Via Matris 3z304l

THE VIA MATRIS A DEVOTION IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS

2ND SORROW The Flight Into Egypt

5TH SORROW Jesus Dies on the Cross

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and thy sojourn there. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety.

I grieve for thee O Mary, most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of tempera nce and the gift of counsel.

(Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.) RD

3 SORROW The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

OPENING PRAYER V. O God, come to my assistance R. O Lord, make haste to help me V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen ST

1 SORROW The Prophecy of Simeon I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God (Pause for your petitions and pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.)

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. (Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.) 4TH SORROW Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful in the consternation of thy heart at meeting Jesus as he carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. (Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.)

(Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.) 6TH SORROW Mary Receives Jesus I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy comionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. (Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.) 7TH SORROW Jesus is Placed in the Tomb I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched thy most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. (Pray the HAIL MARY Seven times in honor of her 7 sorrows.)

CONCLUDING PRAYER V. Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful R. That we made be worthy of the promises of Christ Let us Pray Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy bitter ion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

For to whom shall I fly in my wants and miseries, if not to thee, O Mother of mercy, who, having so deeply drunk the chalice of thy Son, canst most pity us poor exiles, still doomed to sigh in this vale of tears? Offer to Jesus but one drop of His Precious Blood, but one pang of His adorable Heart; remind Him that thou art our life, our sweetness, and our hope, and thou wilt obtain what I ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hail Mary, Virgin Most Sorrowful, pray for us. (Seven times) THE STABAT MATER At the Cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS MOST BLESSED and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who didst stand generously beneath the cross, beholding the agony of thy dying Son; by the sword of sorrow which then pierced thy soul, by the sufferings of thy sorrowful life, by the unutterable joy which now more than repays thee for them; look down with a mother’s pity and tenderness, as I kneel before thee to comionate thy sorrows, and to lay my petition with childlike confidence in thy wounded heart. I beg of thee, O my Mother, to plead continually for me with thy Son, since He can refuse thee nothing, and through the merits of His most sacred ion and Death, together with thy own sufferings at the foot of the cross, so to touch His Sacred Heart, that I may obtain my request, (Here pause and name the favours which you are asking Our Sorrowful Mother to obtain for you through this Novena. )

Through Her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword has ed. Oh, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blessed Of the sole-begotten One! Christ above in torment hangs, She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying, glorious Son. Is there one who would not weep. Whelmed in miseries so deep Christ’s dear Mother to behold? Can the human heart refrain From partaking in Her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold? Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, She beheld Her tender Child, All with bloody scourges rent, For the sins of His own nation Saw Him hang in desolation Till His spirit forth He sent. O Thou Mother! fount of love, Touch my spirit from above. 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 God. Holy Mother, pierce me through! 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 torments 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. Virgin of all virgins best! 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. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In His awful Judgment Day. Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defense, Be Thy Cross my victory. While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise, Safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.