The Seven Words of Mary

I made a reference to the number seven in the 15th of September post.  For the record, here are the seven words (utterances) of Mary in the Gospels.

First Word

[34] And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

[34] Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? [Luke I]

Second Word

[38] And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

[38] Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini

Third Word

 be it done to me according to thy word.

[38]  fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.[Luke I]

Fourth Word

[46] And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. [49] Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
[51] He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. [52] He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. [53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. [54] He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: [55] As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

[46] Et ait Maria : Magnificat anima mea Dominum : [47] et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. [48] Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae : ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, [49] quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : et sanctum nomen ejus, [50] et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. [51] Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. [52] Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. [53] Esurientes implevit bonis : et divites dimisit inanes. [54] Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae : [55] sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in saecula. [Luke I]

Fifth Word

[48] And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

[48] Et videntes admirati sunt. Et dixit mater ejus ad illum : Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic? ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quaerebamus te. [Luke II]

Sixth Word

[3] And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine.

[3] Et deficiente vino, dicit mater Jesu ad eum : Vinum non habent. [John II]

Seventh Word

[5] His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

[5] Dicit mater ejus ministris : Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite.  [John II]

Further reading: Seven Words of Jesus and Mary: Lessons from Cana and Calvary
by Fulton J. Sheen.
First published 1945

C.S. Lewis (Afterword) Helmut Thielicke (Afterword)Paul Claudel (Afterword)Leslie D. Weatherhead (Afterword)

Septem Dolorum Beatae Mariae Virginis

Today we commemorate the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I was fortunate to attend a Traditional Latin Mass at the Brompton Oratory, in the Chapel of the Seven Dolours.

Note the remarkable recurrence of the number seven: Mary  speaks seven times in the Gospels; Our Lord makes seven utterances on the Cross. There are many more in Scripture.





A short summary of the Seven Sorrows follows below.

(1) The prophecy of Simeon

Nunc dimittis...

[25] And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. [26] And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, [28] He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: [29] Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; [30] Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,[31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: [32] A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. [33] And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him

[34] And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; [35] And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. [Luke II]

(2)The flight into Egypt

[13] And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.

[14] Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: [15] That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.[Luke II]

(3) Loss of the Child Jesus for three days

[41] And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, [42] And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, [43] And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. [44] And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. [45] And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.[Luke II]

(4) Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary 

[27] And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him. [28] But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. [Luke XXIII]
[17] And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha [John XIX]

(5) Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

[25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
[26] When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. [27] After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. [John XIX]

(6) The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross 

[38] And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

[39] And Nicodemus also came, (he who at the first came to Jesus by night,) bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. [40] They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. [John XIX]

(7) The burial of Jesus

[41] Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. [42] There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand. [John XIX]

Family members lost...and found

On the Feast of Mary's birthday, I added the following prayer for family intentions:

MEMORARE, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Well, one of my petitions has just received an unexpected response: recently published, beautiful images of long lost family members. They all look happy and healthy; they are truly blessed to have each other's love and support. Deo gratias.

Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Time for redoubling prayers of thanks to our gentle Queen and Mother: Mary, Maris Stella!

PS: The earliest known prayer to our Lady is found first in a Greek Papyrus from around the year 200. The words are contained in the Memorare prayer above. For more, please see Liturgical Notes blogspot.

Historical note

In 1683, the Turks set their sights on Christian Austria, setting out through Hungary with an army of approximately 300,000 men. The Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha had reached Vienna in July and laid siege to the city, which was being defended by only 15,000 men. The Polish king, Jan Sobieski, set out for Vienna in August, his forces marching behind the banner of the Blessed Virgin. Passing by the Sanctuary of Mary in Czestochowa, they implored Our Lady's help and blessing.

Battle was engaged before the walls of Vienna on September 12, 1683. One of the largest cavalry charges in history saw Sobieski, at the head of 20,000 Polish and German knights, storm the enemy camp. The Turkish forces were routed, Vienna was saved, and Sobieski sent the 'Standard of the Prophet' to Pope Innocent XI along with the good news. In a letter to the Pontiff, Sobieski summed up his victory in these words: Veni, vidi, Deus vicit: 'I came, I saw, God conquered!' To commemorate this glorious victory, and render thanksgiving to God and honour to Our Lady, Pope Innocent XI extended 'The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary' to the Universal Church.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Regina Caeli:

Magnificat anima mea

AVE maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.    

HAIL, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.    

Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name.

Solve vincula reis,
profer lumen caecis
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.    

Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.

Monstra te esse matrem:
sumat per te preces,
qui pro nobis natus,
tulit esse tuus.    

Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.

Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mites,
nos culpis solutos,
mitis fac et castos.    

Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us
meek and undefiled.

Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tutum:
ut videntes Iesum
semper collaetemur.    

Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus,
joy for evermore.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus. Amen.    

Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one. Amen.

With much love to our most gentle Queen and Mother.