Western Christianity The Catholic devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows started to develop around the end of the 11th century, particularly in areas around the
Mediterranean. In 1233,
seven youths in Tuscany founded the
Servite Order (also known as the "Servite Friars", or the "Order of the Servants of Mary"). Later in 1239, they took up the sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order. That year, according to
Alphonsus Liguori in his book
The Glories of Mary, Mary appeared to the seven founders presenting them the black "garment of mourning" that they would wear, telling them that they should often meditate upon her dolors. This Order greatly contributed to the spread of the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.. The rosary consists of a chaplet of seven septets of beads, upon which is said an
Ave, (
Hail Mary), separated by one bead, on which is prayed a
Pater Noster (the Lord's Prayer, or
Our Father). Meditations for each dolor were composed by
Pope Pius VII in 1818. The Black Scapular is a symbol of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is associated with the
Servite Order. Most devotional
scapulars have requirements regarding ornamentation or design. The devotion of the Black Scapular requires only that it be made of black woollen cloth. Over the centuries several other devotions, and even orders, arose around meditation on Mary's Sorrows in particular. Related to this devotion is the
Stabat Mater, a hymn composed in honor of the sufferings of Mary during the Crucifixion, generally attributed to
Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306). In this chapter, he also relates four promises made by Jesus to Mary for those who were devoted to her sorrows. These promises were reportedly revealed to
Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231). • "That those who invoke the divine mother by her sorrows, before death will merit to obtain true repentance of all their sins." • "That He will protect such in their tribulations, especially at the hour of death." • "That He will impress upon them the memory of his passion, and that they shall have their reward for it in heaven." • "That He will commit such devout servants to the hands of Mary, that she may dispose of them according to her pleasure, and obtain for them all the graces she desires." According to tradition, during the 14th century,
Bridget of Sweden is said to have received seven promises from Mary concerning devotion to her seven sorrows. According to the writings of
Lúcia dos Santos, one of the visionaries of the
Marian apparitions in Fátima, Mary is said to have appeared, among other forms, as Our Lady of Sorrows during the apparition that led to the “
Miracle of the Sun” on October 13, 1917. In 1945, two girls in the town of
La Codosera,
Spain reported seeing the Virgin Mary in the form of Our Lady of Sorrows. The area in which they witnessed the apparition is called Chandavila and a shrine was built on the site. In August 2024, the
Vatican approved of devotions at this site. On March 6, 1982, according to Marie Claire Mukangango, one of the three approved visionaries of the
Marian apparitions in Kibeho, the Virgin Mary taught her the
Rosary of the Seven Sorrows and entrusted her with the mission to spread it throughout the world. On May 31, 1982, Marie Claire reported that the Virgin Mary promised that anyone who recites the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows while meditating would find "the strength to repent", along with other
graces.
Eastern Christianity On February 2, the same day as the
Great Feast of the
Meeting of the Lord,
Orthodox Christians and
Eastern Catholics commemorate a
wonder-working icon of the
Theotokos (
Mother of God) known as "the Softening of Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy". In the Western Rite Vicariate of the
Antiochian Orthodox Church, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on the Friday before Palm Sunday and as a separate feast on September 15. In the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the 14th-century book called
Täʾamrä Maryam () states that
Jesus asked her mother:
"Which sorrows are more painful than others?" — Täʾamrä Maryam (The Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary), trans. E.A. Wallis Budge, 1900 To which she replied: 1) Simeon's prophecy () 2) the loss of Jesus in the
Temple of Jerusalem () 3) the torture of Christ 4)
the crucifixion 5) the
Burial of Jesus. — Täʾamrä Maryam (The Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary), trans. E.A. Wallis Budge, 1900. == Five Lances of the Immaculate Heart ==