How to Avoid
Purgatory and be Taken Directly to Heaven!
“No one who had practiced devotion to Mary Sorrowful
had been lost.” (Blessed Vincent Pallotti)
The Chaplet
of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
In the year 1233 seven holy men of noble birth
withdrew from the city of Florence into the solitude of Mount Senario to found
the Order called the “Servants of Mary” known today as the “Servites”. The
object of their institution was the meditation on the bitter pains Our Lady
suffered in the Life, Passion, and Death of her Son Jesus, and to promote it
amongst Christian people. One of the devout practices which they made use of
for their purpose was a Chaplet or Rosary of seven divisions, in rememberance
of the seven principal Dolours of the Blessed Virgin, which were to form the
subject of the reciter's meditation according to his ability.
The chaplet is one of the most highly
indulgenced devotions in the Church and, according to St. Alphonsus de Liguori,
those who are devoted to the sorrows of Mary are promised very great graces.
These include protection from the temptations of the enemy at the hour of
death, very shortened or suspended sentences in purgatory and the promise of
heaven to those who propagate the devotion.
This chaplet has 7 sets of 7 beads with a
separating bead or a medal between each set, 3 additional beads and a crucifix.
(Please note this chaplet is not to be confused with the more recent devotion
bearing the same name reportedly given to visionaries in Kibeho, south-western
Rwanda, by alleged apparitions of Our Lady during the 1980's).
“The evil
spirits had been commanded by God not to assail with temptations in the hour of
death those who had faithfully practiced this devotion” (Blessed Vincent
Pallotti)
Pray the Chaplet
To pray
the chaplet firstly make the Act of Contrition:- O my Lord, thou who alone art most worthy of
my love, behold me standing before Your Divine Presence all in confusion at the
thought of the many grievous injuries I have done thee. I ask Pardon for them
with my whole heart, repenting of them purely for love of You, and hating and
loathing them above every other evil of this life, when I think of Your
infinite goodness. As I would rather have died a thousand times than have
offended You, so now I am most firmly resolved to lose my life rather than
offend thee again. My crucified Jesus, I firmly purpose to cleanse my soul as
soon as possible by thy most Precious Blood in the Sacrament of Penance. And
you, most tender virgin, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of Sinners, do though
obtain for me the pardon of my sin by virtue of thy bitter pains; whilst
praying according to the mind of so many holy Pontiffs in order to obtain the
indulgences granted to this holy Rosary, I hope thereby to obtain remission of all
pains due to my sins.
Then pray and meditate on the sorrows:-
1)
The
Prophecy Of Simeon (St. Luke 2: 21-35) “And after eight days were accomplished,
that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was
called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb. And after the days of
her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they
carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the
law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:
And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a
pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons: And behold there was a man in
Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation
of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from
the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of
the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now thou dost
dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles,
and the glory of thy people Israel. And his father and mother were wondering at
those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and
said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the
resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And
thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be
revealed.” Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's
2)
The
Flight Into Egypt.(St. Matthew 2: 12-18) “And having received an answer in
sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into
their country. And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord
appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother,
and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to
pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the
child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until
the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the
prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod perceiving that
he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the
men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of
the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet,
saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel
bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” Pray
1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's.
3)
The
Loss Of The Child Jesus In The Temple.(St. Luke 2: 41-51) -“And his parents
went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, And when he was
twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the
feast, And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus
remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in
the company, they came a day' s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks
and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking
him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And
seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done
so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to
them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my
father' s business? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And
his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and
age, and grace with God and men.” Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's.
4)
The
Meeting Of Jesus And Mary On The Way Of The Cross (St. Luke 23-: 26-31) -“And
as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the
country; and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there
followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and
lamented him. But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not
over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days
shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have
not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say
to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green
wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?” Pray 1 Our Father
and 7 Hail Mary's.
5)
The
Crucifixion. (St. John 19: 23-30) “The soldiers therefore, when they had
crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a
part,) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top
throughout. They said then one to another: Let us not cut it, but let us cast
lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saying:
They have parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they have cast
lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things. Now there stood by the cross of
Jesus, his mother, and his mother' s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary
Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing
whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he
saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took
her to his own. Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. Now there
was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of
vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth. Jesus therefore, when he had taken the
vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.”
Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's.
6)
The
Taking Down Of The Body Of Jesus From The Cross. (John 19:31-40) “Then the
Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the
cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. [32] The
soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other
that was crucified with him. [33] But after they were come to Jesus, when they
saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the
soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and
water. [35] And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is
true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe. [36] For
these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not
break a bone of him. [37] And again another scripture saith: They shall look on
him whom they pierced.” Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's
7)
.
The Burial Of Jesus. (John 19: 38-42) “And after these things, Joseph of
Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the
Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate
gave leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also
came, (he who at the first came to Jesus by night,) bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. They took therefore the body of
Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews
is to bury. Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in
the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore,
because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre
was nigh at hand.” Pray 1 Our Father and 7 Hail Mary's.
Then
pray 3 Hail Mary's in veneration of the
tears which Mary shed in her sorrows, to obtain thereby true sorrow for sins
and the holy Indulgences attached to this pious exercise.
V. Pray
for us, Virgin most sorrowful.
R. That
we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us
pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin
Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of Thy mercy, now and
at the hour of our death, whose most holy soul was transfixed with the sword of
sorrow in the hour of Thine own Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of
the world, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever
and ever. Amen.
‘I look around at all who are on earth, to
see if by chance there are any who pity Me, and meditate upon My Sorrows; and I
find that there are very few...' (Our Lady to St. Bridget)
Graces and Promises attached to the General Practice of the Devotion in
Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sorrowing
According
to St. Alphonsus de Liguori it was revealed to Saint Elizabeth that some years
after the Blessed Virgin was assumed into Heaven, St. John, the beloved
disciple, was seized with an ardent desire to see her again. This favour was
granted him. His dear mother appeared to him in company with Our Divine Lord.
Then St John heard Mary asking of her Son some special graces for those who
were devoted to her dolors. Our Lord promised the four following graces:
1. That
those who before death invoke the divine Mother in the name of Her Sorrows will
obtain true repentance of all their sins;
2. That
He will protect all who have this devotion in their tribulations, and will
protect them especially at the hour of death;
3. That
He will impress on their minds the remembrance of His Passion;
4. That
He will place such devout servants in Mother Mary’s hands to do with them as
She wishes and to obtain for them all the graces She desires.
In
addition to these four graces there are also seven promises attached to the
practice of daily praying seven Hail Mary’s while meditating on Our Lady’s
Tears and Sorrows. These seven promises were revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden
(1303 -1373):
1. “I
will grant peace to their families.”
2. “They
will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.
3. “I
will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
4. “I
will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the
adorable will of My divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.”
5. “I
will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will
protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. “I
will visibly help them at the moment of their death — they will see the face of
their Mother.”
7. “I
have obtained this grace from My divine Son, that those who propagate this
devotion to My tears and sorrows will be taken directly from this earthly life
to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and My Son will be
their eternal consolation and joy.”
(Taken
from “Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother” by Tan books)
‘My daughter, tears shed for My Passion are dear to
Me; but as I loved My Mother Mary with an immense love, the meditation on the
torments which She endured at My death is even more agreeable to Me.’ (Our Lord to
Blessed Veronica of Binasco)
If you are interested in becoming a Catholic contact your nearest