Learn about the history of the Virgen de los Dolores, discover its origins and learn all the Catholic prayers that are made in its name, to make requests on difficult and urgent matters.
History of the Virgin of Sorrows
The Virgen de los Dolores is an invocation of the Virgin Mary, who is also known by the names of Virgen de la Piedad, Virgen de la Amargura or Virgen de las Angustias.
This devotion has its origin in the diocese of Florence in the Order of the Servites, back in the year 1239. The day of the Virgin of Sorrows September 15. This Dedication is related to the pain suffered by the Virgin Mary before the submission of her son Jesus to her.
It has a prayer composed of the “seven pains” that recount seven episodes of the life of Christ, which are related in the Gospels and which made Mary suffer when she accompanied her son on his redemptive mission.
Image of the Virgin of Sorrows
In the pictorial representation of the invocation of the Virgen de los Dolores, she can be seen looking to one side, with her hands in the form of a prayer and with a clear expression of sadness.
Throughout history various images of Our Lady of Sorrows have been made, in all of them you can clearly see the sadness in the expression of the Virgin.
See below how the Virgen de los Dolores is usually represented in the sculptures of temples and churches.
Prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows
Next you will know the two most popular prayers of this dedication. The first details the seven pains of the Virgin Mary, which recount the moments that have made the mother of Jesus Christ suffer the most.
Prayer to the Virgin of the 7 sorrows
This is a very effective prayer that you can pray in extreme, problematic or urgent situations.
You must pray this prayer for 7 days in a row so that the Virgin acts with all her divine power and intercede in the situation that afflicts you.
At the end of each prayer, pray 3 Our Fathers and 7 Hail Marys.
Our Lady of Sorrows, I present to you all my needs, anguish, sadness, misery and suffering.
Oh Mother of sorrows and queen of martyrs, who suffered so much when seeing your Son flagellated, mocked and died to save me, accept my prayers.
Kind mother, grant me true contrition for my sins and a sincere change of life.
Our Lady of Sorrows, who was present at the Calvary of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also remains present at my Calvaries. I beg you for this grace that I need so much:
(Make your request)
For mercy, oh lawyer of sinners, do not stop protecting my soul in affliction and in the spiritual combat that I am going through at all times.
Our Lady of Sorrows, when the pains and sufferings come, don’t let me get discouraged.
Mother of sorrows, wrap me in your sacred mantle and help me pass through the valley of tears.
God save you, Queen and Mother of mercy, life, sweetness and our hope, God save you! The exiled children of Eve cry out to you. To you we sigh, moaning and crying, in this valley of tears. Come then, lady, our lawyer, turn your merciful eyes to us, and after this exile, show us Jesus, blessed fruit of your womb. Oh most merciful, oh pious, oh sweet always Virgin Mary.
Stay with us and give us your help, so that we can turn struggles into victories, and pains into joys.
Pray for us, oh Mother, because you are not only the Mother of sorrows, but also the Lady of all graces.
Our Lady of Sorrows, strengthen me in the sufferings of life. (3x)
Amen.
The seven sorrows of Mary
These are the 7 sorrows of Mary, which you can pray when you have an urgent and miraculous request to make. First, pray an Our Father and seven Hail Marys.
Before reciting the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary, you must pray the act of contrition, at the end of the sorrows of Mary, pray the final prayer. Pray these prayers for 7 days in a row so that your request is heard and fulfilled.
act of contrition
My Lord, Jesus Christ, I am deeply sorry for all my sins. I humbly beg Your forgiveness and through Your grace, grant me to be truly worthy of Your love, for the merits of Your Passion and Your death and for the pains of Your Most Holy Mother. Amen.
First Sorrow – Simeon’s prophecy (cf. Luke 2,22-35)
How great was the impact on the Heart of Mary, when she heard the sad words with which Simeon prophesied the bitter Passion and death of her sweet Jesus. Dear Mother, obtain for me true repentance for my sins.
Second Sorrow – The flight to Egypt (Matthew 2,13-15)
Consider the sharp pain that Mary felt when she and Joseph had to flee suddenly at night, in order to save their beloved Son from the slaughter decreed by Herod. How much anguish was Mary’s, how many were her privations during such a long journey. How many sufferings She experienced in the land of exile. Sorrowful Mother, obtain for me the grace to persevere in trust and abandonment to God, even in the most difficult moments of my life.
