Sorrowful & Immaculate Heart of Mary Pray For Us!
The Via Matris
Let us pray.
God our Father, you gave the Holy Spirit to your apostles as they joined in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus. By the help of her prayers keep us faithful in your service and let our words and actions be so inspired as to bring glory to your name. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
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Amen
THE FIRST SORROW: THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
Reflection:
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Mary, full of joy, brings Jesus to the Temple. Simeon challenges her simple happiness with his disturbing words, just as Jesus will challenge all who hear his gospel preached. Our lives are an unbalanced mixture of joy and sorrow. Let us think of the way Jesus and Mary stood up against so much opposition from sinners, and then we will not give up for want of courage.
Prayer:
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Mary, seat of all wisdom, Simeon helped you to understand the path your son Jesus had to walk in order to be the redeemer of all humanity. That path was the painful road of humiliation and suffering. Help us to recognize that we, too, must faithfully join you and your divine son in the mystery of suffering so that we may know the joys of sharing in the resurrection and life everlasting.
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE SECOND SORROW: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
Reflection:
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Joseph, a man of great faith, takes Mary and her child into Egypt following the command of God so that the Word that has been planted in the world might grow and bear fruit. Jesus will tell his disciples that whoever leaves home, relatives, and country, and bears suffering for the sake of the gospel will join him around the Father's table in the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer:
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Mary, comforter of the exiled, in this world there are many stumbling blocks that keep us from practicing everything that faith in your son demands. Pray for us, that we may have the strength to turn away from anything or anyone who leads us from Jesus.
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE THIRD SORROW: THE LOSS OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
Reflection:
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The discovery that Jesus is missing plunges Mary into the center of the age-old conflict with which every parent must contend. The precious little baby whose every need must be taken care of has suddenly grown into young adulthood and asserts his independence. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not spared the anxiety over the disappearance of her son, the exhaustion of the search, and the disappointment caused by the apparent lack of respect for family.
Prayer:
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Mary, strength of the broken hearted, through the loss of your holy child, you experienced the human feelings of worry, fatigue, disappointment, and anger. Pray for us that we, who often are weighed down with the disappointments of life, may be comforted by Christ's presence in the Church. And so, strengthened in our search for the peace of mind that is offered to all God's sons and daughters through the mystery of salvation, we may come to share in the inheritance that is yours with the saints and angels forever.
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE FOURTH SORROW: MARY MEETS JESUS ON THE WAY TO CALVARY
Reflection:
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Jesus begins to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion. Later, Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to carry the cross behind Jesus. We recall the words of Jesus: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." We recall that throughout her life Mary gave up what she wanted in order to fulfill the plan of God.
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Prayer:
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Mary, Mother of Sorrows, you readily accepted the crosses offered to you by God so that we could be saved. You were not embarrassed to be a virgin mother. You were not insulted when your son spoke harshly to you at Cana. You were not destroyed by the agony of your son's death. Pray for us, that we may have the strength to pick up our crosses daily and follow Jesus. Help us to see that we must lose our lives for the gospel in order to gain life eternal.
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE FIFTH SORROW: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
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Reflection:
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Mary stands at the foot of the cross upon which Jesus hangs. She is comforted by some of her relatives and friends. Jesus painfully addresses her with the words "Woman, behold your son." She hears the echo of the strong voice that once said: "Woman, my hour has not yet come," and realizes that this is the hour of which he was speaking. Her sorrow is complete when she hears him utter: "It is finished," and watches him breathe his last breath.
Prayer:
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Mary, Mother of consolation, as you stood at the cross, close to your son until the end, you remembered the harsh words of Simeon many years before: “a sword will pierce through your own soul also." You patiently watched for the day when the Word of God would be revealed in full glory. Yet your hope seemed to be shattered at the cruel death of your son. Help us to be ever faithful to our Lord. Teach us to join with you in proclaiming: "I am the handmaid of the Lord: let it be done to me according to your word."
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE SIXTH SORROW: MARY RECEIVES THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS IN HER ARMS
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Reflection:
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Joseph of Arimathea takes the dead body of Jesus from the cross. He carefully wraps Jesus in a shroud. The funeral procession to the tomb begins. Mary watches Joseph and his companions perform this sad task. She remembers the joy that was in her heart when she wrapped her son in swaddling clothes on the day of his birth. The happenings of a life-time run through her mind as she follows the hastily gathered pallbearers to the cemetery.
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Prayer:
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Mary, cause of our joy, as you made your painful way from Calvary to the grave, you carried the suffering of your son in your heart. You once carried his helpless body in your womb; now you follow his lifeless body to the tomb. Help us to open our eyes to the treasures God has given us, before they slip away from us. Help us to realize that God is with us in the desert of this life. Pray that our hope in the resurrection will strengthen us as we carry our afflictions in patience.
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
THE SEVENTH SORROW: JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB
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Reflection:
The funeral procession arrives at the cemetery. Joseph of Arimathea lays the body of Jesus in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. The women who had traveled with Jesus from Galilee return to their lodgings in order to prepare the spices and ointments for embalming. No doubt a certificate of death has been quietly filed. As far as men are concerned, the last chapter of Jesus' life has been completed. As far as God is concerned, the best chapter is yet to come.
Prayer:
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Mary, help of Christians, your whole life was characterized by your deep faith in God. Yet it was this same faith that gave you such grief. At every turn of your life there was a painful surprise. Nevertheless, you seemed to sense the true meaning of life. In your final moment of grief, help us to understand clearly the meaning of your son's words: "Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit."
Hail Mary... Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
Let us praise God the Father who chose Mary as the mother of his Son and wanted all generations to call her blessed. Father, you have looked on the Virgin Mary and made her the mother of mercy; May those who are in danger experience the depth of her love.
You called Mary to be the mother in the house of Jesus and Joseph; Through her prayers help all mothers to make their homes places of love and holiness. You gave Mary the strength to stand beneath the cross and made her radiant with joy in the resurrection; Raise up the sorrowful and transform their lives with hope. Mary was your faithful handmaid who treasured your words in her heart; Through her intercession let us become true disciples of your Son, devoted to his service. Father, you exalted the Virgin Mary and crowned her queen of heaven; May the dead enter your kingdom and rejoice with your saints forever. Now in the silence of our hearts, let us remember those intentions for which we wish to pray… (pause) Let us pray.
Father, as your Son was raised on the cross, his mother Mary stood by him, sharing his sufferings. May your Church be united with Christ in his suffering and death and so come to share in his rising to new life, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen