This Chaplet consists of seven divisions, in memory of our Lady’s seven sorrows, on which we are to meditate, if we can, saying the Pater noster once and the Ave Maria seven times at each division, then ending with Ave thrice in honour of our Lady’s tears.
Way of Saying the Chaplet
Act of Contrition
O MY LORD, Thou who alone art most worthy of my love, behold me standing before thy Divine Presence utterly overwhelmed by the thought of the many grievous injuries I have done Thee. I ask thy pardon for them with my whole heart, repenting of them purely for love of Thee, and at the thought of thy great goodness hating and loathing them above every evil of this life. As I would rather have died a thousand times than have offended Thee, so now I am most firmly resolved to die a thousand deaths 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 thou, most tender Virgin, Mother of mercy and Refuge of sinners, do thou obtain for me by virtue of thy bitter pains, the pardon of sin which I desire; whilst, praying according to the mind of so many holy Pontiffs in order to obtain the Indulgences granted to this thy holy Rosary, I hope thereby to obtain remission of all pains due to my sins.
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With this confidence in my heart, I meditate on the First Sorrow, when Mary, Virgin Mother of my GOD, presented JESUS her only Son in the Temple, laid Him in the arms of holy and aged Simeon, and heard his prophetic word, “The sword of grief shall pierce thy soul,” foretelling thereby the Passion and Death of her Son JESUS. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Second Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she was obliged to fly into Egypt by reason of the persecution of cruel Herod, who impiously sought to slay her well-beloved Son. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Third Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when, after having gone up to Jerusalem at the Paschal Feast with Joseph her spouse and JESUS her beloved Son, she lost Him on the way back to her poor house, and for three days bewailed the loss of her only Love. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Fourth Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she met her dear Son JESUS carrying to Mount Calvary on his tender shoulders the heavy Cross whereon He was to be crucified for our salvation. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Fifth Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she saw her Son JESUS raised upon the hard tree of the Cross, and blood flowing from every part of his sacred Body, and then beheld Him die after three hours agony. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Sixth Sorrow of trie Blessed Virgin was when she saw the lance pierce the sacred Side of JESUS, her beloved Son, the nails withdrawn, and his holy Body laid in her purest bosom. PATER once, Ave seven times.
The Seventh and last Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin, Queen and Advocate of us, her servants, miserable sinners, was when she saw the holy Body of her Son buried in the grave. PATER once, Ave seven times.
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Then say Ave thrice 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, etc. Amen.
Indulgences
To gain any of the following Indulgences beads must be used, though in the case of several persons saying the rosary together it is sufficient if the person leading the devotion uses them. They must have been blessed by a Servite Father or another with special faculties. To gain viii and ix the beads must have been blessed by a Servite Father.
For the benefit of those who for any reason are prevented from meditating on the mysteries of the Seven Dolours while they recite the Chaplet, i, ii, iii, vi, vii and viii can be gained by merely reciting the Paters and Aves. To gain iv, vand ix each mystery must be named and meditated on.
i. Seven Years and Seven Quarantines for the entire Chaplet. Toties Quoties.
ii. 100 Days for each Pater and Ave, if the entire Chaplet is said.
iii. 200 Days for each Pater and Ave to every one who, having confessed, or at least made a firm resolution to confess, says this Chaplet in a Servite church, or says it any where on Fridays, or during Lent, or on the feast and during the octave of the Seven Dolours.
iv. 200 Years to those who shall say it after examination of conscience and confession, and pray according to the intention of the Pope.
v. Plenary to all who say it four times a week, on any one day in the year when they say this Chaplet after Confession and Communion.
vi. Plenary once a month. (Special Conditions: Confession, Communion, Prayer according to the Pope’s intention.)
vii. Ten Years to those who keep one of these Chaplets about them and are in the habit of saying it frequently, every time that after Confession and Communion they shall hear Mass, be present at a sermon, accompany the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, make peace between enemies, bring a sinner to repentance, recite devoutly Pater and Ave seven times or do any spiritual or temporal work of mercy in honour of our LORD, the Blessed Virgin, or their patron saint,
viii. 100 Years to all who say this Chaplet, having confessed or at least made a firm resolution to confess.
ix. 150 Years every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and feast of obligation for reciting this Chaplet after Confession to those who habitually carry it about with them.
Decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences:
Benedict XIII. Brief, September 26, 1724.
Clement XII. Brief, December 12, 1734.
Pius IX. July 18, 1877.
Leo XIII. May 15, 1886.
Leo XIII. June 8, 1898.