Heaven's special promises for various devotions to Jesus and Mary

[Greg]

I tried the 5 once. I was perhaps 18/19 years old.

Did the first 4 no problem.

5th one came around and I was ready for and thinking about it on the Thursday, had paper note, alarm in my Casio watch etc.  Had a total brain fart and completely forgot until 6:30pm on that Saturday.  Watch ended up in my sports bag because I was packing for a race.  Scrambled to find something last minute but too late by then.

The annoying thing was I had nothing to do that day.  It was like my memory was erased.

[Xavier]

Thanks for sharing, Greg. I hope you didn't take the discussion in the other thread personally - I only hope you become a saint and overcome all doubts about the Faith. : ) It's hardly 10 days to a First Friday. You can start the Sacred Heart Novena again in February, I'm also planning to. And finish in October. Alternatively, or along with that, First Saturdays from February to June. God bless.

Promises 100-120: Our Lord's promises to St. Bridget for 15 prayers. They can serve as the Way of the Cross. http://mostsacredheart.com/prayers/st-bridget.html

The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget

(Approved by Pope Pius IX.)

St. Bridget of Sweden prayed for a long t?me to know how many blows Jesus Chr?st suffered dur?ng H?s terr?ble Pass?on. Reward?ng her pat?ence, one day He appeared to her and sa?d, "I rece?ved 5480 blows upon My Body. If you w?sh to honor them ?n some way, rec?te f?fteen Our Fathers and f?fteen Ha?l Marys w?th the follow?ng Prayers, wh?ch I Myself shall teach you, for an ent?re year. When the year ?s f?n?shed, you w?ll have honored each of My Wounds."

Each prayer ?s preceded by one Our Father and one Ha?l Mary.

Our Father, who art ?n heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy k?ngdom come, thy w?ll be done on earth as ?t ?s ?n heaven. G?ve us th?s day our da?ly bread and forg?ve us our trespasses as we forg?ve those who trespass aga?nst us, and lead us not ?nto temptat?on but del?ver us from ev?l. For th?ne ?s the k?ngdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ha?l Mary, full of grace, the Lord ?s w?th thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed ?s the fru?t of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us s?nners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.


F?rst Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus Chr?st! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpass?ng all joy and all des?re, Salvat?on and Hope of all s?nners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater des?re than to be among men, even assum?ng human nature at the fullness of t?me for the love of men, recall all the suffer?ngs Thou hast endured from the ?nstant of Thy concept?on, and espec?ally dur?ng Thy Pass?on, as ?t was decreed and orda?ned from all etern?ty ?n the D?v?ne plan.

Remember, O Lord, that dur?ng the Last Supper w?th Thy d?sc?ples, hav?ng washed the?r feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Prec?ous Body and Blood, and wh?le at the same t?me thou d?dst sweetly console them, Thou d?dst foretell them Thy com?ng Pass?on.

Remember the sadness and b?tterness wh?ch Thou d?dst exper?ence ?n Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore w?tness say?ng: "My Soul ?s sorrowful even unto death."

Remember all the fear, angu?sh and pa?n that Thou d?dst suffer ?n Thy del?cate Body before the torment of the Cruc?f?x?on, when, after hav?ng prayed three t?mes, bathed ?n a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy d?sc?ple, arrested by the people of a nat?on Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false w?tnesses, unjustly judged by three judges dur?ng the flower of Thy youth and dur?ng the solemn Paschal season.

Remember that Thou wast despo?led of Thy garments and clothed ?n those of der?s?on; that Thy Face and Eyes were ve?led, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned w?th thorns, a reed placed ?n Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed w?th blows and overwhelmed w?th affronts and outrages. In memory of all these pa?ns and suffer?ngs wh?ch Thou d?dst endure before Thy Pass?on on the Cross, grant me before my death true contr?t?on, a s?ncere and ent?re confess?on, worthy sat?sfact?on and the rem?ss?on of all my s?ns. Amen.


Second Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! True l?berty of angels, Parad?se of del?ghts, remember the horror and sadness wh?ch Thou d?dst endure when Thy enem?es, l?ke fur?ous l?ons, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of ?nsults, sp?ts, blows, lacerat?ons and other unheard-of-cruelt?es, tormented Thee at w?ll. In cons?derat?on of these torments and ?nsult?ng words, I beseech Thee, O my Sav?our, to del?ver me from all my enem?es, v?s?ble and ?nv?s?ble, and to br?ng me, under Thy protect?on, to the perfect?on of eternal salvat?on. Amen.


Th?rd Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom noth?ng can encompass or l?m?t, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Lov?ng power, remember the very b?tter pa?n Thou d?dst suffer when the Jews na?led Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow w?th b?g blunt na?ls, and not f?nd?ng Thee ?n a p?t?able enough state to sat?sfy the?r rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pa?n to pa?n, and w?th ?ndescr?bable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all s?des, thus d?slocat?ng Thy L?mbs. I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of th?s most Lov?ng suffer?ng of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee. Amen.


Fourth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Heavenly Phys?c?an, ra?sed aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds w?th Th?ne, remember the bru?ses wh?ch Thou d?dst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members wh?ch were d?stended to such a degree that never was there pa?n l?ke unto Th?ne. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not ?n torment, and yet, forgett?ng all Thy suffer?ngs, Thou d?dst not cease to pray to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy enem?es, say?ng: "Father forg?ve them for they know not what they do."
Through th?s great Mercy, and ?n memory of th?s suffer?ng, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most B?tter Pass?on may effect ?n us a perfect contr?t?on and the rem?ss?on of all our s?ns. Amen.


F?fth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! M?rror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness wh?ch Thou exper?enced, when contemplat?ng ?n the l?ght of Thy D?v?n?ty the predest?nat?on of those who would be saved by the mer?ts of Thy Sacred Pass?on, Thou d?dst see at the same t?me, the great mult?tude of reprobates who would be damned for the?r s?ns, and Thou d?dst compla?n b?tterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate s?nners. Through th?s abyss of compass?on and p?ty, and espec?ally through the goodness wh?ch Thou d?splayed to the good th?ef when Thou sa?dst to h?m: "Th?s day, thou shalt be w?th Me ?n Parad?se." I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou w?lt show me mercy. Amen.


S?xth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Beloved and most des?rable K?ng, remember the gr?ef Thou d?dst suffer, when naked and l?ke a common cr?m?nal, Thou was fastened and ra?sed on the Cross, when all Thy relat?ves and fr?ends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who rema?ned close to Thee dur?ng Thy agony and whom Thou d?dst entrust to Thy fa?thful d?sc?ple when Thou sa?dst to Mary: "Woman, behold thy son!" and to St. John: "Son, behold thy Mother!"

I beg of Thee O my Sav?our, by the sword of sorrow wh?ch p?erced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compass?on on me ?n all my affl?ct?on and tr?bulat?ons, both corporal and sp?r?tual, and to ass?st me ?n all my tr?als, and espec?ally at the hour of my death. Amen.


Seventh Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Inexhaust?ble Founta?n of compass?on, Who by a profound gesture of Love, sa?d from the Cross: "I th?rst!" suffered from the th?rst for the salvat?on of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Sav?our, to ?nflame ?n our hearts the des?re to tend toward perfect?on ?n all our acts; and to ext?ngu?sh ?n us the concup?scence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly des?res. Amen.


E?ghth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, del?ght of the sp?r?t, by the b?tterness of the v?negar and gall wh?ch Thou d?dst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to rece?ve worth?ly Thy Prec?ous Body and Blood dur?ng our l?fe and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolat?on for our souls. Amen.


N?nth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Royal v?rtue, joy of the m?nd, recall the pa?n Thou d?dst endure when, plunged ?n an ocean of b?tterness at the approach of death, ?nsulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou d?dst cry out ?n a loud vo?ce that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, say?ng: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

Through th?s angu?sh, I beg of Thee, O my Sav?our, not to abandon me ?n the terrors and pa?ns of my death. Amen.


Tenth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Who art the beg?nn?ng and end of all th?ngs, l?fe and v?rtue, remembers that for our sakes Thou was plunged ?n an abyss of suffer?ng from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In cons?derat?on of the enorm?ty of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way ?s w?de and easy for those who love Thee. Amen.


Eleventh Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, ?n memory of Thy Wounds wh?ch penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy be?ng, to draw me, a m?serable s?nner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from s?n and to h?de me from Thy Face justly ?rr?tated aga?nst me, h?de me ?n Thy wounds, unt?l Thy anger and just ?nd?gnat?on shall have passed away. Amen.


Twelfth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! M?rror of Truth, symbol of un?ty, bond of char?ty, remember the mult?tude of wounds w?th wh?ch Thou wast affl?cted from head to foot, torn and reddened by the sp?ll?ng of Thy adorable Blood. O great and un?versal pa?n, wh?ch Thou d?dst suffer ?n Thy v?rg?nal flesh for love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What ?s there that Thou couldst have done for us wh?ch Thou has not done!

May the fru?t of Thy suffer?ng be renewed ?n my soul by the fa?thful remembrance of Thy Pass?on, and may Thy love ?ncrease ?n my heart each day, unt?l I see Thee ?n etern?ty: Thou Who art the treasure of every real good and every joy, wh?ch I beg Thee to grant me, O Sweetest Jesus, ?n heaven. Amen.


Th?rteenth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Strong L?on, Immortal and Inv?nc?ble K?ng, remember the pa?n wh?ch Thou d?dst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and phys?cal, was ent?rely exhausted, Thou d?dst bow Thy Head, say?ng: "It ?s consummated!" Through th?s angu?sh and gr?ef, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my m?nd w?ll be greatly troubled and my soul w?ll be ?n angu?sh. Amen.


Fourteenth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, Splendor and F?gure of H?s Substance, remember the s?mple and humble recommendat?on Thou d?dst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, say?ng: "Father, ?nto Thy Hands I commend My Sp?r?t!" And w?th Thy Body all torn, and Thy Heart Broken, and the bowels of Thy Mercy open to redeem us, Thou d?dst Exp?re. By th?s Prec?ous Death, I beg of Thee O K?ng of Sa?nts, comfort me and help me to res?st the dev?l, the flesh and the world, so that be?ng dead to the world I may l?ve for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to rece?ve me, a p?lgr?m and an ex?le return?ng to Thee. Amen.


F?fteenth Prayer

Our Father... Ha?l Mary...

O Jesus! True and fru?tful V?ne! Remember the abundant outpour?ng of Blood wh?ch Thou d?dst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as ju?ce from grapes ?n a w?ne press. From Thy S?de, p?erced w?th a lance by a sold?er, blood and water ?ssued forth unt?l there was not left ?n Thy Body a s?ngle drop, and f?nally, l?ke a bundle of myrrh l?fted to the top of the Cross Thy del?cate Flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body w?thered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dr?ed up.

Through th?s b?tter Pass?on and through the outpour?ng of Thy Prec?ous Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to rece?ve my soul when I am ?n my death agony. Amen.


Conclus?on

O Sweet Jesus! P?erce my heart so that my tears of pen?tence and love w?ll be my bread day and n?ght; may I be converted ent?rely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual hab?tat?on, may my conversat?on be pleas?ng to Thee, and may the end of my l?fe be so pra?seworthy that I may mer?t Heaven and there w?th Thy sa?nts, pra?se Thee forever.

Promises made by Our Lord to those who recite these prayers for a whole year

100. I w?ll del?ver 15 souls of h?s l?neage from Purgatory.
101. 15 souls of h?s l?neage w?ll be conf?rmed and preserved ?n grace.
102. 15 s?nners of h?s l?neage w?ll be converted.
103. Whoever rec?tes these Prayers w?ll atta?n the f?rst degree of perfect?on.
104. 15 days before h?s death I w?ll g?ve h?m My Prec?ous Body ?n order that he may escape eternal starvat?on; I w?ll g?ve h?m My Prec?ous Blood to dr?nk lest he th?rst eternally.
105. 15 days before h?s death he w?ll feel a deep contr?t?on for all h?s s?ns and w?ll have a perfect knowledge of them.
106. I w?ll place before h?m the s?gn of My V?ctor?ous Cross for h?s help and defense aga?nst the attacks of h?s enem?es.
107. Before h?s death I shall come w?th My Dearest Beloved Mother.
108. I shall grac?ously rece?ve h?s soul, and w?ll lead ?t ?nto eternal joys.
109. And hav?ng led ?t there I shall g?ve h?m a spec?al draught from the founta?n of My De?ty, someth?ng I w?ll not for those who have not rec?ted My Prayers.
110. Let ?t be known that whoever may have been l?v?ng ?n a state of mortal s?n for 30 years, but who w?ll rec?te devoutly, or have the ?ntent?on to rec?te these Prayers, the Lord w?ll forg?ve h?m all h?s s?ns.
111. I shall protect h?m from strong temptat?ons.
112. I shall preserve and guard h?s 5 senses.
113. I shall preserve h?m from a sudden death.
114.H?s soul w?ll be del?vered from eternal death.
115. He w?ll obta?n all he asks for from God and the Blessed V?rg?n.
116. If he has l?ved all h?s l?fe do?ng h?s own w?ll and he ?s to d?e the next day, h?s l?fe w?ll be prolonged.
117. Every t?me one rec?tes these Prayers he ga?ns 100 days ?ndulgence.
118. He ?s assured of be?ng jo?ned to the supreme Cho?r of Angels.
119. Whoever teaches these Prayers to another, w?ll have cont?nuous joy and mer?t wh?ch w?ll endure eternally.
120. There where these Prayers are be?ng sa?d or w?ll be sa?d ?n the future God ?s present w?th H?s grace.

[Greg]

I rarely take anything personally.

This is the Internet.

Mother abandons you in a Ukrainian orphanage = bad.

Random stranger says something to a person he knows little or nothing about = trivial.

[Xavier]

The 2 Great Promises associated with Our Lady's Brown Scapular:

121. "Whoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire"
122. Sabbatine Privilege: to be delivered from purgatory the First Saturday after death, if (1) one wears the Scapular devoutly (2) observes chastity according to one's state of life (3) recites the Little Office (or Rosary, with the permission of a priest) daily.

Some articles explaining. http://www.philomena.org/scapular.asp
https://olrl.org/pray/rosary.shtml

As approved by the Church: "the faithful may devoutly believe that the Blessed Virgin by her continuous intercession, merciful prayers, merits and special protection will assist the souls of deceased brothers and members of the confraternity, especially on Saturday, the day which the church dedicates to the Blessed Virgin. The conditions for trusting in such a favor are that the recipients die in a state of grace, wear the Carmelite habit, observe chastity according to their state in life and recite the little office of the Blessed Virgin; if they can not recite it they are to observe the church fasts and abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays, unless Christmas falls on these days"

Our Lady revealed to Venerable Dominic of Jesus and Mary: "Although many wear my Scapular, only a few fulfill conditions for the Sabbatine Privilege." We maintain the majority don't know them. It is an act of charity to make the Sabbatine Privilege known to all. A soul from Purgatory was asked by a Sister: "What is the average stay of the souls in Purgatory?" The Poor Soul answered: "From thirty to forty years!" Can you see the importance of making Our Lady's Privilege known – if you consider that the flames are the same as the fires of Hell!
A last reminder – we give you the message of one pastor. He said: "If I were positive that all my parishioners died wearing the Brown Scapular, I would be most certain that we would all meet in Heaven." If this pastor can be so certain about his parishioners, why can't all pastors be just as certain? Give your pastor this circular. Why can't every father and mother be certain of their children, family and friends? Explain to them the SCAPULAR PROMISE and the SABBATINE PRIVILEGE. Heed Our Lady's wish: "Wear the Scapular devoutly and perseveringly . . . It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace."

Our Lady made it and She will keep it. At the word of Her FIAT, She conceived by the Holy Ghost and the Incarnate Word became Man. If Almighty God, in obedience to the word of the priest every day at Holy Mass, comes down upon our Altars Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, will He refuse His Mother this grace for Her children!

To save souls from Hell, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.
– Fatima. 1917

True devotion to Mary consists in three things: Veneration, Confidence and Love. Without saying to Mary that we venerate Her, love Her and trust in Her protection, we tell Her all these things every moment of the day by simply wearing Her Brown Scapular.
The Scapular will be for all The Sign of our Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
– Pope Pius XII
The Scapular is a Prayer
Mary's Motherhood is not limited to Catholics; it is extended to ALL MEN. Many miracles of conversion have been obtained through the devout wearing of the Scapular. The Scapular is a great missionary Sacramental. After the Rosary, the Scapular is the most highly indulgenced Sacramental in the Church.
Love the Scapular!
      Wear it Always!
         Venerate it Often!
What a terrible shame that so many ignore Our Blessed Mother's request and, even more, have never heard of it. What a great loss of grace for mankind! Become an apostle of the Brown Scapular!
The Brown Scapular is a Sacramental!
A Sacramental is anything set aside by Holy Mother the Church to excite pious thoughts and increase devotion. Through these movements of the heart, venial sin is remitted and grace imparted. The possession of grace is the FOUNDATION OF PEACE. Let everyone wear the Scapular!

The first Scapular worn should be blessed by a priest and imposed by him (if possible). Any priest may bless and enroll in the Confraternity. After having received the initial blessed Scapular from a priest, no other Scapular need be blessed before wearing. The blessing and imposition are attached to the wearer for life. Every priest has the privilege of enrolling in the Scapular Confraternity.

The Scapular is 'Mary's Mantle.' made of wool, and MUST be worn over the shoulders so that one piece falls in front, the other in the back. Each time the Scapular is kissed with devotion, 500 days indulgence is granted to those in the state of grace. The Scapular Medal was created only for those who would suffer grave inconvenience in wearing the cloth and the indulgence of 500 days does NOT apply to the Medal. To obtain the graces and promise of the Scapular, it must be worn constantly. It should be worn day and night in sickness and in health.

When the Scapular is worn-out, being a sacred object, it should not be thrown in the regular garbage but should be burned or buried.

The Sabbatine Privilege consists of Our Lady's promise to release from Purgatory, through her special intercession, on the first Saturday after their death, those who meet these three requirements:

(1) You must wear the Scapular;

(2) You must observe chastity according to your state of life;

(3) You must recite daily the Little Office of Our Blessed Mother. (The Rosary or some other pious work may be substituted for the Office. ALL CONFESSORS were given faculty to make this substitution by Pope Leo XIII in June of 1901.

Am All Thine. O Immaculate
Heart of Mary,
Save Me!

Scapular wearers share in the daily prayers of the Carmelite Order and the worldwide good works of some two hundred million members of the Scapular Confraternity.
A Sign of Salvation!
A Protection in Danger!
A Pledge of Peace!
Sweet Heart of Mary, Be My Salvation!
Man cannot be saved without prayer. Only one thing can release the graces necessary to bring about world peace and that is prayer. The Scapular is the Promise of Mary's prayer. By wearing the Scapular, we offer the perpetual prayer that everything we do is done in God's eyes through Mary. At the same time, we become apostles of Our Mother because all that She requires to save the world is to make our daily actions a prayer in union with Her. The Brown Scapular is the masterpiece of the love of the Heart of Mary. An attack on the Scapular is an attack on the Church and the Mother of God. Let us defend it and explain its value to all. It is our sign of belonging to the universal family of Her Immaculate Heart. Mary, O my Mother, I am Thine!

O Mother of Carmel, when my last hour shall sound and I take Thy holy Scapular into my trembling hands, fill my heart with confidence in thee, and do thou, my loving Mother, receive my Soul and order it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.

(Hail Mary - three times)

Sweet Heart of Mary, Be My Salvation!

(An indulgence of 300 days)

The Blessing of the Scapular of Mount Carmel
O Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of mankind, by Thy right Hand sanctify this Scapular which Thy servant will devotedly wear for the love of Thee and of Thy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel, so that, by her intercession, he/she may be protected from the wickedness of the enemy and persevere in Thy grace until death: Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Sprinkle the Scapular with Holy Water.

Investiture for Enrollment Into The Confraternity
Receive this blessed habit and ask the most holy Virgin that, by her merits, it may be worn with no stain of sin; that She may guard thee from all evil and bring thee to life everlasting. Amen.
Investiture for Enrollment Into The Confraternity.

[Xavier]

5 wonderful promises for a simple devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus:

http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/true-letter.htm

A TRUE LETTER OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Consecrating the Drops of Blood which Our Lord lost on His way to Calvary.

Copy of a letter of the Oration found in the Holy Sepulchre of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, preserved in a silver box by His Holiness and by the Emperors and Empresses of the Christian Faith.

St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary, with St. Matilda and St. Bridget, wishing to know something of the Passion of Jesus Christ, offered fervent and special prayers, upon which there appeared to them Our Lord Jesus Christ Who spoke to them in the following manner: 

I descended from Heaven to the Earth in order to convert you. In olden times people were religious and their harvests were abundant; at present, on the contrary, they are scanty.

If you want to reap an abundant harvest you must not work on Sunday, for on Sunday you must go to Church, and pray to God to forgive your sins. He gave you six days in which to work and one for rest and devotion and to tender your help to the poor and assist the Church.

Those people who brawl against My religion and cast slurs on this Sacred Letter, shall be forsaken by Me.

On the contrary, those people who shall carry a copy of this letter with them shall be free of death by drowning and from sudden death. They shall be free from all contagious diseases and lightning; they shall not die without Confession, and shall be free from their enemies and from the hand of wrongful authority, and from all their slanderers and false witnesses.

Women in peril at child-birth will, by keeping this Oration about them. immediately overcome the difficulty. In the houses where this Oration is kept,no evil thing will ever happen: and forty days before the death of a person who has this Oration about him or her, the Blessed Virgin will appear to him or her. So said St. Gregorius.

TO ALL THOSE FAITHFUL WHO SHALL RECITE FOR 3 YEARS, EACH DAY, 2 PATERS, GLORIAS and AVES, IN HONOR OF THE DROPS OF BLOOD I LOST, I WILL CONCEDE THE FOLLOWING 5 GRACES:
123. The plenary indulgence and remittance of your sins.
124. You will be free from the pains of Purgatory.
125. If you should die before completing the said 3 years, for you it will be the same as if you had completed them.
126. It will be upon your death the same as if you had shed all your blood for the Holy Faith.
127. I will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until the fourth generation. 

Be it known that the number of armed soldiers were 150; those who trailed Me while I was bound were 23. The executioners of justice were 83; the blows received on My head were 150; those on My stomach, 108; kicks on My shoulders, 80. I was led, bound with cords by the hair, 24 times; spits in the face were 180; I was beaten on the body 6666 times; beaten on the head 110 times; I was roughly pushed, and at 12 o' clock I was lifted up by the hair; pricked with thorns and pulled by the beard 23 times; received 20 wounds on the head; thorns of marine junks, 72; pricks of thorns in the head, 110; mortal thorns in the forehead, 3. I was afterwards flogged and dressed as a mocked king; wounds in the body, 1000. The soldiers who led Me to the Calvary were 608; those who watched Me were 3, and those who mocked Me were 1008; the drops of blood which I lost were 28,430.
BENEDETTA DA SS., POPE LEO XIII, IN ROMA 5 APRILE 1890

The following list of miracles and promises or warnings attached are published here, but with the caution that we do not know if the approval of Pope Leo XIII was for this portion as well.

