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Our Lady of Sorrows is the title given to Our Blessed Mother reflecting the sorrows she freely endured for our salvation. Other titles by which we honor Our Lady in her suffering are The Sorrowful Mother, Mother of Sorrows, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolors. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Seven Sorrows of Mary is a popular devotional prayer consisting of a pious meditation on the sorrows she experienced. It is customary to pray one Our Father and seven Hail Marys for each of the sorrows.

The Seven Sorrows are specific events in the life of Mary where she freely accepted suffering out of her obedient faith in God. They are as follows:

1: Simeon’s Prophecy: “and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’” - Luke 2:34-35 (The New American Bible)

2: The Flight into Egypt: Mary and Joseph fled into Egypt with Jesus, sorrowing that He, the Son of God, was threatened and unwanted.

3: Jesus Lost in the Temple: The Holy Family had traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Afterwards, they returned home to Nazareth but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary searched for Jesus three days before finding Him in the Temple.

4: Meeting with Jesus Carrying His Cross: Mary’s heart bled with anguish at seeing her Son tortured and carrying His heavy Cross to Calvary.

5: The Crucifixion:  Mary stood beneath the Cross and watched her Son suffer and die. Her heart was united with his, and she prayed for all those who suffer.

6: Jesus Taken Down from the Cross: Mary sat at the foot of the Cross cradling her dead Son in her arms. Her heart was united with people throughout the world who are devastated by the death of loved ones.

7: Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher: Mary watched her dead son being placed in the sepulcher. The mournful rolling of the rock across the entrance was like the thrusting of another sword into her heart. Now His suffering was over; now her loneliness began.

Mary suffered these sorrows as part of her Fiat uttered to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. She had chosen to love God completely, and to love us as well. She loved the Father, who had chosen this way to save all humanity. She loved her Son, who had freely offered Himself up to atone for the sins of us all. She loved us, and offered her suffering so that each one of us might be reunited with God, the fulfillment of all desire.

How can we thank such a mother as this? Mary gives us the answer herself:
“Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)