Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

O God, in whose passion the sword of grief did pierce the gentle soul of the glorious Virgin Mary, thy Mother, that so might be fulfilled the word of thy Prophet Simeon : mercifully grant that we who here do call to mind her sorrows ; may be fulfilled with the blessed fruits of thy passion. Who livest and reignest with the Father.

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SAINT NICOMEDES
Martyr

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE
Our Lady had the comfort of St. Joseph’s presence when Simeon prophesied to her, "Thy own soul a sword shall pierce" (Luke 2:35). The Provider was with her also during the flight into Pagan Egypt, and when they lost the twelve-year-old Jesus in Jerusalem. But it was after Joseph’s death that Mary bore the most tremendous of her sorrows: the meeting on the way to Calvary, the standing at the foot of the Cross, the removal of her Son’s body from the instrument of torture, the entombment. Mary’s boundless compassion for the sufferings of Jesus made her the Queen of Martyrs; and in her unspeakable agony she became the Mother of Christ’s Mystical Body.

Introit Jn. 19:25,26,27 – There stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother’s sister Mary of Cleophas, and Salome, and Mary Magdalen. (Jn.)Woman, behold thy son, said Jesus; and to the disciple, Behold thy Mother. Glory be to the Father. There stood…

Collect(s) – O God, in Whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, the sword of sorrow pierce the most sweet soul of the glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother; mercifully grant that we who with devotion honor her Sorrows, may obtain the happy fruits of Thy passion: Who livest and reignest.

Commemoration of St. Nicomedes – Stand by Thy people, O Lord, that they may profit by the glorious merits of blessed Nicomedes, Thy Martyr and so be enable through his patronage ever to obtain Thy mercy. Through our Lord.

Epistle Jud. 13:22,23-25 – The Lord hath blessed thee by His power, because by thee He hath brought our enemies to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord Who made heaven and earth, because He hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men, who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever; for that thou hast not spared thy life by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.

Gradual – Thou art full of sorrow and of tears, O Virgin Mary, standing near the cross of the Lord Jesus, Thy Son, the Redeemer. O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world doth not contain, beareth this torment of the cross, the Author of life made man.

Tract Lam 1:12 – Holy Mary, the Queen of heaven and mistress of the world, stood by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, full of sorrows. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow.

Sequence –

At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing
Now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep
‘Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ’s dear Mother’s pain untold.

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O sweet Mother! fount of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Mix’d with yours let my tears be,
Mourning Him Who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.

By the Cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share that grief of yours.

Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In this awful judgment day.

Christ, when You shall call me hence,
Be Your Mother my defense,
Be Your Cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
May my soul Your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally.
Amen. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn. 19:25-27 – At that time, there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother and teh disciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His Mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that He saith to the disciple: Behold thy Mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.

Offertory Jer. 19:25-27 – Be mindful, O Virgin Mother of God, when thou standest in the sight of the Lord, to speak good things for us, and to turn away His anger from us.

Secret(s) – We offer unto Thee our prayers and O Lord Jesus Christ, and humbly beseech Thee that, even as in humiliter our prayers we recall the piercing of the most sweet soul of Thy blessed Mother Mary, so through the merits of Thy death, and the repeated loving intercession of Thy Mother and her holy companions at the foot of the we may share in the reward of the blessed: Who livest and reignest.

Commemoration of St. Nicomedes – Graciously accept, O Lord, the gifts now offered, and may the prayer of blessed Nicomedes, Thy Martyr, commend them to Thy Majesty. Through our Lord.

Preface – It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Transfixion of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

Communion – Happy the Heart of the blessed Virgin Mary, who without dying earned the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of our Lord.

Postcommunion(s) – We have been filled with heavenly food and refreshed with spiritual drink, and beseech Thee, almighty God, through the intercession of blessed John, Thy Confessor, to defend us from the malicious enemy and to keep Thy Church in perpetual peace. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of St. Nicomedes – May the Sacraments which we have received cleanse us, O Lord, and through the intercession of blessed Nicomedes, Thy Martyr, bring about our release from all the bonds of sin. Through our Lord.

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