September 15th: Our Lady of Sorrows

The Chaplet of the Seven Dolours of Our Lady

How to pray the Chaplet of the Seven Dolors of Our Lady

The Chaplet of the Seven Dolors of Our Lady has a total of 58 beads and a medal of the first dolor. There is a total of 7 sets of 7 beads, with 3 additional beads and a crucifix. On each of the seven beads if prayed the "Hail Mary...". On the separating beads is prayed the "Our Father...". On the 3 additional beads is prayed the "Hail Mary..." in remembrance of the tears of Mary that were shed because of the suffering of her Divine Son. These are said to obtain true sorrow for our sins.

The 7 groups of 7 Hail Mary's are recited in remembrance of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, namely:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon.
2. The flight into Egypt.
3. The loss of the Child Jesus.
4. Mary meets Jesus carrying His Cross.
5. The crucifixion.
6. Mary receives the body of Jesus from the Cross.
7. The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb.

After each set of seven beads is said the following prayer:

V. Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Concluding prayer:

Lord Jesus, we now implore,
both for the present
and for the hour of our death,
the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother,
whose holy soul was pierced
at the time of Thy Passion by a sword of grief.
Grant us this favour,
O Saviour of the world,
Who livest and reignest
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever.
Amen.

According to St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373), seven promises were made to those who medidate on Our Lady's Tears and Dolors. The Blessed Virgin grants seven graces to the souls who honour her daily by saying seven Hail Marys while meditating on her tears and dolors. These are:

1. "I will grant peace to their families."

2. "They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries."

3. "I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work."

4. "I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls."

5. "I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."

6. "I will visibly help them at the moment of their death - they will see the face of their mother."

7. "I have obtained this grace from my Divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy."

INDULGENCES
Benedict XIII., September 26th, 1724, granted an indulgence of two hundred days for every Our Father and every Hail Mary to those who, with sincere contrition, and having confessed, or firmly purposing to confess their sins, shall recite this Chaplet on any Friday, or on any day of Lent, on the Festival of the Seven Dolors, or within the Octave; and one hundred days on any other day of the year.

Clement XII., December 12, 1734, confirmed these indulgences, and moreover granted:

1. A Plenary indulgence to those who shall have recited this Chaplet for a month every day - Confession, Communion and Prayers for the Church, required as usual.

2. An indulgence of one hundred years to all who should recite it on any day, having confessed their sins, with sincere sorrow, or at least firmly purposing to do so.

3. One hundred and fifty years to those who should recite it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Holidays of obligation, with Confession and Communion.

4. A Plenary indulgence once a year, on any day, to those who are accustomed to recite it four times a week, on condition of Confession, Communion, and the Recital of the Chaplet on the day of Communion.

5. Two hundred years' indulgence to all who recite it devoutly after Confession; and to all who carry it about them, and frequently recite it, ten years' indulgence every time they shall hear Mass, hear a sermon, or reciting Our Father, and seven Hail Mary's, shall perform any spiritual or corporal work of mercy, in honor of our Blessed Saviour, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or any Saint, their advocate.

All these indulgences were confirmed by a decree of January 17th, 1747, and rendered applicable to the souls in Purgatory.

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Novena for Divine Mercy begins today

From 1931 to 1938 Our Lord revealed the secrets of His great mercy to St. Faustina. He designated the first Sunday after Easter as the Feast of the Divine Mercy of God. In preparation of this Feast, He asked that a Novena be started on Good Friday, a Novena which asks for prayers each of the nine days for a different group of souls in order to immerse them in the sea of God’s Mercy! Mass, Confession, Communion are required on Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter. Our Lord promised to the souls who follow these requests a complete remission of sin and punishment! Our Lord thus instructed Sister Faustina: “My daughter, speak to the whole world of My incomprehensible Mercy. I desire that the Feast be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. The very depths of My Mercy will be opened on that day. I will pour out a sea of graces upon those souls that will approach the font of My Mercy. Those who go to confession and receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, will obtain complete remission of sins and punishment. Let no soul fear to come to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. Tell ailing mankind to draw close to My Merciful Heart and I will fill it with peace. Mankind will not find peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy.”

