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Chaplet of Seven Dolors of Mary

This is a depiction of the Chaplet of the Seven Dolors
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:

"I will grant peace to their families."
"They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries."
"I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work."
"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."
"I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."
"I will visibly help them at the moment of their death - they will see the face of their mother."
"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."

The chaplet consists of 7 sets of beads (1 large, 7 small), representing the 7 Dolors (Sorrows) of Mary.

On each large bead: 1 Our Father
On each of the small beads: 7 Hail Marys

At the end of each set, recite:
V. Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

While saying the above sets of prayers, Meditate on the following:

The First Sorrow - The Prophesy of Simeon over the Tender Infant Jesus.

Let us meditate on the first Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin, when she presented her only son in the temple, laid him in the arms of holy Simeon, and heard the prophetic words, "This one shall be a sword of sorrow to pierce your own heart."

The Second Sorrow - The Desperate Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.

Forced to endure the hardships of a long journey, and becoming a foreigner in a strange land, Mary and her family flee to protect the child Jesus from those who would destroy him.

The Third Sorrow - The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days.

Jesus disappeared for three days in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, causing his parents, especially Mary, agonizing sorrow.

The Fourth Sorrow - The Sorrowful Meeting of Jesus & Mary Along the Way of The Cross.

As Jesus makes his way to Calvary, condemned to crucifixion, He meets His mother, Mary. He is bruised, derided, cursed and defiled and her sorrow is absolute as Jesus drags His own cross up the hill of His crucifixion.

The Fifth Sorrow - Mary Watches Her Divine Son Suffer and Die upon the Cross.

Mary stands near her dying Son unable to minister to him as he cries "I thirst". She hears him promise heaven to a thief and forgive his enemies. His last words, "Behold your mother," charge us to look on Mary as our mother.

The Sixth Sorrow - Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross and Placed in His Poor Mother's Arms.

The passion and death are over but for his mother, grief continues. She holds His body in her arms.

The Seventh Sorrow - Mary Watches as the Body of Her Divine Son is Buried in a Tomb.

The most tragic day in history ends, Mary alone in sorrow, as she lays the body of her Son, in the tomb.

End the Chaplet with 3 Hail Marys in honor of Our Lady's Tears.

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.

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