Among the many devotions that have accompanied the Church’s journey through time, few have developed such deep spiritual resonance as the devotion to the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Rooted in both Scripture and the lived experience of the faithful, this devotion invites meditation on seven events in Mary’s life in which she shared intimately in the sufferings of Christ. It is a path of spiritual solidarity with the Mother of God, whose pierced heart remains a symbol of both compassion and unwavering faith.
The devotion first emerged in 13th-century Florence with the Servite Order, or Servants of Mary. These seven laymen left behind the bustle of merchant life and dedicated themselves to a life of penance and contemplation of the Virgin’s sorrows. As war, plague, and political upheaval rocked medieval Europe, devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows took on a deeply pastoral function: she became the sorrowing mother to whom Christians turned in times of grief, illness, and fear.
The Seven Sorrows are as follows:
- The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25–35)
- The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15)
- The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–50)
- Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Luke 23:27–31)
- The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25–30)
- The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (Luke 23:50–54)
- The Burial of Jesus (Luke 23:55–56)
These seven episodes span from Christ’s infancy to His burial. Through each sorrow, Mary not only suffers as a mother but participates in the mystery of salvation, offering her silent “yes” alongside her Son’s sacrifice. This understanding of Mary as Co-Redemptrix—a term rich in theological nuance—developed from this early contemplative devotion.
The Seven Sorrows were further promoted in the 14th century by St. Bridget of Sweden, whose mystical writings and visions deeply influenced Catholic spirituality. Later saints such as Alphonsus Liguori and Maximilian Kolbe continued to encourage this devotion. Pope Pius VII approved the Seven Sorrows Rosary, granting indulgences to those who recited it with devotion. The rosary consists of seven sets of seven Hail Marys, each preceded by a meditation on one of Mary’s sorrows.
Liturgical Commemoration
In the Roman liturgical tradition, the sorrows of Mary are commemorated most solemnly on September 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. However, an earlier and equally poignant observance occurs on the Friday before Palm Sunday, in what was traditionally called the Friday of Sorrows—Feria Sexta in Passione. Though no longer included in the post-1970 Roman Missal, this day continues to be marked in the 1962 calendar and remains a cherished moment of Marian reflection in many Catholic cultures.
Historically, this day served as a liturgical and emotional preparation for Holy Week. It focused the faithful’s attention on Mary’s interior martyrdom in anticipation of the Cross. In Passiontide, as images in churches are veiled and the Gospel becomes increasingly somber, the Church gives voice to the grief of the Mother. Her sorrows help the faithful interpret the Passion not only as a divine event but as a deeply human one.
Stunning Roman Station Church
In the Roman station church itinerary, one church that silently echoes Mary’s sorrows is San Marcello al Corso, the station for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent. Known for its miraculous crucifix, the church also houses a striking sculpture of the Pietà, carved in wood by Francesco Cocchi in the 17th century. Mary is shown cradling the lifeless body of Christ with both tenderness and anguish. The statue, tucked in a quiet side chapel, invites pilgrims to contemplate the Sixth and Seventh Sorrows with visual immediacy. In a church often associated with intercession during plagues, the image of the sorrowful Mother becomes a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of faith in suffering.
The School of Our Lady of Sorrows
The devotion to the Seven Sorrows is not a pious excess or a historical relic—it remains a school of Christian maturity. Mary teaches us how to stand at the foot of the Cross: not with despair, but with love that is willing to suffer, willing to hope, and willing to remain present in the face of death. In a world still marked by suffering and conflict, her tears continue to offer comfort.
To walk with Mary through her sorrows is to draw close to the mystery of Christ’s Passion in a profoundly human way. It is to allow her maternal heart to form our own hearts in patience, compassion, and steadfast trust in God’s promise of redemption.
Crux Stationalis 