is every pain an" torment 6ou accomplishe" the 7ill of 3o" the Father5
an" accor"ing to $is will& you have become our Mother 7e beg you& "ear Mother& to teach us
to "o as 'esus "i" Teach us to accept our cross courageously 7e trust you& most Merciful
Mother& so teach us to sacri8ce for all the sinners in the worl" $elp us to follow in your Son>s
footsteps& an" even to be willing to lay "own our lives for others
(*ray 1 4ur 2ather and 5 &ail /arys%
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+on,luding *rayer: Fueen of Martyrs& your heart su#ere" so much ! beg you& by the merits
of the tears you she" in these terrible an" sorrowful times& to obtain for me an" all the
sinners of the worl" the grace of complete sincerity an" repentance *men
.hree times, say: Mary& who was conceive" without sin an" who su#ere" for us& pray for us
'ign of the +ross: !n the name of The Father& an" The Son& an" The $oly Spirit *men