This is why I love my spritual director. One thing he assigned for me this month was to decorate my house according to the month of August: The Month of the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
OK. He assigned a few other things too, but this was the really fun one!
Here is how things look:
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| From left to right: A lamb to remind us we belong to the Good Shepherd, I great antique store find- Mary with a vase built onto the back, an icon of Our Lady of the Perpetual Bloom, a vase filled with blessed palms from Palm Sunday and a few other ikebana items, the Good Shepherd himself. Since our kittens keep running off with any fresh flowers, I have opted out of the bouquet. |
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| Last year the kids and I made this box. It includes a felt doll of Mary with scapular and rosary, three Fimo Immaculate and Sorrowful hearts, a lovely booklet with the traditional and additional Sorrows of Mary, and two glass bobbles with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart glued to the underside. |
Here are the contents of the booklet I made. You can make one too. Feel free to use or alter my text:
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin
The First Sorrow
The Prophecy of Simeon Over the Infant Jesus
Luke 2: 25 – 35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law he took him into his arms and blessed God saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
The Second Sorrow
The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt
Matthew 2: 13 -21
When they (the Magi) had departed, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the Magi he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”
When Herod had died, behold the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
The Third Sorrow
The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days
Luke 2 : 40 - 52
The Child Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor or God was upon him. Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know this. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and friends, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astonished, and his mother said to him: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety!” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
The Fourth Sorrow
The Meeting of Jesus and Mary Along the Way of the Cross
Luke 23 : 26 - 31
As they led Jesus away, the soldiers took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenean, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, “Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.
At that time people will say to the mountains, “Fall upon us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”
What Mary Witnessed Along the Way of the Cross:
Jesus is condemned to death.
Jesus takes up his cross.
Jesus falls.
Jesus meets his mother, Mary.
Simon carries Jesus’ cross.
Veronica wipes Jesus’ face.
Jesus falls a second time.
Jesus comforts the women.
Jesus falls a third time.
Jesus is stripped of his clothes.
Jesus is nailed to the cross.
Jesus dies on the cross.
Jesus is handed to his mother.
Jesus is laid in the sepulcher.
The Fifth Sorrow
Mary Stands at the Cross
John 19: 35 - 30
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother,
“Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
and bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
(We can kneel silently as an act of love for Jesus who died for us.)
The Sixth Sorrow
The Descent from the Cross or The Pieta
Matthew 27: 57 - 61
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone cross the entrance to the tomb and departed.
But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.
Stabat Mater Latin meaning “The Mother who Stands (Under the Cross)”
At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful mother weeping, where he hung, the dying Lord.
For her soul of joy bereaved, bowed with anguish, deeply grieved, felt the sharp and piercing sword.
Who on Christ’s dear mother gazing, pierced by anguish so amazing, born of woman, would not weep?
Jesus, may her deep devotion, stir in me the same emotion, fount of love, redeemer kind.
O how sad and sore distressed, now was she, that Mother Blessed, of the sole-begotten one.
Jesus, may thy cross defend me, and thy saving death befriend me, cherished by thy deathless grace.
When to dust my dust returneth, grand a soul that to thee yearneth, in thy paradise a place.
The Seventh Sorrow
The Burial of Jesus
John 19: 39 - 42
Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
This section of text has not yet been completed, but the titles of each joy have been. If I finish it this year, I will update this post. Otherwise, you may have your own enjoyable challenge.
The Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin
Christians have celebrated as many as fifteen Joys of the Blessed Virgin over the past two millennia. Traditionally, seven are mentioned in the Franciscan Rosary and are noted by a cross
The Annunciation
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary of the conception of the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary, willingly speaks: Yes.
The Visitation
Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. John the Forerunner leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the Messiah in Mary’s womb.
The Nativity and The Infant Jesus Suckling at Mary’s Breast
The Infant Jesus is born in a lowly place. As Mary breastfeeds Jesus, shepherds adore the newborn King.
Epiphany
The three Magi find the Infant Jesus by the mark of the Star of Bethlehem. They present gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh and kneel in adoration of the young King.
The Presentation of the Infant Jesus at the Temple
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Baptism of Jesus by John in the River Jordan
The Wedding at Cana Healing the Blind and the Lame and Raising the Dead
The Transfiguration
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven
The Resurrection
The Ascension and wearing of the crown of heaven Pentecost
Assumption and Coronation of Mary
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