Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady - Meditations, Bishop Scott McCaig

I belong to the Prayer Group at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish here is Ottawa. Our meetings are held almost every Monday Evening in the Parish Hall beginning at 7:30 PM. until 9:00Pm 
To begin with we sing hymns of Praise and Worship for about half an hour. After that we usually spend time listening for the Word of the Lord and sharing, and thanking the Lord for his blessings and answered prayer. We usually  pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and if time permits we often study the mass readings for the following Sunday. I really like this Prayer Group a lot and look forward to our weekly meetings. 

Sometimes our Leader Joan will change things around a bit in order to make time  for us  to watch a video by Bishop Baron or Scott Hahn  perhaps 

Last evening we prayed the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Thank you Joan for printing up these meditations for us

Because it is the month of the rosary and because these meditations by Bishop McCaig are so beautiful,  I thought I would share them with you

Maureen

Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

Meditations by the Bishop Scott McCaig, Companions of the Cross 

Simeon blessed them

and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is destined

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted

and you yourself a sword will pierce

so that the thoughts of many hearts

may be revealed.”

- Luke 2:34-35

Prayers and meditations composed by Fr. Scott McCaig,

CC, Moderator (General Superior) of the Companions of

the Cross. A convert to the Catholic Church, he was

ordained to the priesthood in 1995. In his priestly ministry

he has served as pastor, hospital chaplain, and Director of

Seminarian Formation for the Companions of the Cross.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American

Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991,

1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,

Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the

copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New

American Bible may be reproduced in any form without

permission in writing from the copyright owner.

www.companionscross.org

This booklet is published in celebration of the

Year for Priests (“Anno Sacerdotale”) from June

2009 to June 2010. Pope Benedict XVI

highlighted the “necessary, indeed indispensable,

aspiration to moral perfection that must dwell in

every authentically priestly heart.”

We encourage those who embrace this devotion

to pray that all priests strive for “spiritual

perfection, on which, above all, the effectiveness

of their ministry depends” (Address to the

Congregation for the Clergy, 16 March 2009).

HISTORY

This devotion to Our Sorrowful Mother

originated in the thirteenth century. It recalls the

Sorrows the Virgin Mother of God endured in

compassion for the suffering and death of her

Divine Son.

The Litany of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

found at the end of this booklet was composed by

Pope Pius VII (1740-1823) while held in captivity

during the Napoleonic Wars.

These devotions are particularly appropriate for

the spiritual children of Fr. Bob Bedard, CC,

Founder of the Companions of the Cross.

We cultivate a profound devotion to the Cross of

our Lord Jesus Christ and to Our Lady, who at

Calvary became the first companion of the Cross.

PROMISES

St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) reported that

Our Lady promised to grant seven graces to those

who honor her and draw near to her and her Son

every day by meditating on her dolors (sorrows):

1. I will grant peace to their families.

2. They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.

3. I will console them in their pains and will accompany

them in their work.

4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it

does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son

or the sanctification of their souls.

5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the

infernal enemy and I will protect them at every

instant of their lives.

6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death-

- they will see the face of their mother.

7. I have obtained this grace from my divine Son: that

those who propagate this devotion to my tears and

sorrows will be taken directly from this earthly life to

eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven

and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.

How to pray

the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

1. Pray the Introductory Prayers (on the medal or Cross).

2. Announce the First Sorrow; then pray the Our Father.

3. Pray seven Hail Mary’s while meditating on the Sorrow

4. At the conclusion of each Sorrow, pray “Holy Mother

hear my prayers, and renew in my heart each wound of

Jesus my Savior.”

5. Repeat steps 2 - 4 for all seven Sorrows.

6. Pray three Hail Mary’s in honor of the tears of Our

Sorrowful Mother (on the three final beads).

7. Pray the Closing Prayers.

8. You may also wish to pray the Litany of the Seven

Sorrows of Our Lady.

INTRODUCTORY PRAYERS

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My God, I offer you this rosary for your glory. I

want to honor your Holy Mother, the Blessed

Virgin, by meditating upon and sharing in her

suffering.

O my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, trusting in

your infinite love I turn to you for forgiveness

and mercy. I am truly sorry for the pains you

suffered in your most bitter Passion because of

my sins. For love of you, and before your holy

presence, I utterly renounce and forsake all the

sins of my whole life. I ask pardon of you with all

my heart. I firmly resolve to amend my life and

would rather die than offend you again.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, you are our tender

Mother and the refuge of sinners. I run to you

with confidence and love. Hide me under your

mantle of love and protection. As I meditate upon

the swords of sorrow that pierced your

Immaculate Heart, obtain for me the forgiveness

of my sins and the grace to live a life of heroic

holiness.

O Blessed Mother, I unite my heart to yours and

offer this rosary for priests: for their growth in

holiness, obedience to the Magisterium, boldness

in the proclamation of the Gospel, and a

profound love for the people of God. May all

priests humbly lead the souls entrusted to their

care into an intimate relationship with the Lord.

[I also pray for the following particular

intentions…]

V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your

faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your

love.

R. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,

and you shall renew the face of the earth.

The First Sword of Sorrow

Simeon announces

the suffering destiny of Jesus

(Luke 2:34-35)

O Mother of Sorrows, how deeply your heart was

pierced with sorrow when Simeon announced

that Jesus, your beloved Child, was to be a sign

that would be rejected. Your heart knew that He

was to be the suffering Messiah the prophets had

foretold, the man of sorrows, who would carry all

our sins and heal us by His wounds. Through this

bitter sorrow obtain for us the grace never to

reject Jesus or refuse Him anything. Help us to

completely surrender our lives to Him and to live

according to His most holy will in everything.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

The Second Sword of Sorrow

Mary escapes into Egypt

with Jesus and Joseph

(Matt 2:13-15)

O Mother of Sorrows, what pain filled your heart

as you fled your home and country knowing that

the tyrant Herod was intent on murdering your

little Child whom you loved above all else. The

hardships of travel, the long journey, and life as a

refugee was nothing compared to the torment of

such demonic malice directed toward Jesus.

Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us

the grace never to risk the life of Jesus in our

souls through deliberate sin.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

The Third Sword of Sorrow

Mary seeks Jesus lost in Jerusalem

(Luke 2:41-51)

O Mother of Sorrows, what grief filled your heart

as you and Joseph searched desperately for Jesus

when you could not find Him among your

relatives and friends returning home from

Jerusalem. When your Son replied that He must

be about His Father’s business, you accepted that

He had begun the mission that would lead to His

sacrificial death. The sorrow of those three days

of separation prepared you for the three days of

suffering you endured while His body lay lifeless

in the tomb. Through this bitter sword of sorrow

obtain for us the grace to accept the ways of

Divine Providence even when we do not

understand them.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

The Fourth Sword of Sorrow

Mary meets Jesus as He carries

His Cross to Calvary

(cf. Luke 23:26-31)

O Mother of Sorrows, how it must have wounded

your tender maternal heart to see your beloved

Son Jesus carrying His Cross to Calvary, the place

of execution! How it must have pained you to see

Him so bloodied, beaten, and reviled as He

strained to fulfill His deepest desire: to give His

life as a ransom for us. Through this bitter sword

of sorrow obtain for us the grace to deny

ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Jesus

with perseverance and love.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

The Fifth Sword of Sorrow

Mary stands near the Cross

of her Son Jesus

(John 19:25-27)

O Mother of Sorrows, here the prophecy of

Simeon comes to its ultimate fulfillment: the

sword of sorrow impales your heart as you stand

beneath the Cross of your Son. Crucified

spiritually with your crucified Son, you offered

Him to the Father and united yourself completely

to His self-offering and sacrificial death. We

simply cannot fathom the pain of your offering or

the depth of love that inspired it. Through this

bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to

unite all our sufferings to our crucified Lord with

unselfish generosity and love.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Saviour.

The Sixth Sword of Sorrow

Mary receives into her arms

the body of Jesus taken down from the

Cross

(cf. John 19:38)

O Mother of Sorrows, your heart was drowned in

grief as you embraced the lifeless corpse of your

Son. He who was your very life was now dead.

Your light in this life was extinguished. Yet you

accepted this sorrow with love knowing that it

was all part of the Father’s plan of salvation.

Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us

the grace to accept with patience and love the

sorrows that befall us in this vale of tears, firmly

believing that God works all things to the good

for those who love Him.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

The Seventh Sword of Sorrow

Mary helps place the body of Jesus

in the tomb

(cf. John 19:39-42)

O Mother of Sorrows, who could express the

cruel anguish of this moment? The same Child

that you once wrapped in swaddling clothes

amidst unspeakable joy, you now wrap silently in

His burial shroud. Your tears mingle with the

blood and dirt that covers His broken body. But

even in this moment your trust in His promise did

not die. Your mourning was not without hope,

for you knew that He would rise again from this

grave just as He promised. Through this bitter

sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to believe

with unshakable hope in the victory of our Lord

even in the darkest moments of life.

Our Father & seven Hail Mary’s

Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart

each wound of Jesus my Savior.

Pray three Hail Mary’s in honor of the tears of

Our Sorrowful Mother.

Closing Prayers

O Mary, you truly became the Queen of all

martyrs as these seven bitter swords of sorrow

pierced your Immaculate Heart! By the merits of

your tearful distress obtain for us and for all

sinners the graces of perfect contrition and

conversion. Help us always, dear Mother, to

imitate you by taking up our crosses and

following Jesus with limitless love and generosity.

Amen.

Mary, who was conceived without sin and who

suffered for us, pray for us. (Say three times)

Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

by Pope Pius VII

V. Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Christ, have mercy on us.

V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of the Crucified, [etc.]

Sorrowful Mother

Mournful Mother

Sighing Mother

Afflicted Mother

Forsaken Mother

Desolate Mother

Mother most sad

Mother set around with anguish

Mother overwhelmed by grief

Mother transfixed by a sword

Mother crucified in your heart

Mother bereaved of your Son

Sighing Dove

Mother of Sorrows

Fount of tears

Sea of bitterness

Field of tribulation

Mass of suffering

Mirror of patience

Rock of constancy

Remedy in perplexity

Joy of the afflicted

Ark of the desolate

Refuge of the abandoned

Shield of the oppressed

Conqueror of the incredulous

Solace of the wretched

Medicine of the sick

Help of the faint

Strength of the weak

Protectress of those who fight

Haven of the shipwrecked

Calmer of tempests

Companion of the sorrowful

Retreat of those who groan

Terror of the treacherous

Standard-bearer of the Martyrs

Treasure of the Faithful

Light of Confessors

Pearl of Virgins

Comfort of Widows

Joy of all Saints

Queen of your Servants

Holy Mary, who alone are beyond compare

V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of

Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet

soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that

we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may

obtain the happy effect of Your Passion, Who lives and

reigns world without end. Amen.