# Praying the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows
*2015-09-16*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Cornelius and leads listeners in a concise Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, offering petitions for virtues and gifts.

## Feast of St. Cornelius

Good morning, I’m Bill Young. Today is Wednesday, September 16, the feast day of St. Cornelius. He was pope for only two years, spent his final days in exile, and died a martyr. His short pontificate brought stability to the Church after a fourteen‑year vacancy following the persecution of St. Fabian.

## Introducing the Chaplet

We’ll pray the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. It’s a shorter version of the longer chaplet we did yesterday, making it easier to use in daily prayer. Let’s begin with the sign of the cross and a brief opening prayer.

## Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh God, come to my aid; Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only‑Begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## The Seven Sorrows

For each sorrow we repeat a short petition, invoking Mary’s suffering and asking for a virtue and a gift:

1. **The Prophecy of Simeon** – “Dear Mother, through your afflicted heart grant me the virtue of humility and the gift of wonder in God’s presence.”
2. **The Flight into Egypt** – “Dear Mother, through your sorrowful heart grant me the virtue of generosity to the poor and the gift of holiness.”
3. **The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple** – “Dear Mother, through your troubled heart grant me the virtue of patience and the gift of courage.”
4. **The Meeting of Jesus on the Way to Calvary** – “Dear Mother, through your sorrowful heart grant me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.”
5. **The Crucifixion of Jesus** – “Dear Mother, through your tormented heart grant me the virtue of temperance and the gift of right judgment.”
6. **The Piercing of Jesus’ Side** – “Dear Mother, through your pierced heart grant me the virtue of charity and the gift of understanding.”
7. **The Burial of Jesus** – “Dear Mother, through your grieving heart grant me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom.”

Each petition is concluded with the Hail Mary: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

## Closing Prayer

Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, grant that at the hour of our death we may obtain the mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose soul was pierced by the sword of sorrow during her passion. Through your grace, O Savior of the world, we ask this. Amen.

*The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows invites us to unite our own trials with Mary’s, receiving virtues that lead us closer to Christ.*