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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Looking for a Good Lenten Devotion? Try the Seven Sorrows Rosary

Keven Smith · February 1, 2021

HE CHRISTMAS CYCLE OFFICIALLY ENDS with the Feast of the Purification on February 2. In the Extraordinary Form, we don’t just jump straight into Lent. We have the season of Septuagesima as our time of preparation. Septuagesima isn’t technically a penitential season. But the violet vestments, suppression of the Gloria, and replacement of the Alleluia with a Tract help us transition from Christmas joy to Lenten penances.

Regardless of which Mass you attend, you’re probably thinking about spiritual practices to adopt during Lent. If you’re in the market, allow me to recommend the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.

For each of the seven sorrows, we are to pray an Our Father and seven Hail Marys (so they’re not decades, strictly speaking). It’s customary to pray introductory and concluding prayers, too, although these seem to vary from one source to the next.

If you’d like to gain a thorough understanding of the Seven Sorrows and can spare an hour, look to Fr. Chad Ripperger:

Why pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary? It’s a venerable practice. The Servite order developed a devotion to Our Lady’s sorrows shortly after their founding in the thirteenth century. The Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been celebrated regionally since the fifteenth century. Benedict XIII added it to the general calendar in 1727.

The Seven Sorrows Rosary puts us in touch with Our Lord’s Passion, seen through the eyes of Our Lady. It can ease our burden in tough times. It can pierce the heart to make us more tender and compassionate. It has been a lifeline for me during these troubling times. I’ve never had a closer relationship with Our Lady than I do now, simply because I began praying this special rosary daily last summer.

We don’t want to pray out of pure self-interest. But it’s hard not to be impressed by the seven promises Our Lady made to St. Bridget of Sweden for those who pray this rosary daily:

  1. I will grant peace to their families.
  2. They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.
  3. I will help them in their work and console them in their pains.
  4. 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.
  5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the devil and protect them at every instant of their lives.
  6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death—they will see the face of their mother.
  7. I have obtained this grace from my divine Son: those who propagate this devotion will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their everlasting consolation and joy.

Our Lady of Sorrows answers prayers. I’ve found that she sometimes answers smaller requests with almost hilarious promptness. And for larger requests, she is generous about sending little signs of progress and hope.

There are special rosaries designed for this devotion. Some websites and apps provide helpful meditations for each sorrow. I like this app for iOS, though it contains several unfortunate typos.

Notice that last promise to St. Bridget: those who promote this devotion can skip Purgatory. So don’t just pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary. Pass it along.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: our lady of sorrows Last Updated: February 1, 2021

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About Keven Smith

Keven Smith, music director at St. Stephen the First Martyr, lives in Sacramento with his wife and five musical children.—(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Although the Mass contains much instruction for the faithful, it has nevertheless not seemed expedient to the fathers that it be celebrated everywhere in the vernacular. The holy synod commands pastors and everyone who has the care of souls to explain frequently during the celebration of the Masses, either themselves or through others, some of the things that are read in the Mass, and among other things to expound some mystery of this most Holy Sacrifice, especially on Sundays and feastdays.”

— ‘Council of Trent, XII:8 (1562)’

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  • Important Quote by a Church Musician

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