SEVEN SORROWS OF THE
B.V.M., SERVITE CHAPLET

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Seven Sorrows
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ABOUT THE "SEVEN SORROWS"
AND SERVITE CHAPLET
HISTORY: The Servite Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows is a devotion that recalls seven sorrowful episodes in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The practice originated with the Servite Order (Servants of Mary), probably soon after the Order was founded in Monte Senario, Italy, in 1233.

Two feast days, established much later, commemorate the Seven Sorrows.
Spanish-speaking countries honor the Virgin of Solitude or Virgen de la Soledad on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). Queen Juana of Spain introduced this custom following the sudden death of King Philip I, her husband, in 1506. The observance recalls Mary's profound solitude on the day between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

The second feast day, observed internationally on September 15, is the Virgin of Sorrows--known in Spanish as the Virgen de Dolores. Mexicans associate her with their Independence Day, celebrated on September 16. The call that began the war for independence--the "Grito de Dolores"--occurred on September 16, 1810, in Dolores, Hidalgo, a town named after the Virgin of Sorrows. The "Grito", then, signifies both the "shout" for freedom issued in that town and the Virgin's sorrow over the sufferings of the Mexican people.

The traditional symbol of the Seven Sorrows is the Sorrowful Heart of Mary, that is, a heart pierced with seven swords and topped with a flame representing her love for God and for all humanity. The swords refer to the Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2: 33-35). See the First Sorrow.
PRAYERS: The worshiper prays one "Our Father" and seven "Hail Marys" for each of the Seven Sorrows. The final prayers are: three more "Hail Marys", to honor the tears of the Sorrowful Virgin; one "Our Father", one "Hail Mary", and one "Glory Be" for the intentions of the Pope; an invocation to the Sorrowful Virgin (optional) and a concluding offertory (optional).

There are numerous non-Servite versions of this devotion practiced in Mexico. Some require only one "Hail Mary" for each Sorrow, instead of seven, or increase the number of Hail Marys from seven to ten. Still others add one "Glory Be" after each set of "Hail Marys." Virtually all add unique opening and closing prayers. There appears to be no standard Mexican version of the Seven Sorrows chaplet.
BEADS: Like the Holy Rosary, the Seven Sorrows is a "bead-prayer." Servite beads are designed to keep count of the prayers. They are not required to perform the devotion, however. There are 49 beads in the circlet, organized into seven sets of seven beads. Each set is preceded by a medal depicting one of the Seven Sorrows. The beads in the circlet are used to pray the "Hail Mary." The medals in the circlet are used for the "Our Father." The medal for the First Sorrow (The Prophecy of Simeon) closes the circlet. It connects to a pendant string of four
more beads, ending with a larger medal depicting the Virgin of Sorrows. The beads in the pendant string represent the final prayers.

To pray the Seven Sorrows using beads: Start with the medal for the First Sorrow (the one that connects the circlet). Follow the beads and medals until you return to the First Sorrow medal. Then skip to the end of the pendant string. Pray one "Hail Mary" on each of the first three beads in the string. Use the last bead, the one closest to the First Sorrow medal, to pray the rest of the final prayers.

To pray the Seven Sorrows online, with step-by-step instructions and complete texts of the prayers, see Seven Sorrows-Online Prayer.

Original essay
E.M. Mulhare, 27-Feb-2002
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Publications in English
Cross, F.L., and E.A. Livingstone, eds.
1997 "Servites, Order of (Ordo Servorum BVM)." In The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. p. 1488. New York: Oxford University Press.
Cross, F.L., and E.A. Livingstone, eds.
1997 "Seven Sorrows of the BVM." In The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. p. 1490. New York: Oxford University Press.
Griffin, Patrick J.
1999 "Order of Servites (Servants of Mary)." In The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIII. Original 1912, Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition, 1999. Herman F. Holbrook, transcriber. Arvada, Colorado: New Advent/Kevin Knight. Available from http://newadvent.org/cathen/13736a.htm
Holweck, F.G.
1999 "Feasts of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary." In The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV. Original 1912, Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition, 1999. Christine J. Murray, transcriber. Arvada, Colorado: New Advent/Kevin Knight. Available from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14151b.htm
Servants of Mary, Order of
1999 Rosary of the Seven Sorrows; Servite Rosary. Accessed 29-Oct-1999. Portland, Oregon: National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. Available from http://www.thegrotto.org/rosary_of_the_seven_sorrows.htm
Shaughnessy, Patrick, O.S.B., S.T.D.
1984 "The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows (Servite)." In Twenty-four Rosaries and Chaplets. Original 1954, St. Meinrad Archabbey. Reprint. pp. 30-31. Louisville, Kentucky: Our Lady's Rosary Makers.

Publications in Spanish
De-Zarco, Mariano
1992 "Devoción en memoria de los Siete Dolores del corazón de María que menciona la Biblia." In Preces de alabanza y liberación. pp. 22-23. Mexico City: Congregación de Misioneros Franciscanos.
Donadoni, Antonio, S.J.
n.d. "Devoción admirable de los Siete Dolores." In El devoto del purgatorio, o sea Misa y oraciones en favor de las Benditas Ánimas. pp. 233-237. Mexico City: Librería Gerardo Mayela, distributor.
Hermandad de Nuestra Señora del Sol
n.d. Corona Dolorosa de los Siete Dolores de Nuestra Señora la Virgen Santa María. Sevilla, Spain. Accessed 24-Feb-2002. Available from http://www.hermandadsol.galeon.com/taller04.htm
Iglesia.org
2001 Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores. [Does not indicate city or country of publication]. Accessed 25-Feb-2002. Available from
http://www.iglesia.org/articulos/maria_dolores.html
Mach, José, S.J.
c1970 "Corona de los Siete Dolores de María Santísima." In Ancora de Salvación. New edition, original 1912. pp. 270-282. Mexico City: Librería Guadalupana.
Siervas de Los Corazones Traspasados de Jesús y María.
1999 Los Siete Dolores de María Santísima. Coral Gables, Florida. Accessed 25-Feb-2002. Available from http://www.corazones.org/maria/siete_dolores.htm
CREDITS

Illustration 1: "Virgin of Solitude", ©2002 by E. M. Mulhare.
Illustration 2: "Servite Prayer-beads", ©2002 by E. M. Mulhare.

Texts of prayers in this work are traditional devotions of the Roman Catholic Church and pertain to the public domain.

All other content, including graphics and artwork, Copyright ©2002 by E. M. Mulhare, Hamilton, NY 13346 USA. All Rights Reserved. Published electronically as part of Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Servite Chaplet. Original created 31-Jan-2002. This page last modified 27-Feb-2002.



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