OCTOBER DEVOTION: DAY 28 – “OUR LADY OF SORROWS”

DAY 28 PRAYER INTENTION: Today, pray for all those who have been through various kinds of sorrows and sufferings in life and especially for the sake of Christ. May Our Lady of Sorrows visit them, comfort them, strengthen them and obtain for them the peace of her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ both in this life and in the world to come, to the greater glory of God. Amen (Also add your own intention…)

Now, say the 20 decades of the Rosary…

At the end of the 20 decades, say the following Prayers:

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! St. Joseph, pray for us!

Litany of Loreto

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us (Repeat after each invocation)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary,
pray for us (Repeat after each invocation)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of Mercy,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother of Hope,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honour,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Solace of Migrants,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most Holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace.

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.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Prayer to Saint Joseph after the Rosary

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength.

O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, die a holy death, and obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

DAY 28 REFLECTION: A CALL TO SHARE IN JESUS’ PASSION LIKE HIS BLESSED MOTHER

It is true that we live in an era where compassion is colossally lacking. Today’s reflection for our October reflection is centered around a penitential title of Our Lady (Our Lady of Sorrows). This teaches us true and consistent compassion for she becomes an example to us all, as one who suffers with Jesus. Pope Benedict XVI summed up the sentiment of this title on one of the occasions of its liturgical celebration: “Today, as we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, we contemplate Mary, who shares the Son’s compassion for sinners.” As Saint Bernard states, ‘the Mother of Christ entered the Passion of the Son through her compassion.’

The letter to the Hebrews (5:7-9) shows us the feelings of Jesus in his passion: “During His life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the One who had the power to save Him out of death (…) Although He was Son, He learned to obey through suffering…” This passion of Jesus was imprinted in the heart of His Mother. The cries and the tears of her Son made her suffer in an atrocious way, but at the same time, she joined in the piety of Jesus, submitted, like Him, to the Will of the Father. This is what we see in John 19:25-27. Here, Mary weeps before the tortured body of her Son at the foot of the Cross, sharing in his passion, as depicted in today’s gospel reading. This brief text is at the centre of the account of the “Presentation of Jesus in the temple.” Put differently, John 19:25-27 becomes a fulfilment of the prophecy of Simeon: “and a sword will pierce you own soul too…” (cf. Lk 2:35) as a result of the torture inflicted on her Innocent Son, born of her flesh. The “sword,” which pierces her soul and reaches the heart, foretells the sufferings and pains that Mary shares with her Son.

For all of this, Mary’s compassion is true: she shared in the suffering of her Son and accepted, with Him, the Father’s Will, in an attitude of obedience that overcomes suffering. This is a strong lesson for us, who, for most of the time, possess superficial compassion. We need to have Mary’s faith in order to show true compassion for the sufferings endured by our Blessed Lord for humanity, and also extend this compassion to our brethren in need. Today’s readings should make us think of suffering, which continues to be a reality in the individual and collective history of humanity. Dear friends in Christ, how important it is for us to learn from Mary! In the midst of life’s difficulties, pains and anguish, it is pertinent to see beyond the pains with a look of faithfulness and trust in the Lord, as Mary did. Moreover, what was Mary’s attitude toward pain and suffering? She remained standing and firm. By sharing in her Son’s passion, she knew that her Son’s sufferings would bring about the redemption of the world. In other words, we can say that in the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there was pain, and at the same time, joy. Pain, because her only treasure was subjected to a shameful death on the cross by the cruelty and injustice of men. Joy because she knew it was for the redemption of humanity and with the certainty that her Son would rise as he had promised.

On this day, therefore, I invite us to look at Our Lady of Sorrows and learn from her in order to remain faithful to God before our daily crosses, with a look of faith and hope in the promises of God. Pain often makes us stronger, mature; thus, preparing us for the future. Our lesson today is to imitate the faith of our Blessed Mother Mary who was faithful to the end even in the midst of sorrows and pains; just as the letter to the Hebrews asks us to imitate the faith of our “elders in the faith” who spoke God’s Word to us (cf. Heb. 13:7). This is a sure way of inheriting eternal life. Thus, when we find ourselves in these challenging situations, may our prayers be like today’s Psalmist: “Save me, O Lord, in your steadfast love. In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame.” (Ps. 30(31):2-6,15-16,20)

Blessing
Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, may Almighty God bless + you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.