Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows has been cherished by Catholics for many generations. Many know the Sorrowful Mother as the image of Mary with seven swords piercing her heart, a symbol of the deep sorrows she experienced. Others connect with her during personal trials, finding comfort in a mother who understands pain and offers compassion. Her feast day, September 15, is observed around the world. It’s a time when people pray, attend Mass, and remember Mary’s profound courage and love even in the midst of great suffering.

Where the Story Begins

The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" refers to Mary's role as a mother who witnessed and shared in her son's suffering. To understand this devotion, we must go back to the beginning of her story, as found in the Gospel accounts.

When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, they were following Jewish law that required the presentation of a firstborn son. There, they encountered Simeon, an elderly man who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. When Simeon took Jesus in his arms, he blessed God and then turned to Mary with prophetic words that would haunt her: "A sword will pierce your own soul" (Luke 2:34-35).

This prophecy found its fulfillment decades later at Calvary. After Jesus was arrested, tortured, and condemned to death, Mary followed him to Golgotha. While most of his disciples ran away in fear, she stayed at the foot of the cross. The Gospel of John tells us she stood there with the apostle John as Jesus suffered and died.

In his final moments, Jesus spoke to both of them. Looking at his mother, he said, "Woman, behold your son," indicating John. Then to John, he said, "Behold your mother" (John 19:26-27). The Gospel tells us that from that hour, John took Mary into his home. But Christians believe Jesus did something bigger: he gave Mary to all believers as a spiritual mother. From that moment on, she became everyone's mother, someone who knows what real grief feels like.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows focuses on seven key moments of grief in Mary’s life. These are known as the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and each one highlights her profound faith amid tragedy. The seven sorrows traditionally are:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon: When Mary presented Jesus at the Temple as a baby, Simeon warned her that a sword would pierce her soul, marking her first sign that her son's life would face great suffering.
2. The Flight into Egypt: Shortly after Jesus's birth, King Herod ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary fled in the night, becoming refugees in a foreign land to save their child's life.
3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple: When Jesus was twelve, his family traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. On the way home, Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was missing. They searched for three days before finding him teaching in the Temple (Luke 2:43-46).
4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary: The Gospels don't describe this meeting, but tradition holds that Mary saw Jesus carrying his cross through Jerusalem's streets. She witnessed her son, beaten and crowned with thorns, as he struggled beneath the weight of his cross.
5. The Crucifixion and Death: Mary stood at the foot of the cross for hours, watching her innocent son die by one of Rome's cruelest execution methods. She heard his cries, saw his agony, and could only pray and be present with him in his suffering.
6. Mary Receives the Body of Jesus
   After Jesus died, they took his body down from the cross and placed it in his mother's arms. This moment became one of the most depicted scenes in Christian art, notably in Michelangelo's Pietà.
7. The Burial of Jesus: Mary watched as they placed Jesus in the tomb and rolled the stone across the entrance. She had to leave her son's body sealed in the grave.

How This Devotion Developed

The roots of honoring Mary's sorrows go back to the earliest Christian communities, which never forgot the image of Mary at the cross. However, the formal devotion as we know it today developed gradually over many centuries.

By the 11th and 12th centuries, monasteries and communities around the Mediterranean were creating prayers and meditations centered on Mary's suffering. They saw her sorrows as a way to gain a deeper understanding of Christ's passion. The turning point came in 1233 when seven young Florentine noblemen withdrew from the world to establish a new religious order.

These men, known as the Servites (Order of Servants of Mary), made the sorrows of Mary the cornerstone of their religious life. According to their tradition, Mary herself appeared to them, asking them to establish an order dedicated to her sorrows. The Servites spread this devotion across Europe, preaching about the Sorrowful Mother and teaching people to pray the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows.

Over time the institutional Church recognized what the faithful already knew in their hearts. Local feast days honoring Mary's sorrows appeared in various regions during the 15th century. In 1668, the Servite Order received permission to celebrate their own feast of the Seven Sorrows. The devotion continued to spread, and by 1814, Pope Pius VII extended the feast to the universal Church.

Pope Pius X gave the devotion its current form in 1913, establishing September 15 as the single feast day. The date was deliberately chosen: it falls immediately after September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This placement reminds the faithful that Mary's sorrows cannot be separated from Christ's sacrifice, and that both lead to the joy of resurrection.

The Feast Day Today

September 15 is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, observed by Catholics worldwide. In preparation, many pray a novena, nine days of special prayers leading up to the feast, reflecting on each of Mary's sorrows and asking for her help with their own struggles.

On the feast day itself, churches display images of the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother), typically showing Mary with seven swords piercing her heart. The Mass readings focus on Mary's suffering and her role in God's plan of salvation. Many sing the Stabat Mater, the medieval hymn that's been part of this feast for centuries. Catholics mark the day by praying the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows or attending special services, finding both sorrow and hope in Mary's story.

Different cultures bring their own traditions to this feast. Slovakia honors Our Lady of Sorrows as its national patroness, making September 15 a public holiday when thousands visit her basilicas. Latin American communities organize processions, carrying statues of the Sorrowful Mother through the streets. The Philippines celebrates with particular fervor, with entire communities gathering to pray and remember Mary's sacrifice together.

Why This Devotion Matters Now

Our culture runs from pain. We medicate it, distract from it, and pretend it doesn't exist. The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows says something different: suffering is part of being human, and we don't have to face it alone. She fled as a refugee, lost her husband, and watched her innocent son executed. Yet she never stopped believing.

In moments of loss, hardship, or despair, the Sorrowful Mother stands as one who truly understands our pain. Her presence is tender and reassuring. This devotion isn't about dwelling on sadness but finding hope through it. Mary proves that even the worst pain can lead to resurrection. She walks with those who suffer, pointing them toward her risen Son. In her story, Catholics find proof that love is stronger than death and that sorrow doesn't get the last word.

Honoring Our Lady of Sorrows Today

The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is not just about looking back at what Mary endured. It’s also about finding strength in the present. There are simple, heartfelt ways to honor her today. You might pray the Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary (the chaplet with seven sections) during a quiet evening, or read Scripture passages about each sorrow and sit with what they mean in your life. Some people like to keep a small reminder in their home, such as a statue of the Sorrowful Mother or an image of Mary with the seven swords, to remember to turn to her in prayer. Even a short daily prayer such as “Mary, Mother of Sorrows, be with me in my trials,” can invite her companionship and consolation.

If you’d like to deepen your connection with this beautiful tradition, we offer a thoughtfully curated selection of devotional items. You can read more about Mary’s sorrows in a handy prayer pamphlet, pray with a dedicated Our Lady of Sorrows rosary, or find solace in the presence of a lovely Sorrowful Mother statue for your home. As a family-owned Catholic business since 1949, St. Patrick’s Guild has over 75 years of experience helping people nurture their faith with quality devotional items and caring service. We believe these devotional items can be meaningful tools for prayer, reminding you that Mary understands your pain and walks with you toward hope.