# The Third Sorrow of the Seven Sorrows Chaplet
*2017-05-29*

> Bill Young leads a prayerful meditation on the third sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Jesus lost in the temple—while reciting the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows.

## Opening and Intent

Good morning, I’m Bill Young, and welcome to Prayer & Lunch. Today we continue our devotion to the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, focusing on the third sorrow. We ask St. John of the Cross to intercede for us as we meditate on Mary’s grief.

## Prayer of the Holy Trinity and the Creed

We begin with the sign of the cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Glory to the Father, and to His Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed follows: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was 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 sits 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.”

## Introductory Prayer and Act of Contrition

My God, I offer you this Chaplet of the Sorrows in honor of your most holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. May I meditate on her sufferings and unite my heart with hers. Grant us all perfect sorrow for our sins.

Act of Contrition: “O my God, I am truly sorry for my sins because they offend you, my infinite Good. By the help of your grace I resolve never to sin again. Amen.”

## The Third Sorrow: Jesus Lost in the Temple (Luke 2:41‑48)

The third sorrow recalls the episode when the twelve‑year‑old Jesus stayed behind in the Temple. When Mary and Joseph found Him, they were astonished, and Mary said, “My child, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

We pause for personal reflection, offering the Our Father: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

## Reciting the Seven Hail Marys

We now pray seven Hail Marys, each recalling Mary’s sorrow:

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

(The prayer is repeated seven times, each time invoking Mary’s intercession.)

## Concluding Prayer and Closing Blessing

We conclude with a prayer to Mary, asking her to remind our hearts of Christ’s passion and to grant us the grace to seek Him constantly, even when we feel lost, and to rejoice when we are found again.

“Queen of the Holy Rosary, we offer you our roses and garlands. May our hearts be like a garden, white, red, and gold, reflecting the mystery of Christ’s life. Amen.”

May you have a blessed Saturday.

*In the third sorrow we learn to turn our moments of loss into deeper trust in Mary’s intercession and in Christ’s loving presence.*