Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
Nine days of prayer with the Virgin of the Dolores, the most painful in the world after her Son, who was perpetually associated with the pains of Christ at the foot of the cross. His party is held 15 September; the ninth is traditionally prayed of 6-14 Septemberbut it can be done at any time.
How you pray every day: by the sign of the Cross → the act of contrition ("My Lord Jesus Christ...") → the initial prayer → the prayer of the corresponding day → end with the final prayer for every day.
Opening prayer for every day
O Virgin, most sorrowful in the world after your Son, whose sorrows you were perpetually associated with: I beg you to obtain for me the strength to suffer for my sins, as you suffered for ours, so that, crucifying my passions and desires on the cross of Christ, bearing the cross of my duty along the path of my life, walking in the footsteps of my Lord and persevering constantly at your side, O my Mother, at the foot of your Son's cross, I may always live and die with you, redeemed and sanctified by the most precious blood of our Redeemer. I also ask you, through your sorrows, to hear my petition in this novena and, if it is your will, grant it.
The nine days
Day one
O Sorrowful Virgin, you, a flowering and fruitful tree, were so afflicted, and I, a dry and useless tree, long for comfort and am impatient with all trouble and adversity. I beg you to grant me a spirit of penance, humility, and Christian mortification so that I may imitate you and your beloved Son, crucified for me.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Second day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you suffered when the aged Simeon prophesied to you the contradictions with which the world would persecute your Son, I beg you not to allow me to be among the worldly enemies of your Son, but among those who docilely profess his doctrine and reflect it in their truly Christian customs, so that I may also be among those to whom he will be resurrection and life.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Third day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you felt when the proud and ambitious Herod wanted to kill your Son, who came to give us life, free me from all ambition and pride and make it so that, instead of casting your Son away from me, I may call him to me, and, putting aside all my interests, make him reign over me, being his faithful and obedient vassal, to reign with him in glory.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Fourth day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you suffered when you lost your Son in Jerusalem and spent three days looking for him, I beg you that I may never lose him through sin and that, if I lose him, I may seek him with repentance, and seeking him, find him with sincere confession in the temple and keep him with true religion.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Fifth day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you felt when you accompanied your Son along the Way of Bitterness to Calvary, grant that I too may accompany him, carrying the cross that his providence has given me, with humble patience and worthy constancy, bearing well all the troubles that come from my neighbors.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Sixth day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you felt when you saw Jesus nailed to the cross, grant that I may benefit from the fruits of his passion, that I may be a true Christian, crucified with Christ, and that I may consider it an honor to suffer and endure hardship for being a Christian and practicing Christian virtues.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Seventh day
Oh Sorrowful Virgin, for the pain you suffered when you received your Son dead and taken down from the cross, I beg you to obtain for me the forgiveness of my sins, which were the cause of his death, and that his wounds may be deeply engraved in my memory and my heart, as a testimony of his love, so that I may love him until death.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Eighth day
O Sorrowful Virgin, for the sorrow with which you accompanied your Son to the tomb and there laid him to rest, grant that I may die with the aid of religion and be buried among the faithful Christians with Christ, so that, on the day of judgment, I may merit to rise again with the true Christians and be taken to the right hand of Christ.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Ninth day
O Sorrowful Virgin, grant that, just as you, through your sorrows, receive great glory in heaven and triumph there as the glorious Queen of Martyrs, so I too, after a life mortified with Christ, may merit to live eternally in glory, blessed with Christ. Grant me, O Queen of Martyrs, to live on the cross with patience, to die on the cross with hope, and to reign through the cross with glory.
End with the closing prayer for each day
Closing prayer for every day
Remember, Virgin Mother of God, when you are in the presence of the Lord, to speak in our favor and that He may turn away His wrath from us.
Oh Most Holy Mother, grant me this grace: fix in my heart effectively the wounds of Jesus crucified.
Grant that I may bear the death of Christ within me, that I may share in his passion and fate, and meditate sorrowfully on his wounds.
So that I may not burn in the eternal fires, defend me, O Virgin, with your prayers, on the day of judgment.
And you, O Christ, as I depart from this life, through your beloved Mother, grant that I may reach the palm of victory.
When my body dies, grant that my soul may attain the glory of paradise.
Pray three Hail Marys
Pray for us, most sorrowful Virgin, who stood constantly by the cross of Jesus Christ.
Our Lady of Good Death, pray for us.
Let us pray. We pray to you, Lord our Jesus Christ, to intercede before your mercy the Blessed Virgin Mary your Mother, whose soul passed through the sword of pain at the time of your Passion. We ask for you, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, to live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.