
ON THE CROSS
The Sign of the Cross:
- In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Introductory Prayer:
- My God, I offer You this Rosary for Your glory, so I can honor your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering. I humbly beg you to give me true repentance for all my sins. Give me wisdom and humility, so that I may receive all the indulgences contained in this prayer.
Act of Contrition:
- O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend You, my God, You Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
NEXT 3 BEADS
Hail Mary on Each for Faith, Hope and Charity:
- Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
AFTER 3 HAIL MARY'S:
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.

The 1st Sword of Sorrow ...
THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
Luke 2:22-35
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
- Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- He took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
- for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples.
- And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
- and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against”
- (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
Prayer
- Beloved Mother Mary, whose Heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love, and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way. Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus. Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world. You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children. Join those sorrows to your own and to those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father. You are a Mother greater than all.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus

The 2nd Sword of Sorrow ...
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
Matthew 2:13-21
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- When the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream
- He said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
- Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.
- Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage.
- He sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under.
- But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
Prayer
- Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus

The 3rd Sword of Sorrow ...
THE LOSS OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
Luke 2: 41-50
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
- When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
- His parents did not know it, but assuming him to be in the company they went a day’s journey,
- They sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
- After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.”
- He said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Prayer
- Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus

The 4th Sword of Sorrow ...
MARY ENCOUNTERS JESUS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS
John 19:1, Luke 23: 26-32
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross.
- And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
- And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
- But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
- For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!’
- For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
- And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).
Prayer
- Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful Heart and that of Jesus. In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently. Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus

The 5th Sword of Sorrow ...
MARY STANDS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
Mark 15:22, John 19:18, 25-27, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:46
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- And they brought him to the place called Gol’gotha (which means the place of a skull).
- There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.
- Standing by the cross of Jesus were his Mother, and his Mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
- When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
- Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your Mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
- And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “E’lo-i, E’lo-i, la’ma sabach-tha’ni?” which means, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
- Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Prayer
- Beloved Mother, Queen of the Martyrs, give us the courage you had in all your sufferings so that we may unite our sufferings with yours and give glory to God. Help us follow all His commandments and those of the Church so that Our Lord’s sacrifice will not be in vain, and all sinners in the world will be saved.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus


The 7th Sword of Sorrow ...
THE BODY OF JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB
Matthew 27:59, John 19:38-42, Mark 15:46, Luke 27:55-56
On the first large bead -- Pray the Our Father
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
On the next 7 beads -- Meditate on Scripture Verses & Pray a Hail Mary
- Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud,
- Nicodemus also, who had at first come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight.
- They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
- Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid.
- So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. And Joseph rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
- The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.
- Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Prayer
- Most Beloved Mother, whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Jesus, and Mother to us all, we are your children and we place all our trust in you. Teach us to see God in all things and all situations, even our sufferings. Help us to understand the importance of suffering, and also to know the purpose of our suffering as God had intended it.
- You yourself were conceived and born without sin, were preserved from sin, yet you suffered more than anybody else. You accepted suffering and pain with love and with unsurpassed courage. You stood by your Son from the time He was arrested until He died. You suffered along with Him, felt His every pain and torment. You accomplished the Will of God the Father; and according to His will, you have become our Mother. We beg you, dear Mother, to teach us to do as Jesus did. Teach us to accept our cross courageously. We trust you, most Merciful Mother, so teach us to sacrifice for all the sinners in the world. Help us to follow in your Son’s footsteps, and even to be willing to lay down our lives for others.
Conclude
- Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus
ENDING
- Concluding Prayer: Queen of Martyrs, your heart suffered so much. I beg you, by the merits of the tears you shed in these terrible and sorrowful times, to obtain for me and all the sinners of the world the grace of complete sincerity and repentance. Amen.
- Say 3 Times: Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.
- Sign of the Cross: In the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.