NOVENA IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS (Feast day: September 15th; Period: 6th to 14th September)
At Fatima Our Blessed Mother appeared as Our Lady of Sorrows; so as devotees of the Fatima Message, it is good that we observe Her feast of sorrows and not only Her joyous feasts. September 15th every year is the day the Church has set aside to call to mind the sorrows of “so great a woman”. The novena rightly starts on the 6th of September and ends on the 14th of the same month. We are normally expected to observe the novena in honour of the Nativity of Mary (September 8). So on the 6th and 7th (when the novena of the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows just begins and when that of the Nativity of Mary is getting to an end, after only five decades of the Rosary, the two novena prayers are said.
For convenience and time factor, some centres can observe the complete 9 days novena for the feast of the Nativity of Mary and a Triduum for the feast of the Sorrows of Our Lady. This triduum should commence on the 12th, and end on the 14th. Since the 14th of September is the feast of the
Exaltation/Triumph of the cross (as well as the last day of the novena for our mother of sorrows), there should be, (after the normal Rosary and novena prayers), a talk on the feast of the triumph of the cross, ending with everyone joining in the Stations of the Cross.
PROGRAMME FOR THE NOVENA
(i) Opening Hymn and Prayer
(ii) Act of Contrition
(iii) Meditation on the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
(iv)Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows
N ovena Prayers
(v) Talk and Meditation (vi) Closing Prayer and Hymn.
(i) Opening Hymn:
O come and Mourn with Me Awhile
(ii) Act of Contrition
O Heavenly Father, we have sinned and have become unworthy of your love. With hearts filled with sorrow, we turn to you and beseech you through the seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother, have mercy on us according to the greatness of your tender mercy, and take away our sins. We desire to draw near to you and to your sorrowful daughter. We are heartily sorry for having offended you, the greatest and most loving good. We resolve to amend our lives and to sin no more. Amen.
Let Us Pray:
O Sorrowful Mother of our crucified saviour, our mother, our sweetness and our hope, we beseech You, give ear to the redeemed children of Your Divine Son, who call upon You for your powerful intercession. We ask you to obtain for us from your Divine Son the merits of His sacred Passion (call to mind the intention for which you are making this devotion/novena). O Most sorrowful mother as you stood at the foot of the cross of your dying son, so stand by us at the hour of our death and comfort us with your loving heart, that we may depart from this life in peace under your protection, and through you draw near to Jesus, Your son, our Lord who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
iii) Meditation on the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady:
(Note: The full Rosary is not said, but the prayers can be counted on the Rosary beads).
First Sorrow: The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary’s; Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt (Mt. 2:13-14)
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary’s Glory be to the Father...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Third Sorrow: The loss of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:42-43:46-48)
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary’s Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Fourth Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross (Lk 23:27)
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary’s; Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother imprint in our hearts, deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Fifth Sorrow: Mary Stands Beneath the Cross of Jesus (Jn. 19:25)
Our Father, Seven Hail Mary’s; Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts, deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Sixth Sorrow: The Body of Jesus is placed in the arms of His Blessed Mother (Jn. 19:34,37-40)
Our Father, Seven Hail Marys; Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts, deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
Seventh Sorrow: The Body of Jesus is laid in the Tomb (Lk 23:55-56)
Our Father, Seven Hail Marys; Glory be to the Father ...
Holy Mother, imprint in our hearts, deep sorrow for our crucified Jesus.
(iv) Litany of Our Lady of Sorrow
Lord, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us
Christ have mercy on us Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven
- Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
- Have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit
- Have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God
- Have mercy on us
Holy Mary
- Pray for us
Holy Mother of God
- Pray for us
Holy Virgin of Virgins
- Pray for us
Mother most sorrowful
- Pray for us
Mother most afflicted
- Pray for us
Mother most forsaken
- Pray for us
Mother most desolate
- Pray for us
Mother bereft of thy child
- Pray for us
Mother transfixed with the sword
- Pray for us
Mother consumed with grief
- Pray for us
Mother filled with anguish
- Pray for us
Mother crucified in heart
- Pray for us
Mother most sad
- Pray for us
Mountain of tears
- Pray for us
Mirror of patience
- Pray for us
Rock of constancy
- Pray for us
Anchor of confidence
- Pray for us
Refuge of the forsaken
- Pray for us
Shield of the oppressed
- Pray for us
Subduer of the unbelieving
- Pray for us
Comforter of the afflicted
- Pray for us
Medicine of the sick
- Pray for us
Strength of the weak
- Pray for us
Harbour of the wrecked
- Pray for us
Allayer of tempest
- Pray for us
Resource of mourners
- Pray for us
Terror of the treacherous
- Pray for us
Treasure of the faithful
- Pray for us
Eye of the Prophets
- Pray for us
Staff of the Apostles
- Pray for us
Crown of Martyrs
- Pray for us
Light of Confessors
- Pray for us
Pearl of Virgins
- Pray for us
Consolation of Widows
- Pray for us
Joy of all Saints
- Pray for us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
- Spare us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
- Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
- Have mercy on us
Look down upon us, deliver us and save us from all trouble in the power of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Let Us Pray
Imprint O Lady thy wounds upon our hearts that we may read therein sorrow and love sorrow to endure every sorrow for thee, love to despise everything for thee. R: Amen.
NOVENA PRAYERS
O Most Desolate of Mothers, what sword most terrible bath penetrated thy soul. Each blow which Jesus received in His passion reached thy heart. Ah! His sorrows depressed thee, especially His last words from the cross, O mother of grief and love! I come to entreat thy intercession, through thy grief and sorrows, to obtain for me the intention of this novena. (Here make your request). Remember, O Queen of heaven and earth, that thou art the Help of Christians, and refuse not to aid me in my present necessities.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
(Conclude with the Apostles creed, Hail Holy Queen and three Hail Marys in honour of the Most Holy Heart of Mary).