MIRACLES ACCOMPLISHED BY THE SACRED LETTER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

A second and similar copy of this Letter has been found in a place called "Pursit," three leagues from Marseilles, written in golden letters, and believed to be of supernatural origin. It was found by a boy 7 years old of the same town. With it is an appendix and declaration of the 2nd of January, 1750, which says: "All those who work on Sunday, will be cursed by Me, for on the Sacred day you must rest, go to Church, attend all Divine Services, so that you and your generation will be blessed.

If on the contrary you do not believe this you will be chastised, and to your children I will send pest, famine, war, spasms and heartaches; to show you My anger, you will see signs in the sky, thunders and earthquakes.

Those who do not believe that this letter is written by Divine workmanship and dictated by the Sacred Mouth of Christ, and who will keep it hidden from other persons, will be cursed by God and condemned on the Day of Judgment. To those who will publish it, if they have many sins and are truly repentant for having offended Me, even though they have done some injury to their neighbors, when they ask pardon I will cancel their sins. Those who will copy this, or read it, or who will induce others to read it, will be free from all temptations."

A certain Spanish Captain traveling by land near Barcelona, saw a head severed from the body, which spoke to him as follows, "As you are bound for Barcelona, my good man, for God's sake send hither a Priest so that I may confess myself. It is already three days now that I have been attacked by robbers, and I cannot die without first confessing myself." The Captain brought the Confessor to the place; the living head confessed and then expired. On the body from which the head had been severed, the present Oration was found. On that occasion it was approved by several Tribunals of the Holy Inquisition and by the Queen of Spain. The said Paters, Glorias and Aves can be recited for the benefit of any soul.
At the time of the terrible earthquake in Northern Italy and in France, a girl from Nice named Nathaline was caught under a fallen house and remained 3 days buried alive. When unearthed, a copy of this Letter was found on her! She was illiterate and uneducated. When found she was sleeping, untouched by the devastation of the earthquake!

On March 12, 1821, many emigrants from S. Giovanni Incarico, in the Province of Caserta (Italy) sailed for America to look for work. During the trip they were caught in a most terrible storm, which threw their ship into collision with a warship. This caused it to sink. The event occurred on the 19th, St. Joseph's Day. Out of the 667 people on board, only 9 were saved. Everyone of them had a copy of this Letter of Christ in his possession. The survivors were found almost naked, wearing only their vests, in the pockets of which the Letters were found, dry and not even wrinkled!


   Two of the survivors from the same town, named Luigi Ceccaccio and Francesco Nero, furnished ample and substantial proof of the miraculous event.

   Another miracle of the Sacred Letter of Jesus Christ was revealed at the Island of Iri, also in Italy. A man was peacefully sleeping in his bed, when a mysterious hand shook him abruptly and a voice thundered: "Get up in haste, and save yourself, in a corner of the house!" Promptly complying with the divine warning, the man rose and reached, pale and trembling, a remote corner, just in time to see the floor whereon he had lain in bed, sink into a deep abyss. This Letter saved him.


Another miracle was accomplished by the "Mater Dolorosa" three miles from the town of Castelpetrosa, in the Province of Campobasso, Italy. A 13 year old shepherdess, named Maria Grazia Estassia Bibiana, was attending to her duties in the vicinity of an old Convent. Suddenly appeared to her, and to her astonished mother who was nearby, the Virgin Mater Dolorosa, who told them: "Come with Me to this old Church, wherein My Son is vexed with the people of the world, as there are too many sins committed, vice is rampant everywhere; religion is neglected. Therefore destructive earthquakes, pestilence and famine are putting humanity to severe punishment. Go to Church and receive your Holy Communion at least once a year. Thus, He will pardon your sins." Then the Virgin disappeared.

   Another miracle was reported recently. In the last days of June, 1889, there appeared at the railroad station of Ancona a woman in mourning. She said she was to go to Rome but lacked the money to pay for her ticket. The train left the station but after a while it stopped. Though 5 more engines were added, it would not budge. A gentleman on the train, named Chev Morelli, thought of the black dressed lady who could not board the train at the station for the lack of the money to pay her fare to Rome. He went immediately to find her, and he offered to pay for it. He paid, in fact, 47 lires for a first class ticket to Rome. This the lady accepted under the condition that she travel alone. No sooner had the lady boarded the train, than it started up speedily, to the astonishment of all.

   Chev Morelli, upon reaching Rome, wished to pay his respects to the lady. He went to the car where she had been seated. However, no one was there, and on the seat he found 2,000 lire in money and a note in golden letters, which read, "I am the Mater Dolorosa Virgin; and I wish to tell the sinners of the world that they must redeem themselves, believe in God and serve Him. Otherwise, a great calamity will soon befall Christianity."

   His Holiness the Pope received a letter October 2nd, 1889 wherein it was stated that if in the future the people would not renounce the devil and all his work, mortifying all evils and corrupt dealings, and make solemn vows of proceeding daily in all virtue and godliness of living, they would be overcome by disaster. This Letter was sent by the Saviour, Christ. It mentioned the appearance of the Mater Dolorosa at Ancona. It declared that on the last Good Friday no visitors were seen at the Holy Sepulchre. It sid that people should remember the Day of Judgment, when the faithful shall enjoy the Glory of the Heavens and the ungodly shall be overwhelmed in a storm of snares, fire, brimstones, and bolts.

   On July 2nd, 1889, when a terrible flood caused ruin, misery and appalling loss of life, the few survivors found in the many districts stricken by the disaster were in many cases in possession of the Sacred Letter.

   One Giovanni Santarello who happened to be in France at the time of the earthquake, which made thousands of victims in the Southern Departments, was found buried alive under the wreck of a house after remaining in a deep anxiety four days and four nights. A copy of this Sacred Letter was found on him.

   In commemoration of the apparition of the Mater Dolorosa Virgin in Ancoma, the people of the Township of Castelpetrosa, in the Province of Campobasso were so deeply shaken by the divine event that a great revival of worship was proclaimed and a pilgrimage was organized. At a meeting of the leading citizens, the clergy and authorities, it was resolved to build a great temple in honor of the Holy Virgin. On the day set for the laying of the cornerstone, a great gathering of bishops, priests, high church dignitaries and the laity, assisted by several hundred workmen, were ready to start the ceremony. Suddenly all tools, picks and shovels disappeared. To the spectators' terrified eyes appeared the Mater Dolorosa Virgin, who said: "Why are you digging this ground? Yonder, amid those beautiful woods, you will find the Sanctuary for your worship."

   Speechless and confused the people beheld, as she vanished, the Virgin ascending to the heavens. A few days afterwards, three miles from Castelpetrosa, in the vicinity of the old Convent, three magnificent fountains were found beside a shrine decked with flowers and golden stars, seemingly erected by a divine hand.

   On the solemn occasion of the last Pope's Jubilee, the Saviour, Christ, made His sudden appearance to the Pope, who was then on his throne, surrounded by cardinals, bishops and high dignitaries of the Church. The Holy Spirit spoke thus: "People of the world, forsake your sins or else the end shall soon be forthcoming!" Our Lord then disappeared. All present threw themselves at the feet of the Pope, beseeching pardon and clemency!




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 Heave. 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.

HAIL MARY

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.

GLORY BE

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[Xavier]

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/bridget_12years.htm

The 12 Year Prayers:

Prayers Honoring the 7 Times Jesus Spilled His Precious Blood for Us, as Revealed by Our Lady to St.

Bridget, and Approved by Pope Clement XII

O Jesus, now I wish to pray the Lord's Prayer seven times in unity with the love with which You sanctified this prayer in Your Heart. Take it from my lips into Your Divine Heart. Improve and complete it so much that it brings as much honor and joy to the Trinity as You granted it on earth with this prayer. May these pour upon Your Holy Humanity in Glorification to Your Painful Wounds and the Precious Blood that You spilled from them.

First Prayer: The Circumcision -
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the first wounds, the first pains, and the first Bloodshed as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of youth, as protection against the first mortal sin, especially among my relatives. Amen

Second Prayer: The Suffering on the Mount of Olives
|Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the terrifying suffering of Jesus' Heart on the Mount of Olives and every drop of His Bloody Sweat as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the heart, as protection against such sins and for the spreading of Divine and brotherly Love. Amen

Third Prayer: The Flogging
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the many thousands of Wounds, the gruesome Pains, and the Precious Blood of the Flogging as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Flesh, as protection against such sins and the preservation of innocence, especially among my relatives. Amen

Fourth Prayer: The Crowning of Thorns
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Wounds, the Pains, and the Precious Blood of Jesus' Holy Head from the Crowning with Thorns as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Spirit, as protection against such sins and the spreading of Christ's kingdom here on earth. Amen

Fifth Prayer: The Carrying of the Cross
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Sufferings on the way of the Cross, especially His Holy Wound on His Shoulder and its Precious Blood as atonement for my and all of humanity's rebellion against the Cross, every grumbling against Your Holy Arrangements and all other sins of the tongue, as protection against such sins and for true love of the Cross. Amen

Sixth Prayer: The Crucifixion
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You Your Son on the Cross, His Nailing and Raising, His Wounds on the Hands and Feet and the three streams of His Precious Blood that poured forth from these for us, His extreme tortures of the Body and Soul, His precious Death and its non bleeding Renewal in all Holy Masses on earth as atonement for all wounds against vows and regulations within the Orders, as reparation for my and all of the world's sins, for the sick and the dying, for all holy priests and laymen, for the Holy Father's intentions toward the restoration of Christian families, for the strengthening of Faith, for our country and unity among all nations in Christ and His Church, as well as for the Diaspora. Amen

Seventh Prayer: The Piercing of Jesus' Side
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, accept as worthy, for the needs of the Holy Church and as atonement for the sins of all Mankind, the Precious Blood and Water which poured forth from the Wound of Jesus' Divine Heart. Be gracious and merciful toward us.

Blood of Christ, the last precious content of His Holy Heart, wash me of all my and others' guilt of sin!

Water from the Side of Christ, wash me clean of all punishments for sin and extinguish the flames of Purgatory for me and for all the Poor Souls. Amen

The Magnificent Promises of the 12 Years Prayers

128. The soul who prays them will suffer no Purgatory.

129. The soul who prays them will be accepted among the Martyrs as though he had spilled his blood for his Faith.

130. The soul who prays them can choose three others whom Jesus will then keep in a state of grace sufficient to become holy.

131. No one in the four successive generations of the soul who prays them will be lost.

132. The soul who prays them will be made conscious of his death one month in advance.

[Xavier]

Other Promises of the Sacred Heart as made known by St. Margaret Mary

133. "He promised to pour out into the hearts of all those who honor the image of His Heart all the gifts which It contains. He promised also to imprint His love on the hearts of all those who would wear this image on their persons, and that He would destroy in them all disordered movements."

[Livenotonevil]

I'm sorry for my question not being clear - this is something that ironically my little sister brought up.

So, with these various devotions, there are various "promises" such as "You will never touch hell's fire" or "You will avoid Purgatory" or "You will be saved at the Last Judgment" - and I was wondering how are such "promises" not heretical when it is impossible to know who will be saved or condemned during the Last Judgment?

For example, the Brown Scapular - "Whoever dies clothed in this scapular shall not face eternal fire."

This seems to suggest that merely having faith in something or doing one particular work guarantees Salvation - which follows the same logical train of "As long as you have Faith in Christ, you will be saved", an idea which is heresy. How can you know you will be saved?

[Xavier]

Because nothing is impossible for God, even what seems impossible for man. Your opinion is the heretical one and plainly opposed to the Sacred Council of Trent; the Catholic doctrine on perseverance is that man cannot ensure he will persevere to the end, but God can; and God having chosen His elect can and does make known to a few of them that He has given, or He will give, by a promise, the grace of final perseverance which guarantees His infallibly efficacious providence will arrange all the circumstances of their life so that they die with the final sacraments and in the state of grace; I know the Greek schismatic Orthodox do not accept the holy Council of Trent and try to cast doubt on its dogmatic decrees, but this is a devotional thread and is not for that. Please start a new thread in the Ask a traditionalist subforum about Trent or final perseverance and I or someone else will answer you there.

The canon again: CANON XXII.-"If any one saith, that the justified, either is able to persevere, without the special help of God, in the justice received; or that, with that help, he is not able; let him be anathema."

The Savior promised His Sacred Heart shall be a sure refuge not for individuals and families only but also for communities and nations that embrace this devotion; particularly for communities that honor His image and adore His Heart in public.

"BLESSINGS PROMISED TO COMMUNITIES:
134. He promised that He would pour out the sweet unction of His ardent charity on all those communities in which this divine image would be honored; that He would turn away from them the thunderbolts of the just anger of God, and that He would restore them to His grace, if they should have the misfortune to fall into sin."

[Xavier]

135) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO NATIONS THAT PUT THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART ON THEIR STANDARDS:
". . . Our Divine Lord does not wish to stop there: He desires, it seems to me, to enter with pomp and magnificence into the houses of princes and kings, in order to be honored there as much as He was outraged, despised and humiliated in His Passion, and to receive as much pleasure at seeing the great ones of this world abased and humiliated before Him, as He felt bitterness at seeing Himself annihilated at their feet."
136) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO FAMILIES WHERE THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART IS HONORED:
"Our Divine Lord assured me that He takes a singular pleasure in being honored under the figure of His Heart of flesh, the image of which He wishes to be exposed in public in order to touch the unfeeling hearts of men. He promised that He would pour out in abundance into the hearts of all those who would honor His Heart all the gifts with which It is filled, and that everywhere this image is exposed and honored, it would draw down all kinds of blessings."

[Xavier]

PROMISES ATTACHED TO THE CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART

Consecration to the Sacred Heart is the principle, the resume and the final term of all the devotional practices demanded by our Divine Lord for His Sacred Heart.
137) THIS CONSECRATION REJOICES THE SACRED HEART AND TERRIFIES THE DEVIL, AGAINST WHOM IT IS A POWERFUL WEAPON.
"Let us renew often our consecration to the Heart of Jesus," writes St. Margaret Mary, "and let us live that consecration faithfully. The Sacred Heart takes a singular pleasure in it.
"The devil has a most intense fear of the devotion to this loving Heart, because of the salvation of the multitude of souls which it effects in favor of those who consecrate themselves completely to the Sacred Heart for the purpose of loving It, honoring It, and glorifying It."
138) CONSECRATION 10 THE SACRED HEART IS A SOVEREIGN REMEDY AGAINST MORTAL SIN.
"I cannot believe," writes St. Margaret Mary, "that those consecrated to the Heart of Jesus will fall under the domination of Satan through mortal sin, if having consecrated themselves to the Heart of Jesus, they endeavor to honor It, love It, and glorify It, by conforming themselves in all things to Its holy maxims."

[Xavier]

139) CONSECRATION PUTS SOULS ON THE ROAD TO PERFECTION.
"There is no surer means of attaining perfection than to be consecrated to the Heart of Jesus. If therefore, we wish to attain that perfection which the adorable Heart of Jesus desires of us, we must make an entire sacrifice of ourselves, and of everything that depends on us, to the Sacred Heart and live entirely for It."
140) CONSECRATION WILL PROCURE PEACE.
"Establish your dwelling in the amiable Heart of Jesus, and you will find unalterable peace, strength to carry out all your good desires, and a protection against voluntary faults."

[Xavier]

141) CONSECRATION IS THE KEY WHICH OPENS THE SACRED HEART TO US.
"Our Lord gave me to understand that He wishes to be known, loved and adored by men, and for that end He would give them many graces, provided they consecrated themselves to the devotion and love of His Sacred Heart."
142) CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART IS A PLEDGE OF SALVATION.
"There is no surer means of salvation than to consecrate oneself to the Divine Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ. "The loving Heart of Jesus will not allow any of those consecrated to It to perish, so great is His desire that His Sacred Heart be known, loved and honored by His creatures. In this Sacred Heart they will find assistance during their life in all their necessities; It will be their secure place of refuge at the hour of their death, into which they will be received and protected from their enemies."

[Xavier]

143)PROMISES MADE IN FAVOR OF SINNERS
THE DEVOTlON TO THE SACRED HEART IS AN EFFICACIOUS MEANS OFFERED FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS.

"My Divine Master:' writes St. Margaret Mary, "revealed to me that it was His ardent desire to be known, loved and honored by men, and His eager desire to draw them back from the road to perdition, along which Satan is driving them in countless numbers, that induced Him to manifest His Heart to men with all the treasures of love, mercy, grace, sanctification and salvation that It contains, in order to have a means of satisfying Its desire to pour out on them abundantly Its mercies and Its graces. It is by this means that the Sacred Heart of our loving Jesus wishes to save many souls from eternal perdition . . . This Divine Heart is like a fortress or a secure place of refuge for all poor sinners who wish to take shelter in It from the Justice of Almighty God, the thunderbolts of whose wrath, like an impetuous torrent, would overwhelm sinners and their sins, on account of the enormous number committed at the present time."
144) THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART IS A SOVEREIGN REMEDY AGAINST TEPIDITY.

