A rosary from the Servite Fathers, this chaplet dates back to the 13th century. The accompanying image of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary shows her heart pierced with seven swords, in reference to the Scriptural prophecy of Simeon in Luke 2:34-35: “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.’” Mary’s sorrowful heart is aflame with love for God and for all people. Meditating on her sorrows, we are invited into her unique relationship with our loving Saviour.

This is sometimes also called the Seven Dolors Rosary, “dolors” being the Latin for pain, sorrow or grief. The medals of the seven sorrows are an important part of the chaplet, and come either as plain metal medals with the pictures impressed upon them, or they come as full colour medals on one side, with images impressed on the other.

Prayers:

Begin on the centre medal. For each set of seven beads, pray one Our Father at the divider medal and seven Hail Marys on the prayer beads while meditating upon one of the following seven sorrows:

1. The prophecy of Simeon
2. The flight into Egypt
3. The loss of the Child Jesus
4. Mary meets Jesus carrying His cross
5. The crucifixion
6. Mary receives the body of Jesus from the cross
7. The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb

Pray three Hail Marys on the final three beads below the centre, in memory of Mary’s tears for her suffering Son, and to obtain true sorrow for sin.

Concluding Prayers:

Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Lord Jesus, we now implore, both for the present and for the hour of our death, the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose holy soul was pierced at the time of Your Passion by a sword of grief. Grant us this favour, O Saviour of the world, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

"We can say that the mystery of the Redemption took shape beneath the heart of the Virgin of Nazareth when she pronounced her "fiat". From then on, under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, this heart, the heart of both a virgin and a mother, has always followed the work of her Son and has gone out to all those whom Christ has embraced and continues to embrace with inexhaustible love. For that reason her heart must also have the inexhaustibility of a mother. The special characteristic of the motherly love that the Mother of God inserts in the mystery of the Redemption and the life of the Church finds expression in its exceptional closeness to man and all that happens to him. It is in this that the mystery of the Mother consists. The Church, which looks to her with altogether special love and hope, wishes to make this mystery her own in an ever deeper manner. For this the Church also recognises the way for her daily life, which is each person."

Pope John Paul II Encyclical Letter No.22d."

Redemptor Hominis (The Redeemer of Man).