“As we are under great obligations to Jesus for His Passion endured for our love, so also are we under great obligations to Mary for the martyrdom which She voluntarily suffered for our salvation in the death of Her Son.”
These words were spoken by St. Albert the Great and sum up why we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. From the moment Mary accepted her chosen role of being the mother of “the Son of the Most High,” She knew how much her son would suffer for the sins of mankind. Although she grieved as she witnessed her son being put to death for crimes He didn’t commit, she trusted God’s plan and never questioned Him. As she told the angel Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on September 15 and is dedicated to honoring the spiritual martyrdom of Mary.
Unlike martyrs who endured physical torments, Mary suffered torment in her soul. It is Mary’s selfless act of letting her son be sacrificed for our salvation that makes her the Queen of martyrs. Why should we stop and reflect on Mary this September 15? St. Alphonsus de Liguori said it best: “at least let us give a few moments this day to consider the greatness of the sufferings by which Mary became the Queen of martyrs; The Blessed Virgin Mary, for the love She bore us, was willing to see Her Son sacrificed to Divine Justice by the barbarity of men. This great torment, then, which Mary endured for us—a torment that was more than a thousand deaths—deserves both our compassion and our gratitude.
History of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows has been celebrated in the Catholic Church since the 12th century under various names. During the 15th century it was known as Our Lady of Compassion. By the 17th century it became known as the feast of the Seven Dolors, meaning seven sufferings, and refers to the seven moments in Blessed Mary’s life that she suffered the most. In 1913 Pope Pius X declared September 15 to be the official feast day and it would be known as Our Lady of Sorrows. This September 15, let us take the time to reflect on Blessed Mary’s Seven Sorrows. By doing so, we unite ourselves with the Passion of Christ and His holy Mother’s suffering.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
The First Sorrow of Mary: The Prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple
The Second Sorrow of Mary: The Flight into Egypt
The Third Sorrow of Mary: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
The Fourth Sorrow of Mary: Mary Encounters Jesus on the Way of the Cross
The Fifth Sorrow of Mary: Jesus Dies on the Cross
The Sixth Sorrow of Mary: Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
The Seventh Sorrow of Mary: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Inspired by Mary’s Seven Sorrows
After reflecting on Mary’s Seven Sorrows, we should be moved to no longer torment our sorrowful Mother with our actions on earth. As she once told St. Bridget, “I look around at all who are on earth, to see if by chance there are any who pity Me, and meditate upon My Sorrows; and I find that there are very few. Therefore, My daughter, though I am forgotten by many, at least do you not forget Me; consider My anguish, and imitate, as far as you can, My grief.”
Don’t let St. Bridget be one of the only few remembering Blessed Mary’s Sorrows. This September 15 and every year, let us reflect on her sorrows, and most importantly, if we have saddened her in the past by our sins, let us repent.
Ways to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
In addition to attending mass on September 15, you and your family can take part in the following activities in honor of Our Lady:
Assign a “Sorrow of Mary” to each member of your family. Have each one read their sorrow out loud and discuss what it teaches us about Mary and about our life.
- Print out coloring pages of Our Lady of Sorrows for younger children to color as you explain the meaning of the feast.
- Make a heart-shaped cake for dessert, decorated with seven swords piercing the heart.
- Hang a visual reminder such as the Sorrowful Mary Framed Print in your home.
Sorrowful Mary Framed Print
These lovely Catholic images are available in a quality frame and set under glass. Please note that all of these frames have an 8″ x 10″ print.
Frame # 115, Antique Gold measures 12.5″ x 14.5″.
Frame # 122, Natural Tiger Cherry measures 10.25″ x 12.25″.
Frame # 124, Art Deco measures 11.25″ x 13.25″.
Frame # 126, Detailed Cherry with Gold Dots measures 11.25″ x 13.25″.
Frame # 133, Dark Walnut with Gold Lop measures10.25″ x 12.25″.
Frame # 138, Gold Satin measures 11.5 x 13.5″.
Framed prints are shipping in a protective box. The prints are designed and produced in Italy.