Preparatory Prayers:

—Introductory Prayer: My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so I may honor the Mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering and, through her, the suffering of Jesus. I humbly beg You to give me true repentance for all my sins, wisdom, and humility.

    —Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend You, my God, You Who are all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.    

—Then pray 3 Hail Marys: In compassion for our Sorrowful Mother’s tears and to offer our tears in union with hers.    

––Before Each Mystery, Pray: Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.

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The First Sword of Sorrow:  The Prophecy of Simeon  (Luke 2:34-35)

“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 2:34-35.

The Blessed Virgin knew that she had given birth to the Savior of mankind, so she immediately understood and accepted Simeon’s prophecy. Although her Heart was deeply touched by this favor of bearing the Baby Jesus, her Heart remained heavy and troubled, for she knew what had been written about the ordeals and subsequent death of the Savior.  Whenever she saw her Son, she was constantly reminded of the suffering He would be subject to, and His suffering became her own.

Prayer: Beloved Mother Mary, whose Heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love, and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way. Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus. Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world. You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children. Join those sorrows to your own and to those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father. You are a Mother greater than all.                

(Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys)

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The Second Sword of Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt 
(Matthew 2:13-15)

“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 fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him. Who arose and took the child and His mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and He was there until the death of Herod.”

Meditation: Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt when, St. Joseph being warned by an angel, she had to flee by night in order to preserve her beloved Child from the slaughter decreed by Herod. What anguish was hers, in leaving Judea, lest she should be overtaken by the soldiers of the cruel king! How great her privations in that long journey! What sufferings she bore in that land of exile, what sorrow amid that people given to idolatry! But consider how often you have renewed that bitter grief of Mary, when your sins have caused her Son to flee from your heart.

Prayer:  Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.

                (Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys)

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The Third Sword of Sorrow: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple 
(Luke 2:43-45)

“And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him.”

Meditation: How dread was the grief of Mary, when she saw that she had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase her sorrow, when she sought Him diligently among her kinsfolk and acquaintance, she could hear no tidings of Him. No hindrances stayed her, nor weariness, nor danger; but she forthwith returned to Jerusalem, and for three long days sought Him sorrowing. Great be your confusion, O my soul, who has so often lost your Jesus by your sins, and has given no heed to seek Him at once, a sign that you make very little or no account of the precious treasure of divine love.

Prayer:  Beloved Mother, teach us to accept all our sufferings because of our sins and to atone for the sins of the whole world.
                                  (Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys)

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The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
(Luke 23:27)

“And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him.”

Meditation: Come, O ye sinners, come and see if ye can endure so sad a sight. This Mother, so tender and loving, meets her beloved Son, meets Him amid an impious rabble, who drag Him to a cruel death, wounded, torn by stripes, crowned with thorns, streaming with blood, bearing His heavy cross. Ah, consider, my soul, the grief of the blessed Virgin thus beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing this Mother’s grief? But who has been the cause of such woe? I, it is I, who with my sins have so cruelly wounded the heart of my sorrowing Mother! And yet I am not moved; I am as a stone, when my heart should break because of my ingratitude.

Prayer:   Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful Heart and that of Jesus. In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently. Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.                          

(Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Marys)

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Ave Maria MeditationsThe Second Sorrow of Mary: The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-21)

For the 7 Sorrows Rosary pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary’s: a meditation for each Hail Mary…

When the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream

He said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage.

He sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under.

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

“Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

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