Prayer of Pope Pius VII

This prayer was written by Pope Pius VII while imprisoned by Napoleon. Pius VII later added the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows into the Roman Calendar. (He also established the Diocese of Cincinnati!)

℣. O God, come to my assistance;
℟. O Lord, make haste to help me.

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

1.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of your tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon.

Dear Mother, by your heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God... 

2.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of your most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and your sojourn there.

Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

3.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried your troubled heart at the loss of your dear Jesus.

Dear Mother, by your heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.    

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

4.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of your heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross.

Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

5.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which your generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony.

Dear Mother, by your afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

6.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of your compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance before His Body was removed from the Cross.

Dear Mother, by your heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

7.I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus.

Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. 

℣. Hail Mary…
℟. Holy Mary, Mother of God...

℣. Let Us Pray:
℟. Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of thy bitter Passion. Through Thee, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end. Amen.