Although not an official feast day in the United States, the Friday of Sorrows is a special commemoration which takes place on the Friday before Palm Sunday. This year, 2020, it took place on April 3rd. Sometimes referred to as Our Lady in Passiontide or St. Mary in Passiontide, the day solemnizes the emotional martyrdom of Our Lady during the Passion of Jesus Christ where she suffered untold agony in following Jesus through His sufferings to His Crucifixion. In certain countries, like Mexico, Spain, Brazil, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Malta, Peru, Guatemala and Italy, it marks the beginning of Holy Week and is called the Viernes de Dolores which means Friday of Sorrows.
On the Friday of Sorrows, it is especially salutary to meditate on Our Lady’s sufferings during the Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Our Lord. Known as the Seven Sorrows, there are two forms of this prayer:
You say seven Hail Marys while meditating on each of the Seven Sorrows listed at the end of this post
You say the Sorrowful Mother Rosary which consists of saying seven Hail Marys and one Our Father while meditating on each of the sorrows listed at the end of this post
Our Lady told St. Bridget that the following remarkable seven promises will be granted to those who honor her daily with seven Hail Marys while meditating on her seven sorrows.
The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
The prophecy of Simeon. (St. Luke 2:34, 35)
The flight into Egypt. (St. Matthew 2:13, 14) The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. (St. Luke 2: 43-45)
The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.
The Crucifixion
The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross
The burial of Jesus
Our Lady told St. Bridget that the following remarkable seven promises will be granted to those who honor her daily with seven Hail Marys while meditating on her seven sorrows.
The Seven Promises of Mary
They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
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.
I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.
I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.