Composed in Exile
Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows
℣. Lord, have mercy on us. ℟. Christ, 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, Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified, pray for us.
Mother most sorrowful, pray for us.
Mother most tearful, pray for us.
Mother afflicted, pray for us.
Mother forsaken, pray for us.
Mother bereft of thy Son, pray for us.
Mother pierced with the sword, pray for us.
Mother consumed with grief, pray for us.
Mother filled with anguish, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Rock of constancy, pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted, pray for us.
Ark of the desolate, pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned, pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed, pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Medicine of the sick, pray for us.
Help of the faint, pray for us.
Strength of the weak, pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us.
Calmer of tempests, pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful, pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful, pray for us.
Theme of Prophets, pray for us.
Staff of the Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Light of Confessors, pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins, pray for us.
Comfort of Widows, pray for us.
Joy of all Saints, pray for us.
Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Have mercy upon us.
Let us pray
Imprint, O Lord, thy wounds upon our hearts, that we may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow to endure all suffering for thee; love to despise all love but thine; who lives and reigns, world without end,
AMEN.
O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end.
AMEN.
Pairing with the Seven Sorrows Rosary
This litany acts as a natural, meditative conclusion to the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows. While a standard Rosary uses decades of ten beads to meditate on Christ’s life, the Seven Sorrows Rosary consists of seven sets of seven beads. Each “septet” focuses on one of Mary’s specific Scriptural griefs, from the Prophecy of Simeon to Christ’s burial. You may want to pray the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows immediately after completing the Our Lady of Sorrows rosary.
When is the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows Prayed?
This traditional Catholic devotion is most commonly practiced in the month of September and is also recited on Fridays as a way to meditate on the Passion of Christ through the eyes of Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows. The Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of September to Our Lady of Sorrows, as her official feast day is celebrated on September 15 every year. It is also widely recited during the forty days of Lent, particularly during Holy Week and on the Friday before Good Friday, which is traditionally known as Sorrowful Friday. Times of Personal Grief: Outside of the calendar, the litany is commonly turned to during seasons of mourning, after the loss of a loved one, or during periods of chronic illness and depression.
Prayer of Consecration in Modernized English
Having prayed this litany, you may wish to go further and formally entrust yourself to Our Lady’s Sorrowful Heart. We invite you to pray our Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows, now available in modern English—a clear, prayerful adaptation of the traditional Servite text that lets you offer your own sorrows into Mary’s keeping, in language that is easy to understand and pray from your heart.