
In many cultures, it is a tradition in the Church to remember the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows in a special way on this Friday before Palm Sunday. It is known as the Friday of Sorrows. It takes place exactly one week before Good Friday and is meant to bring to mind the agony that the Passion of Jesus caused our Blessed Mother. In the Anglican Ordinariate's Divine Worship: The Missal it is called Saint Mary in Passiontide and sometimes it is traditionally known as Our Lady in Passiontide. In certain Catholic countries, especially Brazil, Guatemala, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Spain, it is the beginning of Holy Week celebrations and often termed Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows) or a similar local name. Our Lady of Sorrows has another Feast Day on September 15. The Seven Sorrows include 1. the Prophecy of Simeon, 2. the Flight into Egypt, 3. the Loss of Jesus in the Temple, 4. Mary meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, 5.the Crucifixion of Jesus, 6. Jesus's Descent from the Cross, and 7. Jesus's Burial.
PRAYER from the Collect of the Mass: O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, the sword of sorrow didst pierce the most sweet soul of the glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother; mercifully grant that we who call to mind with veneration her anguish and suffering, by the glorious merits and prayers of all the Saints who faithfully stood beneath the Cross interceding for us, may obtain the blessed fruit of Thy Passion, Thou Who livest and reigneth with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
SEE ALSO: Powerful PRAYERS Honoring Our Lady of Sorrows with Novena, Litany and Rosary and Promises to Share! https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2024/09/powerful-prayers-honoring-our-lady-of.html
It is customary for people to setup altars to the Virgin of Sorrows on this day, often decorating them with candles, flowers, and a variety of foods. At dawn, men also give flowers to the women in their families. So, it’s somewhat of a beautiful tradition that recognizes the great sorrow that filled Mary’s heart as she witnessed the death of her son upon the Cross. I think the mothers among us are the ones who can, in a special way, understand the great suffering that Mary endured on that first Good Friday.
Before the revision of the Mass following the Second Vatican Council, all of the Roman Rite commemorated the Blessed Mother on this day. In 2002, an optional Opening Prayer was added to the Roman Missal for this day that called to mind the Blessed Mother.
Passion week is the holiest and most solemn week within the tradition of our faith. In Passiontide, let’s call to mind those areas of our lives where we are enduring some kind of hardship or suffering. As difficult as it can be to walk through those moments, we have to cling more firmly each day to Jesus. He is our hope and we can be certain that He and His Mother are with us because they, too, endured incredible suffering. So today, on this Friday of Sorrows, may we ask the Lord and His mother to be our companions, that they might comfort us in our moments of sorrow and pain.
Before the revision of the Mass following the Second Vatican Council, all of the Roman Rite commemorated the Blessed Mother on this day. In 2002, an optional Opening Prayer was added to the Roman Missal for this day that called to mind the Blessed Mother.
Passion week is the holiest and most solemn week within the tradition of our faith. In Passiontide, let’s call to mind those areas of our lives where we are enduring some kind of hardship or suffering. As difficult as it can be to walk through those moments, we have to cling more firmly each day to Jesus. He is our hope and we can be certain that He and His Mother are with us because they, too, endured incredible suffering. So today, on this Friday of Sorrows, may we ask the Lord and His mother to be our companions, that they might comfort us in our moments of sorrow and pain.
It is customary to sing or recite the Stabat Mater prayer:
iuxta crucem lacrimosa dum pendebat filius | Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus at the last. |
contristantem et dolentem pertransivit gladius | Bowed with anguish, deeply grieved, Now at length the sword hath passed. |
illa benedicta mater unigenti quae maerebat et dolebat et tremebat dum videbat nati poenas incliti | Was that Mother, highly blest, Of the sole begotten One! Oh that silent, ceaseless mourning, Oh those dim eyes, never turning From that wondrous, suffering Son! |
matrem Christi si videret in tanto supplicio Quis non posset contristari piam matrem contemplari dolentem cum filio | In her trouble so amazing, Born of woman would not weep? Who on Christ's dear Mother thinking, Such a cup of sorrow drinking, Would not share her sorrow deep? |
vidit Iesum in tormentis et flagellis subditum vidit suum dulcem natum morientem desolatum dum emisit spiritum | Saw Him hang in desolation Till His Spirit forth He sent; Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, She beheld her tender Child, All with bloody scourges rent. |
fac ut tecum lugeam Fac ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam | Make my heart with thine accord. Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ my Lord. |
crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide tui nati vulnerati tam dignati pro me pati poenas mecum divide Fac me vere tecum flere crucifixo condolere donec ego vixero iuxta crucem tecum stare meque tibi sociare in planctu desidero | In my heart each wound renew Of my Savior crucified; Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torment died. Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live. By the cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray, Is all I ask of thee to give. |
mihi iam non sis amara fac me tecum plangere fac ut portem Christi mortem passionis fac consortem et plagas recolere Fac me plagis vulnerari cruce had inebriari et cruore filii | Listen to my fond request; Let me share thy grief divine. Let me to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of thine. Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swooned In His very blood away. |
inflamatus et accensum in die iudicii | Lest in flames I burn and die In His awful judgment day. |
morte Christi praemuniri confoveri gratia | Be Thy Mother my defense, Be Thy Cross my victory. |
fac ut animae donetur paradisi gloria | May my soul Thy goodness praise Safe in Paradise with Thee. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_of_Sorrows
https://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/7sorrows.htm
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