FIRST DAY - Good Friday, April 2, 2010
Let us pray that God may deign to show His Mercy to all mankind.
O Most Merciful Jesus, for Whom it its most proper to be merciful unto us and to forgive us, look not upon our sins, but upon the hope which we have in Thy infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart and do not permit anyone to depart there from for all eternity for the love which unites Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit. “Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, just as we trust in Thy Holy Name, for Thou art all powerful, most kind, patient, faithful, good and merciful.” Eternal Father, view all mankind with a merciful eye, and especially the poor sinners, whose only hope is the Most Merciful Heart of Thy Son and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through His sorrowful Passion stretch Thy mercy over us, that together we may glorify Thy omnipotence for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

SECOND DAY - Holy Saturday, April 3, 2010
Let us pray for the clergy of all ranks, through whom the Mercy of God is poured out on all mankind.
Most Merciful Jesus, from Whom all good proceeds, increase Thy graces in the souls of Thy priests and religious, that they may worthily and fruitfully accomplish their tasks in Thy Vineyard, and that they may lead all by words and example to a rightful cult of Divine Mercy for all eternity. The Font of Mercy and Love Divine Resides in the hearts of the humble and the innocent, Till, bathed in the wavelets of God’s Mercy, They sparkle like the stars and the morning dew. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful glance upon the laborers in Thy Vineyard—on the souls of priests, nuns and brothers, who are the special beloved of Thy Son and Our Lord Jesus Christ. Adorn them with the power of Thy blessing and grant them special light, that they may consistently lead others along the path of salvation and may obtain for them all the graces of Thy Mercy. Amen. Our Father ... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

THIRD DAY- Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
Let us pray for all the faithful Christians.
O most Merciful Jesus, who dost bestow Thy graces upon all in abundance from the treasure of Thy Mercy, receive all faithful Christians into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart and do not abandon them for all eternity. We beg this of Thee through the love that unites Thee to the Father and the Holy Ghost. The marvels of Mercy are unexplored, Nor sinner nor just can plumb it’s deep. God views us all with Mercy’s eye. And of His love would have us reap. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful Eye upon the souls of the faithful, who are the loving heritage of Thy Son, and through His sorrowful Passion grant them Thy blessings and encompass them with Thy unceasing care, that they may never lose their love and treasure of divine faith, but that they may glorify Thy boundless Mercy with the multitude of angels and saints for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ...

FOURTH DAY- Easter Monday, April 5, 2010
Let us pray for pagans and infidels who are still in ignorance of the Mercy of God.
Most Merciful Jesus, light of the world, receive into the abode of Thy Merciful Heart the souls of pagans and infidels who have not yet acknowledged Thee. Let the rays of Thy grace enlighten them, that they too may praise the wonders of Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. May the light of Thy boundless Love Enlighten the darkling infidels. May they acknowledge and may they praise Thy goodness for all eternity! Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful glance upon the souls of pagans and infidels, who still remain in ignorance of the Most Merciful Heart of Thy Son and Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Draw them near to the light of Thy Gospel that they may recognize how great a happiness it is to love Thee and to glorify Thy Mercy for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

FIFTH DAY - Easter Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Let us pray for heretics and schismatics, who rend the Mystical body of Christ, that they may return to the unity of the Church.
O Most Merciful Jesus, who are goodness itself and who dost not refuse divine light to those who humbly seek, receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Attract them by Thy light into unity with Thy Church, that they may praise the liberality of Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. May those who have rent the cloak of Thy unity Draw from Thy Heart a surging torrent of Mercy. For Thy Mercy alone, O Lord, Can lead these souls out of error. Eternal Father, look down with Mercy, we implore Thee, upon the souls of heretics and schismatics, who have abused and squandered Thy graces and who stubbornly persist in their errors: look not upon their evil, but upon the love and the bitter Passion of Thy Son, who, about to suffer His Passion, so ardently begs of Thee: “That they all may be one” (John 17,21) -- and grant, that they may return to that unity as quickly as possible and that they may praise Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

SIXTH DAY - Easter Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Let us pray for little children and those souls, that have become like to them in their purity and simplicity.
Most Merciful Jesus, Who hast said: “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Math. 11,29), receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls of little children, and those who, like little children, have become meek and humble and have thereby graced heaven with the most pleasant delight and are a fragrant crown before the throne of Thy Heavenly Father. Grant that they may constantly dwell within Thy Sacred Heart and may continually praise the Mercy of God. A truly humble soul and meek Foretaste on earth the bliss of Paradise: The odor of a chaste and simple heart Delights all heavenly spirits and their Maker. Eternal Father, look down with Mercy upon the souls of little children and upon the souls of all those who are meek and humble and who have thereby become especially like unto Thy Son, and the fragrance of whose virtues rises up to Thy throne. O Father of Mercy, we beg of Thee, through the love and the delight which Thou hast in these souls, bless the entire world that all may unite in rendering eternal praise to Thy Mercy. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

SEVENTH DAY - Easter Thursday, April 8, 2010
Let us pray for all adorers of Divine Mercy, that they may become the living image of the most Merciful Heart of Jesus.
O Most Merciful Jesus, Whose Heart is love itself, receive into the abode of Thy Heart those souls which especially venerate and give praise to the greatness of Divine Mercy and which, though cruelly tormented for the sins of mankind, strive to make known Thy infinite goodness and abundant mercy to the entire world, Enfold them with Thy ever increasing Mercy and strengthen them always with the grace of perseverance, fortitude and patience. Praising the goodness of its Master, The soul is especially loved by Him; It is privileged to stand close to the living font To draw continual graces from Divine Mercy. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful Eye upon those souls which are especially devoted to the veneration and praise of Thy infinite Mercy and which glorify Thee by word and deed and are merciful towards their fellowmen in imitation of Thee. We humbly beseech Thee, show them even grater mercy according to the hope which they placed in Thee and in accordance with Thy promises. Protect them always and especially in the hour of death. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

EIGHTH DAY- Easter Friday, April 9, 2010
Let us pray for the souls in purgatory, that the stream of Christ’s Blood may diminish and shorten their suffering.
Most Merciful Jesus, Who hast said: “Be merciful, as your Heavenly Father is merciful” (Luke 6,36): receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls suffering in purgatory to pay their old debt to Divine Justice. May the stream of blood and water which gushed forth from Thy Heart quench the flames of purgatorial fire, that there too the power of Thy mercy may be glorified. From the horrible heat of purgatory’s fire A suppliant sigh seeks Thy Mercy’s throne. Grant these souls a cooling, solace and relief In the soothing stream of blood and water from Thy Side. Eternal Father, look down with mercy upon the suffering souls in purgatory and through the sorrowful passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the bitterness with which His Most Sacred Heart was filled, show pity to those who are now paying their debt to Thy justice. We beg of Thee, behold them through the wounds of Thy Most Beloved Son and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose mercy surpasses His justices. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

NINTH DAY - Easter Saturday, April 10, 2010
Let us pray for lukewarm and indifferent souls.
O Most Merciful Jesus, lead into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart all lukewarm souls, which like decaying corpses filled Thee with aversion and loathing in the Garden of Olives. Plunge them into the fire of Thy most pure love, that they may become inflamed with an ever increasing fire of love and may ever praise Thy boundless Mercy. Fire and ice will never unite: Either the fire must die or the ice must vanish. Only the fathomless Mercy of God Can change the ice of tepid hearts into a flame. Eternal Father, cast Thy merciful glance upon lukewarm souls. We beseech Thee through the bitter passion of Thy Most Beloved Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and through His agony upon the Cross, inflame these souls with a new zeal for Thy glory and pour a true love into their hearts. Thus quickened may they perform deeds of mercy and may they glorify the Mercy of God for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....

TENTH DAY - Mercy Sunday, April 11, 2010
Go to confession, attend Mass, and receive Holy Communion and all your sins for your whole will be forgiven and the punishment due to them will be wiped away.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).
Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.