Third Sorrow – The Child lost in the Temple (Luke 2,41 -50)
How agonizing was Mary’s pain when she realized that she had lost her beloved Son. Full of worry and fatigue, she returned with Joseph to Jerusalem. For three long days they searched for Jesus, until they found him in the temple. Dear Mother, when sin leads me to lose Jesus, help me find him again through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Fourth Sorrow – Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary (IV Station of the Cross)
Come closer, dear Christian, come and see if you can bear such a sad scene. This Mother, so sweet and loving, meets her Son in the midst of those who drag him to such a cruel death. Consider the tremendous pain you felt when your eyes met-the pain of the blessed Mother trying to support her Son. Mary, I also want to accompany Jesus in his Passion, help me to recognize him in my brothers and sisters who suffer.
Fifth Sorrow – Jesus dies on the Cross (John 19,17-39)
Behold the two sacrifices on Calvary – one, the body of Jesus; the other, the heart of Mary. Sad is the spectacle of the Mother of the Redeemer seeing her beloved Son cruelly nailed to the cross. She stood at the foot of the cross and heard her Son promise heaven to a thief and forgive her enemies. Her last words to Ella were: “Mother, here is your son.” And she to us she said to us in John: “Son, behold your Mother.” Mary, I accept you as my Mother and I always want to remember that you never fail your children.
Sixth Sorrow – Mary receives the Body of Jesus as he is lowered from the Cross (Mark 15, 42-46)
Consider the bitter pain that the Heart of Mary felt when the body of her beloved Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in her lap. Oh, Sorrowful Mother, our hearts shudder to see so much affliction. Make us remain faithful to Jesus until the last moment of our lives.
Seventh Pain -Jesus is placed in the Sepulcher (John 19, 38-42)
Oh Mother, so afflicted! Since in the person of the apostle Saint John you welcomed us as your children at the foot of the cross and this at the cost of such severe pain, intercede for us and obtain for us the graces that we ask of you in this prayer. Reach us, above all, oh tender and compassionate Mother, the grace to live and persevere always in the service of your beloved Son, so that we deserve to praise him eternally in heaven.
closing sentence
Oh Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, abode of purity and holiness, cover my soul with your maternal protection so that being always faithful to the voice of Jesus, respond to His love and obey His divine will. I want, my Mother, to live intimately united to your Heart that is totally united to the Heart of your Divine Son. Tie me to your Heart and to the Heart of Jesus with your virtues and pains. Protect me always. Amen.
Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
Meet below the novena to our Lady of Sorrows to make urgent requests. This novena, you must pray it for 9 nights in a row so that your requests are heard and fulfilled.
opening sentence
Oh save our Lady of Sorrows, the most painful in the world after your Son, with whose pains you were perpetually associated: I beg you to obtain strength for me to suffer for my sins, as you suffered for ours, so that, crucifying my passions and lusts on the cross of Christ, bearing the cross of my duty along the path of my life, walking after my Lord and constantly persevering by your side, oh my Mother, at the foot of the cross of your Son, live always and die with you, redeemed and sanctified by the most precious blood of our Redeemer. I also ask you, for your pains, to hear my request in this novena and, if appropriate, grant it to me.
First day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, being your flowery and fruitful tree, you were so afflicted, and I dry and useless tree, I want to live gifted and I am impatient of all inconvenience and adversity. I beg you to grant me a spirit of penance, humility and Christian mortification to imitate you and your beloved Son, crucified for me.
Second day
O Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you suffered when old Simeon prophesied to you the contradictions with which the world would persecute your Son, I beg you not to allow me to find myself among the worldly enemies of your Son, but among those who meekly profess their doctrine and reflect it in their truly Christian customs, so that it may also belong to those to whom He will be resurrection and life.
Third day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you had when the proud and ambitious Herod wanted to kill your Son, who came to give us life, free me from all ambition and pride and make it so that, instead of throwing your Son from my side, I call me, and, postponing all my interests, make him reign over me, being his faithful and obedient vassal, to reign with him in glory.
Fourth day
O Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you suffered when you lost your Son in Jerusalem and you spent three days looking for him, I beg you that I never lose him through sin and that, if I lose him, I seek him with repentance, and looking for him, I find him with sincere confession in the temple and preserve you with true religion.
Fifth day
O Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you had when you accompanied your Son to Calvary along Calle de la Amargura, let me also accompany him, carrying the cross that his providence has given me, with humble patience and dignified perseverance, suffering well. all the annoyances that come from my neighbors.
Sixth day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you had when you saw Jesus nailed to the cross, grant me that I take advantage of the fruits of his passion, that I be a true Christian, crucified with…