The Catholic Defender: Prayer yo Our Lady of Sorrows

The traditional and widely recited Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows is a Catholic devotion honoring the grief and faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The traditional prayer honors Mary standing by the cross and bearing Jesus in her arms, praising her faith, hope, and love during the passion, and concluding with a plea for her intercession and comfort in times of trial.

The 13th-century prayer by St. Bonaventure focuses on repentance and detachment from earthly joys to seek the eternal Jerusalem.

Our Lady of Sorrows often center around meditating on her seven specific biblical moments of profound grief:

The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34–35)

The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13–14)

The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43–45)

Mary Meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross)

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25–30)

The Pietà (Jesus being taken down from the Cross and placed in Mary's arms)

The Burial of Jesus (John 19:40–42)

Our mother of sorrows,with strength from above you stood by the cross,sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore him in your arms, mourning and weeping.

We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you.

We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you.

We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of his passion.

Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love.

Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs.

Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen!