Our Lady of Sorrows: The Seven Sorrows of Mary and Their Meaning

Feast Day: September 15

Mary knew sorrow in a way few of us ever could.

From the moment Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart, Mary began a path of suffering that would unfold alongside the life of her Son. She watched Jesus grow, minister, suffer, and ultimately give His life on the Cross.

She experienced the fear of losing Him, the anguish of seeing Him rejected and persecuted, and the heartbreak of standing at the foot of the Cross as He gave His life for the salvation of the world.

Yet through every sorrow, Mary remained faithful.

On September 15, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, inviting us to pause and reflect on the suffering of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her profound union with the suffering of Jesus.

One beautiful way to enter more deeply into Mary's life is through the Seven Sorrows of Mary. As we meditate on each sorrow, we come to know Mary not only as the Mother of Jesus, but as a woman who walked closely with Him through every season of His life.

We begin to see these moments through her eyes—to imagine her joy, her questions, her fears, her love, and her unwavering trust in God.

And as we come to know Mary more deeply, we are led closer to Jesus.

Mary always points us toward her Son. When we meditate on her Seven Sorrows, we are also meditating on the life of Christ—His childhood, His family, His suffering, His Passion, and His death. We are invited to see these moments through the eyes of His Mother, who knew and loved Jesus more intimately than anyone on earth.

To know Mary is to discover more about the heart of Jesus.

The Seven Sorrows devotion gives us a beautiful way to reflect on the relationship between Jesus and His Mother while bringing our own joys, fears, suffering, and hopes into prayer. Through Mary, we are gently led back to Christ.

Let us now walk with Mary through the Seven Sorrows of her life, taking time to reflect on what she experienced, what her faith can teach us, and how each sorrow can draw our own hearts closer to Jesus.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

The Seven Sorrows of Mary invite us to enter into some of the most painful moments of her life with Jesus. Each sorrow reveals something about Mary's love, her faith, and her willingness to remain close to God even when she could not understand everything He was asking of her.

The breakdown below is a reflection on the Seven Sorrows themselves—not the prayers or structure of the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows. Rather, it gives us an opportunity to learn more about each sorrow in Mary's life and to reflect on what her experience can teach us about faith, suffering, trust, and love.

As we walk through these seven moments, we are not simply looking back at Mary's suffering. We are invited to see these events through the eyes of His Mother and allow her to teach us how to remain close to Jesus when life is painful, uncertain, or difficult to understand.

1. THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON

"And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed." - Luke 2, 34-45

When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the Temple, Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart.

Mary had just brought her newborn Son to the Temple, yet she was already being told that suffering would be part of His life—and hers.

Imagine the emotions Mary must have experienced as she heard these words. She knew that Jesus was the Son of God, yet Simeon's prophecy reminded her that His mission would include suffering.

Reflection: Mary teaches us that following God does not mean we will be spared from suffering. Sometimes faith means trusting God even when we cannot see what lies ahead.

When we face an uncertain future, we can ask Mary to help us surrender our fears to God and trust Him as she did. 

2. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

"And after they (the wise men) were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt and remain there until I tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. So he arose, and took the child and his mother by night and withdrew into Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod." -Matthew 2, 13-14

Soon after Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph were forced to flee with Him into Egypt because King Herod wanted to kill the Child.

Imagine the fear and uncertainty Mary must have experienced as she left behind her home and everything familiar to protect her Son. She did not know what the future held, but she trusted Joseph and followed God's direction.

Mary's sorrow reminds us that even the Holy Family experienced fear, uncertainty, and difficult circumstances.

Reflection: Mary understands what it feels like to be afraid of what may happen next. When we face circumstances we cannot control, we can turn to her and ask her to help us trust God as she did.

3. THE LOSS OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

"And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it. But thinking that he was in the caravan, they had come a day's journey before it occurred to them to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and not finding him they returned to Jerusalem in search for him." -Luke, 43-45

When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph discovered that He was missing after leaving Jerusalem. For three days, they searched for Him before finding Him in the Temple.

Mary's words reveal the anguish of a mother who had been desperately searching for her Son.

After three days, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple, where He was listening to and teaching among the teachers.

Reflection: There may be times when God feels distant from us, when our prayers seem unanswered, or when we feel as though we have lost our way.

Mary reminds us to keep searching for Jesus and never stop seeking Him. Even when we do not understand where God is leading us, we can continue to look for Him with the same perseverance Mary showed.

4. MARY MEETS JESUS ON THE WAY TO CALVARY

"And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him." -Luke 23, 27

Mary encountered Jesus as He carried His Cross toward Calvary.

She could not take His suffering away. She could not stop the soldiers. She could not carry the Cross for Him.

But she could remain beside Him.

What must it have been like for a mother to see her Son beaten, wounded, and carrying the Cross toward His death?

This moment reveals the incredible depth of Mary's love. She remained present even when there was nothing she could do to change what was happening.

Reflection: Sometimes we cannot fix another person's suffering. We can only stay beside them, love them, and pray.

Mary shows us the importance of simply being present with those who are hurting. She also reminds us that when we encounter our own crosses, we do not have to carry them alone.

5. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

"They crucified him. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his Mother. When Jesus therefore had seen his Mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said to His Mother: Woman, behold thy son. Then, He said to the sickle, behold thy mother." -John 19, 18-25-27

Mary stood beneath the Cross and watched Jesus suffer and die.

She could not stop what was happening. She could not take His place. Yet she remained there.

Her presence at the Cross shows us the depth of her love and the strength of her faith. Even in the darkest moment of her life, Mary did not abandon her Son.

She stayed.

Mary's suffering at the Cross is perhaps the most powerful image of her unwavering faith. She trusted God even when His plan brought her face-to-face with unimaginable pain.

Reflection: When suffering enters our own lives, Mary teaches us what it means to remain faithful.

We may not understand God's plan. We may not understand why something painful has happened. But we can choose to remain close to Jesus.

Like Mary, we can stand at the foot of our own crosses and continue to trust.

6. MARY RECEIVES THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS IN HER ARMS

"Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counselor, came and went in body to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen." -Mark 15, 43-46

After Jesus died on the Cross, His body was taken down and, according to Christian tradition, placed into the arms of His Mother.

The image of Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus is one of the most heartbreaking images in the story of Christ's Passion. The same arms that once held Him as an infant now held her Son after His death.

Mary's sorrow in this moment reveals the depth of a mother's love and the unimaginable grief of losing her child. Yet even in the midst of this profound suffering, she remained united to God and faithful to the end.

Reflection: Mary understands the pain of losing someone we love.

When we experience grief or loss, we can turn to Mary and bring our sorrow to her. She knows the pain of a broken heart, and she can help us remain close to Jesus even when we are hurting.

Through Mary, we are reminded that even in our deepest moments of grief, God is still near—and He can bring hope even out of our greatest sorrow.

7. JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB

"Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein no man had been laid. Therefore, because of the Jewish preparation day, they laid Jesu there." -John 19, 41-42

Finally, Mary watched as the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb.

Everything seemed to have ended.

Yet Mary remained faithful.

She did not know what was coming next, but God did.

The sorrow of the tomb reminds us that Mary trusted God even when she could not yet see how His plan would unfold.

Reflection: Mary teaches us to trust God even in moments when everything appears hopeless.

The tomb was not the end of Jesus' story—and our suffering is never the end of our story either.

Mary's faith invites us to hope even when we cannot yet see the answer.

What the Seven Sorrows Teach Us

When we walk through the Seven Sorrows of Mary, we begin to see something beautiful: Mary's life was not free from suffering, but her suffering never separated her from God.

She experienced fear.

She experienced uncertainty.

She experienced loss.

She experienced the unimaginable pain of watching her Son suffer and die.

And through it all, she remained faithful.

This is one of the greatest gifts of the Seven Sorrows devotion. Mary does not simply give us someone to admire; she gives us someone to accompany us.

When we are afraid, Mary understands.

When we are grieving, Mary understands.

When we cannot understand why God has allowed something painful to happen, Mary understands.

And when we find ourselves standing at our own crosses, Mary can remind us to remain close to Jesus.

The Seven Sorrows also help us see the life of Jesus in a deeper way—through the eyes and heart of His Mother.

We see His childhood, His family, His suffering, His Passion, and His death through the perspective of Mary, who knew and loved Him more intimately than anyone on earth.

The more we come to know Mary's heart, the more we are drawn into the heart of Jesus.

That is why this devotion is so much more than remembering Mary's suffering. It is an invitation to walk with her, to learn from her faith, and ultimately to follow her toward Christ.

Mary's life shows us that suffering and faith can exist together. We can be hurting and still trust. We can be afraid and still have faith. We can have unanswered questions and still remain close to God.

And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful lessons Mary offers us through her Seven Sorrows: faithfulness does not mean we never suffer. It means we continue to say yes to God even in the midst of our suffering.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Seven Sorrows of Mary

What are the Seven Sorrows of Mary?

The Seven Sorrows of Mary are seven significant moments of suffering in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly as they relate to the life, suffering, and death of Jesus. Meditating on these sorrows is a Catholic devotion that invites us to reflect on Mary's faith and her union with Christ.

When is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows?

The Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15. It is a day to reflect on Mary's suffering and her faithful participation in the life and Passion of her Son, Jesus.

What is the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows?

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, also known as the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, is a Catholic devotion that invites us to meditate on seven sorrowful moments in the life of Mary and Jesus.

The chaplet is made up of seven groups of seven beads, with each group representing one of Mary's Seven Sorrows. As we move through each group of beads, we meditate on that particular sorrow while praying.

Between each group of seven beads are larger beads that help guide us from one sorrow to the next. The chaplet also includes three additional beads, traditionally used at the end of the devotion while asking Mary to help us grow in faith, hope, and love.

The beads are more than simply a way to keep track of the prayers. They give us something tangible to hold as we slow down, enter into each sorrow, and reflect on Mary's experience alongside Jesus.

As we pray through each set of beads, we are invited to place ourselves in these moments with Mary—considering her love, her suffering, her trust in God, and her unwavering closeness to Jesus.

The Seven Sorrows are the moments we meditate upon; the chaplet is the prayerful way we journey through them.

How can I begin praying the Seven Sorrows of Mary?

You can begin by setting aside a quiet time to meditate on each of Mary's Seven Sorrows and bring your own intentions, fears, suffering, and hopes to prayer.

A Rosary of the Seven Sorrows chaplet and a prayer booklet can be helpful tools, especially if you are new to this devotion and would like guidance through the prayers and meditations.

Make the Seven Sorrows Part of Your Prayer Life

After walking through the Seven Sorrows of Mary, you may find yourself wanting to return to these moments in prayer—not simply on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, but throughout the year.

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows gives us a beautiful way to do just that. This devotion invites us to slow down, meditate on the life of Jesus through the heart of His Mother, and bring our own intentions and sufferings before God.

At Marie Madeleine, we created a simple collection of devotional pieces to help make this prayer easier to incorporate into your daily or weekly prayer life: an Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary Chaplet, a prayer booklet with instructions for praying the Seven Sorrows, and an Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary Pouch to keep your prayer items together and close at hand. 

You can use the chaplet and prayer booklet together to guide you through each of the seven sorrows, taking approximately 30 minutes to pause, reflect, and pray.

Whether you are discovering this devotion for the first time or already have a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, these pieces can help create a meaningful time of prayer with Mary and Jesus.

You don't have to wait for September 15 to begin.

Set aside a quiet 30 minutes this week. Hold the chaplet in your hands, open the prayer booklet, and walk with Mary through her sorrows.

Bring her your own heart, your own suffering, and the people you are praying for.

Allow Mary to accompany you.

Allow her faith to strengthen your own.

And most importantly, allow her to lead you to her Son.

Because Mary's sorrows always lead us to Jesus.