The Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By Fr. Wade L. J. Menezes, CPM
Each year, on the Church’s universal calendar, we celebrate a “little octave” (a period of eight days) of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It begins on September 8th, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it ends on September 15th, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. During this “little octave” we also celebrate the Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary on September 12th. And, of course, on September 14th (the day before we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows) we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. What a week! All of this should remind us of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here they are, in listed form.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Prophesy of Simeon During the Presentation in the Temple
- The Flight into Egypt
- The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days
- Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (The Via Dolorosa)
- Jesus Dies on the Cross (The Crucifixion)
- Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross, and Mary’s Receiving the Body of Jesus in Her Arms (The Pieta)
- The Body of Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
The Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Annunciation
- The Nativity of Jesus
- The Adoration of the Magi
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- The Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven
- The Pentecost / Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Coronation of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven