Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, I am tired of the cruelty of my condition. Of the condition of the world. When will you grant me rest from this pain? When will the world also be a place of mercy?

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, I ache. My body and my soul longs to be still in you. Grant me some solace. 

Lord, have mercy.

I see the pain of others too, Lord. When will they feel your comfort? 

Christ, hear us.

Sometimes it feels like all I can do is silently cry, God. 

Christ, graciously hear us.

But even in my silence, You promise that You are listening.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

You are a loving Father. You did not abandon Your beloved Son, even in the pain of the Cross. But it still hurts, Father. Your child needs You. 

God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.

Jesus, help me to remember that Your suffering had a purpose: the redemption of the world. Help me to remember that my own suffering has a purpose, even if I don’t know what it is. 

God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, be my guiding light in the darkness of my doubt, of my pain. Help me to hear Love’s plan for me, and have the courage to follow it. 

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Oh most Holy Trinity, a mystery of faith. Help me to also have faith in things that I do not know. To be content in trusting You and your guidance, not just my own will. 

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Mary, you know how hard it is to approach you. You seem beyond any sort of connection. Favored in a way I will never be. But here I am. I want to know you and know Your Son through you. 

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

A mother in a way no one else ever was. You said yes to something even you could not fully understand. May my meager fiat be the beginning of learning your trust and humility, even when it is the most painful yes I have ever had to make. 

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

May I have a pure heart in following Your Son, even when the world and my heart tells me peace and happiness can be found a different way, an easier way. 

Mother crucified, pray for us.

Mother Mary, you felt Your Son’s pain on the cross just as you feel mine now. Every test, every jab of a needle. Every single moment of pain, you know it as if it happened to you. 

Sorrowful Mother, pray for us.

I can see your face Mary, how you ached for what had to happen for the world to be redeemed. While you would know joy unlike another human, the sorrow you must have felt in the days before seeing your Son resurrected is beyond words.

Tearful Mother, pray for us.

You weep when I do, Mary. Maybe your tears are not so different from mine. Did you also ask God, “Why? Why must this happen?” as you saw Love itself crucified? Do you understand my pain as I ask God that each time a negative test comes up, or another appointment has to be scheduled?

Afflicted Mother, pray for us.

You see my sickness. Both in my body and my heart. You know the pain of a human body, of trying to take care of others when you yourself must feel tired or anxious about what must be next. Be with me in my own afflictions. 

Forsaken Mother, pray for us.

“My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?” Your Son’s words could have been your own at that moment. Or when you fled with your son and St. Joseph from the sword of Herod. Give me the faith you had to cling to God when all I feel is abandoned. 

Desolate Mother, pray for us.

Desolation: a word I know too well. Sit with me, Mother, in my own times where I feel alone. When God is acting in ways that seem so far from my understanding. 

Mother bereft of thy Child, pray for us.

How many times will it seem like a child will be there, and not? Or come so close to what you were expecting only to have something go horribly wrong. A loss unimaginable. Mother, please wipe my tears through pain unlike any other. Hold me until I can catch my breath again. 

A Mother without a child, pray for us.

Mother of Love itself, help me to shoulder the cost of motherhood in all ways. To know that even if one mother gains a child, another has lost one. To hold both tenderly in your arms. 

Mother transfixed with the sword, pray for us.

The sword of loss. The sword of doubt. The sword of grief. Too many swords have pierced both of us Mary. I know that now. 

Mother overwhelmed with grief, pray for us.

When no words can be said, you and Love do understand. That grief that you had to suffer to understand God’s plan in the end. 

Mother filled with anguish, pray for us.

Mary, walk with me in my own Garden of Gethsemane. To help me understand, as you and Jesus did, that it is my “yes” that will bring me peace after the agony. 

Mother crucified in heart, pray for us.

For when another announcement, another bad result or test comes around and pierces my heart, please be there Mother Mary.

Mother most sad, pray for us.

You do not see my aching heart as wrong, for you also had to hold the weight of grief. 

Fountain of tears, pray for us.

You cried and cried, yet you trusted in God’s plan. Mother, teach me to hold both in my heart. 

Vial of suffering, pray for us.

Hold my suffering with yours, Mother. I am your child just as much as your Son is. 

Mirror of patience, pray for us.

Teach me to know God’s timing. To reflect on things and know Love will win in the end. 

Rock of constancy, pray for us.

You are there for me, Mother. You always have been and always will be. Walk with me toward Your Son. 

Anchor of confidence, pray for us.

Teach me to make my every day fiats as strong as yours. To know the protection that Love gives, and to know that Love will never disappear. 

Refuge of the forsaken, pray for us.

I can rest in your arms, Mary. I know your pierced heart understands mine perfectly. A mother will not abandon her child. 

Shield of the oppressed, pray for us.

For every unkind word or action I have felt along this journey, may you be there to soften the blow. To help me feel the protection of your gaze. To know Your Son is also watching over me. 

Subduer of the unbelieving, pray for us.

For when I am worn down by the world, give me the gentle nudge to stay the course. To know Love and follow Him. 

Comfort of the afflicted, pray for us.

I see you wipe my tears. How you send relief to me in little, unexpected ways. 

Medicine of the sick, pray for us.

Even if I am not “cured,” you sit with me in those doctors’ offices, healing my heart from anxiety. A confidante of my fears and hopes as any mother should be to her beloved child. 

Strength of the weak, pray for us.

You give strength to my soul, Mary, which is just as important as strength in my body. Help me to take the next step closer on the path of Love.

Harbour of the wretched, pray for us.

You’ve seen the depths of my misery. And if I just run to you, you will hold me close. 

Calmer of the tempests, pray for us.

As Your Son calmed the waters, so you can also calm my wounded soul. Give me the grace to ponder quietly, instead of rage.

Resource of mourners, pray for us.

Mother, you know my anguish, my grief. You understand more than anyone. Let me see your comforting face when my own is covered with tears. 

Terror of the treacherous, pray for us.

Drive away the thoughts that I am unloved - by you or by Love itself. Drive away the desire to run to things that would provide comfort at the cost of my body or soul. 

Treasure of the faithful, pray for us.

Give me an ounce of your faith Mary. To trust in Your Son as you did. You told the servants to do as Jesus said, may I also follow that instruction. 

Eye of the Prophets, pray for us.

You point everyone to Christ, your Son. Help me to see that path, even if I do not know what the journey entails. 

Staff of Apostles, pray for us.

The Apostles went to you for strength and comfort. Your Son gave you to both them and the world. May you give me the comfort and security that the apostles also felt. 

Crown of Martyrs, pray for us.

For when I’m in physical or mental pain, you are there. Just as you were for the martyrs. Give me comfort even when I feel crucified on the cross of infertility. 

Light of Confessors, pray for us.

For when I fail, for when my anger, doubt, and frustration get the better of me, guide me back to Your Son. 

Pearl of Virgins, pray for us.

Teach me to follow God’s will, even when it feels like a weight no one else has to bear. To know a pearl is coming, even though others seem to have theirs already.

Consolation of Widows, pray for us.

Comfort me in my loss. In the absence of something others have that I desperately want. 

Joy of all Saints, pray for us.

You point us to Love, the source of all joy. May I know you as a joyful mother who laughs with me as much as you are there with me in my grief. May you turn my grief into joy. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus!

Spare me the desire to turn from you when infertility makes life seem unbearable. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Hear me cry out as You cried out in the Garden. To be able to take the cup, even when I wish it would pass. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus!

May I also show others the mercy I wish to see. To not let my own grief take away my responsibility to others. To give the kindness I want to receive.

Look down upon us, deliver us, and save us from all trouble, in the power of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Help me to carry this Cross, to know the reason I was given it. To have Love’s comfort in it and to know the joy in the suffering. 

Imprint, O Lady! Thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love – sorrow to endure every sorrow for Thee; love to despise every love for Thine. Amen.

May Mary bring you comfort this Lent. Know that she is with you in the desert right now and always.