The Seven Sorrows of Mary: A Mother’s Heart United with Ours

When Our Lady appeared to St. Bridget of Sweden, she promised extraordinary graces to those who honor her by daily meditating on her seven sorrows. These promises are filled with comfort and hope for anyone carrying heavy crosses:

The Seven Promises of Our Lady to St. Bridget

1. I will grant peace to their families.

2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.

3. I will console them in their pains, and I will accompany them in their work.

4. I will give them as much as they ask for, as long as it does not oppose the will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.

5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy, and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.

6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death—they will see the face of their Mother.

7. I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion will be taken directly from earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

What beautiful promises for anyone who carries sorrow, grief, or heartache. Mary isn’t just a distant figure—she is a Mother who walks with us in every trial.

A Mother’s Suffering, Our Suffering

The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows centers on seven events in Mary’s life where she suffered alongside Jesus. Each of these moments speaks powerfully to the struggles modern Catholic women face today.

1. The Prophecy of Simeon

When Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart, she faced the terrifying truth that suffering would mark her life. As moms and women, we also live with unknowns—fear for our children’s future, anxiety about health, finances, or relationships. Despite what the world may try to tell us - suffering is inevitable. But rather than live in fear of what may come, Mary teaches us to face uncertainty with trust in God’s plan.

2. The Flight into Egypt

Mary and Joseph fled in the night to protect their Son from Herod’s violence. Every woman knows the stress of making sacrifices to keep her family safe—whether moving, changing jobs, or sleepless nights worrying about children. How often have we said, "This isn't what I thought it was going to be..." Mary reminds us that God is present even in seasons of fear and upheaval.

3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

For three agonizing days, Mary searched for her Son. Her sorrow mirrors our own panic when a child goes astray, or when someone we love feels “lost” to the faith. For me, sometimes, I'm the one who's lost - when I drift away from Jesus and I need to go in search of Him again. Mary understands the ache of searching and waiting—yet she also shows us the joy of finding Jesus again.

4. Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary

On the road to Calvary, Mary locked eyes with her battered Son. She couldn’t stop His suffering, but she could be present. How many times have we felt helpless, watching someone we love suffer? Mary shows us that our presence, love, and prayer in those moments matter more than we know.

5. The Crucifixion of Jesus

Mary stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross, watching her Son die. This sorrow reflects every mother or daughter who has sat by a hospital bed, faced the sting of loss, or walked through seasons of unbearable grief. In these seasons, we may even question God - why does He allow this suffering? Mary shows us how to remain faithful even when our hearts are breaking. She shows us to stay close to her Son.

6. The Body of Jesus Placed in Mary’s Arms

The Pieta captures this moment of unspeakable grief. Every woman who has buried a child, experienced miscarriage, or felt the ache of holding someone for the last time knows this sorrow. Mary’s arms cradled not only her Son, but all of us, as she offers her pain back to God.

7. The Burial of Jesus

Mary placed her Son in the tomb, facing the silence of separation. This sorrow mirrors the loneliness we feel after loss, when life continues but our hearts feel empty. Mary teaches us that even in the silence of grief, God is already preparing resurrection.

Walking With Mary

Mary’s sorrows remind us that no suffering is wasted when it is carried with faith.

As Catholic women, we are not called to avoid sorrow but to let it draw us closer to Christ. Our Lady of Sorrows shows us that even the deepest grief can become a pathway to hope and holiness.

A Visible Reminder

This September, we created a special Saintly Stack in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows. 

We’re honoring her with three powerful intercessors. Each of these saints faced suffering in their own way—all for the glory of God.

• Mary – Our Lady of Sorrows herself, who  bore unimaginable sorrow yet trusted fully in God’s plan.
• St. Joan of Arc – Misunderstood, imprisoned, and martyred, she remained steadfast in following God’s will.
• St. Gianna Molla – A modern saint who chose to give her life so her child could live

DISCOVER THE SEPTEMBER STACK >>

✨ Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us. ✨