Our Lady of Sorrows: How Mary Walks with Us Through Suffering
Mary is often called the Mother of Sorrows—a title that may seem heavy at first glance
Mary is often called the Mother of Sorrows—a title that may seem heavy at first glance. But in this title lies a profound truth: Mary knows what it means to suffer, and she knows how to walk with us in our own seasons of trial.
She isn’t a distant figure watching from heaven; she is a compassionate Mother who has felt the full weight of human grief and still said “yes” to God.
This month, the Church celebrates the Seven Sorrows of Mary (with the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15) where we remember the ways in which Mary suffered alongside her Son and recognize the ways that she can accompany us in our own sorrows.
Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows
The Church honors the Blessed Mother with the titles of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Mater Dolorosa, both of which have been depicted in religious art throughout the centuries. Images of her Immaculate Heart are often shown as being pierced with seven swords, her Seven Sorrows:
- The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25–35)
- The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15)
- The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–50)
- Meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary (Luke 23:27–31)
- Standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25–30)
- Receiving the body of Jesus (Luke 23:50–54)
- Placing Jesus in the tomb (Luke 23:55–56)
Despite these moments of great trial and suffering, Our Lady remained faithful and steadfast in love, and she can help you do the same.
Whether our suffering comes from illness, loss, betrayal, uncertainty, or the pain of watching someone we love walk a difficult path, Mary understands.
While she was conceived without sin, Mary still lived in a fallen world and felt the pain caused by sin and death. Because she has walked this road herself, Mary offers more than sympathy—she offers true empathy.
When we turn to her, she doesn’t brush aside our pain or rush us toward solutions. Instead, she stays with us, like she stayed with Jesus at the foot of the Cross. And not only that, but she can use that heart and pain to guide us, as she does in all things, closer toward her Son.
Walking with Mary in Your Suffering
If you are in a season of trial, invite Our Lady of Sorrows to walk with you.
Mary intercedes for us with a mother’s tenderness, bringing our needs to Jesus just as she did at Cana. She teaches us to say yes to God even when the road ahead feels uncertain, modeling the trust and surrender that carried her through her own sorrows.
Her steadfast presence strengthens us to persevere, reminding us that faith is not about avoiding the Cross but about standing firm beneath it.
In your own suffering, don’t be afraid to approach Mary as your own mother. Tell her your fears, your grief, and your doubts. Ask her to help you see Jesus in the midst of your trials.
You might pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, meditate on one sorrow each day, or simply rest in the knowledge that she understands your pain.
Mary’s sorrows did not end in despair—they blossomed into the joy of the Resurrection. As you walk with her, she will teach you to cling to hope, even in the darkest moments, and to believe that God’s love will have the final word.