"Our Lord wishes through this devotion to His Divine Heart to rekindle the charity that has grown cold and has almost been extinguished in the hearts of the greater part of Christians; He wishes to give men a new means of loving God by His Sacred Heart, as much as He desires and merits, and of making reparation for their ingratitude.
"If we are cowardly, cold, impure, imperfect, the Sacred Heart is an ardent furnace in which we must purify and perfect ourselves like gold in the crucible. It will purify all that is imperfect in our actions; it will sanctify those that are good."
145)PROMISES MADE IN FAVOR OF THE JUST

"There is no shorter way of attaining perfection than to render to the Divine Heart an the homage, love, honor and praise in our power.
"I do not know of any other exercise in the spiritual life more calculated to raise a soul in a short time to the height of perfection, and make it taste the true sweetness that is to be found in the service of God; if it were known how pleasing this devotion is to Jesus Christ, there is no Christian, however little his love for our amiable Savior, who would not begin to practice it immediately."
"The names of beginners," writes St. Margaret Mary, "are written on the adorable Heart of Jesus only with ink. This signifies the initial grace given us to combat and conquer our imperfections, especially our proud self-love, which insinuates itself everywhere, sullying and disfiguring our holiest actions. These black letters should be purified from the earth which they contain and made bright in the crucible. This means that our inclinations and actions should be purified in the furnace of the love of the Divine Heart from all that is earthly and human and from all self-seeking.
"These black letters will gradually brighten in the crucible of Divine Love, and become like silver, which signifies purity of heart. But when in the process of purification all the black letters are changed into letters of silver, we must not stop there, we must continue until they are changed into gold.
"It is love that will change them into gold. Charity is the divine gold that will write our names on the Heart of Jesus in letters never to be effaced. We shall then become like holocausts, consumed completely in the ardent flames of the loving Heart of Jesus."

[Xavier]

http://www.motherofallpeoples.com/2010/09/the-promises-of-the-seven-sorrows/

So much does the Crucified Lord desire humanity to ponder, along with His own saving Redemption, the coredemption of his Mother, that He has attached to the prayerful meditation of the seven principal historical events of Our Lady's sufferings promises of grace and mercy that are nothing short of extraordinary and miraculous.

To St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373), Our Lady directly reveals the amazing graces granted by her Son for all those who daily pray seven Hail Mary's while meditating on her seven dolors and tears:

146. "I will grant peace to their families."
147. "They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries."
148. "I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work."
149. "I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls."
150. "I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."
151. "I will visibly help them at the moment of their death—they will see the face of their mother."
152. "I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy."

St. Alphonsus Liguori testifies to complementary revelations given by Our Lord to St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231) where He further promises four special graces to those dedicated to the sufferings of the co-redeeming Mother:

153. That those who before death invoke the Blessed Mother in the name of her sorrows, should obtain true repentance of all their sins.
154. That He would protect in their tribulations all who remember this devotion, and that He would protect them especially at the hour of death.
155. That He would impress upon their minds the remembrance of His Passion, and that they should have their reward for it in Heaven.
156. That He would commit such devout clients to the hands of Mary, so that she might obtain for these souls all the graces she wanted to lavish upon them.

Up until 1961, the liturgy of the Church officially contemplated the Sorrows of Our Lady during Lent in the form of the feast of the Compassion of Mary, which was celebrated on the Friday before Palm Sunday. With the revision of the liturgical calendar, the Compassion feast was removed and the liturgical celebration of the Seven Sorrows was left principally to the September 15 Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which historically developed from the fourteenth century devotion to the Seven Dolors as cultivated in large part by the Servites of Mary.

Still, the Lenten season in general, and Good Friday in particular, demand the special veneration of the Sorrowful Mother, as well as the efficacious benefit of daily meditation on Our Lady's co-sufferings with Jesus throughout the liturgical year. Clearly, Jesus wants his disciples to see His sufferings and those of His Mother as one single, unified sacrifice for the redemption of the world. As St. Bernard's renowned student, Arnold of Chartres († 1160), instructs: "Together they accomplished the task of man's redemption... both offered up one and the same sacrifice to God; She in the blood of her heart, He in the blood of his flesh... so that together with Christ she obtained a common effect in the salvation of the world." Our Lord also had revealed to St. Bridget in another part of Revelations: "My Mother and I saved man as with one heart only, I by suffering in my Heart and my flesh, she by the sorrow and love of her heart."

Our Lord instructed Sr. Lucia that the reason for the Fatima apparitions was precisely to place the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary along side devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In sorrow, in Redemption, in veneration, it is the will of God that the Two Hearts be honored together as one.

The historical Seven Sorrows of Our Lady are: The Prophecy of Simeon; The Flight Into Egypt; The Loss of Jesus in the Temple; Mary Meets Jesus Carrying the Cross; The Crucifixion; Mary Receives the Dead Body of Her Son; and The Burial of Her Son and Closing of the Tomb.

Pope Pius VII approved another series of prayers in honor of the Seven Sorrows for daily meditation in 1815:

O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

1. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of your tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by your heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Hail Mary...
2. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of your most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and your sojourn there. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. Hail Mary...
3. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried your troubled heart at the loss of your dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. Hail Mary...
4. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of your heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. Hail Mary...
5. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which your generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by your afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. Hail Mary...
6. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of your compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. Hail Mary...
7. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Hail Mary...
Let Us Pray:

Let intercession be made for us, we beseech You, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Your mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Your bitter Passion. Through You, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

Daily meditate upon the Seven Sorrows. Please the Sacred Heart of the Redeemer by pondering the Sorrowful Heart of the Co-redemptrix. Receive the remarkably generous graces which come from uniting our hearts each day to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of the Mother.