Novena to the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Day 9

Day 9 – September 14 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Prayers-

Collect for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Deus, in cuius passióne, secúndum Simeónis prophétiam, dulcíssimam ánimam gloriósæ Vírginis et Matris Maríæ dolóris gladius pertransívit: concéde propítius; ut, qui transfixiónem eius et passiónem venerándo recólimus, gloriósis méritis et précibus ómnium Sanctórum Cruci fidéliter astántium intercedéntibus, passiónis tuæ efféctum felícem consequámur: Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

O God, in Whose Passion the sword, according to the prophecy of blessed Simeon, pierced through the soul of Mary, the glorious Virgin and Mother, mercifully grant that we, who reverently commemorate her piercing through and her suffering, may, by the interceding glorious merits of all the saints faithfully standing by the Cross, obtain the abundant fruit of Your passion. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Deus, qui nos hodierna die Exaltationis sanctae Crucis annua solemnitate laetificas: praesta, quaesumus; ut cuius mysterium in terra cognovimus, eius redemptionis praemia in coelo mereamur. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

O God, Who dost this day gladden us by the yearly Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, grant, we beseech thee, that even as we have understood the mystery thereof upon earth, so we may worthily enjoy in heaven the fruits of the redemption which was paid thereon. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Sequence Stabat Mater dolorósa
Fac me plagis vulnerári, Fac me Cruce inebriári Et cruóre Fílii. Flammis ne urar succénsus, Per te, Virgo, sim defénsus In die iudícii. Christe, cum sit hinc exíre. Da per Matrem me veníre Ad palmam victóriæ. Quando corpus moriétur, Fac, ut ánimæ donétur Paradísi glória. Amen.	Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it has swooned In His very Blood away. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In this awful judgment day. Christ, when You shall call me hence, Be Your Mother my defense, Be Your Cross my victory. While my body here decays, May my soul Your goodness praise, Safe in heaven eternally. Amen.

Reading for Mediation-

Taken From the Readings at Matins for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the BVM

Homily by Saint Ambrose of Milan

At that time There stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary (the wife) of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And so on. (John 19:25-27)

There stood by the Cross His Mother. Men had forsaken Him, but she stood there fearless. Behold how the Mother of Jesus could break through her shrinking modesty, but could not belie her heart. With the eyes of a mother’s love she gazed upon the Wounds of her Son, those Wounds through Which she knew that redemption for all mankind was flowing. The Mother, who feared not the executioners, was able to endure the sight of their work. Her Son was hanging upon the Cross, and she braved His tormentors.

Mary, the Mother of the Lord, stood by the Cross of her Son. My only informant of this fact is the holy Evangelist John. Others have written that when the Lord suffered, the earth quaked, the heavens were veiled in darkness, the sun was hidden, and the thief received, after a good confession, the promise of Paradise. John hath taught us what the others have not taught us. Upon the Cross He called her Mother. It is reckoned (by John) a greater thing that in the moment of triumph over agony, He should have discharged the watchful duty of a Son to His Mother, than that He should have made gift of the kingdom of heaven. For if it be a sacred thing to have forgiven the thief, this so great kindness of the Son to the Mother is to be worshipped as the outcome of a tenderer and more touching love.

Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. How nobly doth the Saviour say Yea to the woman’s blessing, declaring also that not only is she blessed who was meet to give bodily birth to the Word of God, but that all they who spiritually conceive the same Word by the hearing of faith, and, by keeping it through good works, bring it forth and, as it were, carefully nurse it, in their own hearts, and in the hearts of their neighbours, are also blessed. Yea, and that the very Mother of God herself was blessed in being for a while the handmaid of the Word of God made Flesh, but that she was much more blessed in this, that through her love she keepeth Him for ever.

Prayers for each day.