HYMN

At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours.

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 his awful judgement 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.

Or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastic authority.

Ant. 1 For you we praise the Father,
O sorrowful Virgin;
in the blood of your Son Jesus,
we have the fullness of life.

PSALM 113     Praise the name of the Lord
He has thrown down the powerful from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. (Luke 1:52)

Praise, you servants of the Lord,*
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord*
both now and forever.

From the rising of the sun to its setting*
let the name of the Lord be praised.
High above all nations is the Lord; *
above the heavens God's glory.

Who is like the Lord, our God enthroned on high, *
looking down on heaven and earth?

The Lord raises the needy from the dust,*
lifts the poor from the ash heap,
Seats them with princes,*
the princes of the people,

Gives the childless wife a home, *
the joyful mother of children.

Ant. 1 For you we praise the Father,
O sorrowful Virgin;
in the blood of your Son Jesus,
we have the fullness of life.

Ant. 2 Woman of the New Covenant, standing beside the cross,
your divine Son
named you Mother of his disciples.


PSALM 147 (12-20) God’s word restores Jerusalem
Come, I will show you the bride, the spouse of the lamb. (Revelation 21:9)

Glorify the Lord, Jerusalem; *
Zion, offer praise to your God,
Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, *
blessed your children within you.

He has brought peace to your borders, *
and filled you with finest wheat.
The Lord sends a command to earth;*
his word runs swiftly!

Thus snow is spread like wool, *
frost is scattered like ash,
Hail is dispersed like crumbs;*
before such cold the waters freeze.

Again he sends his word and they melt; *
the wind is unleashed and the waters flow.
The Lord also proclaims his word to Jacob, *
decrees and laws to Israel.

God has not done this for other nations; *
of such laws they know nothing.

Ant. 2 Woman of the New Covenant, standing beside the cross,
your divine Son
named you Mother of his disciples.

Ant. 3 Rejoice, full of grace,
and dance, O joyful Mother;
the blood of your Son Jesus
has reconciled heaven and earth.


CANTICLE cf Ephesians 1:3-10 God our Savior
In the Virgin Mother, Christ has revealed to us the mystery of the Father.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, †
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him, †
before the foundation of the world, *
to be holy and without blemish before him.

In love he destined us †
for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, *
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace *
that he granted us in the beloved.

In Christ we have redemption by his blood, *
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace *
that he lavished upon us.

In all wisdom and insight †
God has made known to us the mystery of his will *
in accord with his favor that he set forth in him,
as a plan for the fullness of times, *
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

Ant. 3 Rejoice, full of grace,
and dance, O joyful Mother;
the blood of your Son Jesus
has reconciled heaven and earth.

READING Colossians 1:24-25 RESPONSORY

R. Obtain salvation for us, * O Virgin Mary.
-- Obtain salvation for us, O Virgin Mary.
V. Through the passion of Christ your Son,
-- O Virgin Mary
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-- Obtain salvation for us, O Virgin Mary.

Magnificat Ant. Jesus says to his mother: “Woman behold your son!”
And to the disciple whom he loved: “Behold your mother!”

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; *
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; *
behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, *
and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age *
to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm, *
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones*
but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; *
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, *
remembering his mercy,

according to his promise to our fathers, *
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

Magnificat Ant. Jesus says to his mother: “Woman behold your son!”
And to the disciple whom he loved: “Behold your mother!”

INTERCESSIONS

With Our Lady of Sorrows, let us look lovingly at the crucified Christ and pray to our heavenly Father saying:
Reveal to us, Father, the mysterious glory of the Cross.

God of love, in the blood of your Son, poured out on the Cross, you ratified the eternal covenant with your people,
- grant that we may live it as Mary did, faithful to your loving plan and in solidarity with all our sisters and brothers.

God of compassion, in view of Christ’s Paschal Mystery, you preserved the Virgin Mary undefiled,
- keep us free from sin.

God of life, you strengthened Mary at the foot of the Cross and filled her with joy at the resurrection of her Son,
- support us amid the trials of life and strengthen us in hope.

God of peace, in the blood of your Son you reconciled humanity to yourself and restored harmony in creation,
- make us builders of peace, generous in service and solicitous in love.

God of kindness, through your Son, the sole Mediator, who died and rose for us,
- grant to our deceased brothers and sisters a share in the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Our Father

Prayer