THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY; SAINT NICOMEDES (90 A.D.) Martyr

Stain Glass Image

of Saint Nicomedes

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SAINT NICOMEDES

Martyr

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE

Our Lady had the comfort of St.
Joseph's presence when Simeon prophesied to her, "Thy own soul a sword
shall pierce" (Luke 2:35). The Provider was with her also during the
flight into Pagan Egypt, and when they lost the twelve-year-old Jesus in
Jerusalem. But it was after Joseph's death that Mary bore the most
tremendous of her sorrows: the meeting on the way to Calvary, the
standing at the foot of the Cross, the removal of her Son's body from
the instrument of torture, the entombment. Mary's boundless compassion
for the sufferings of Jesus made her the Queen of Martyrs; and in her
unspeakable agony she became the Mother of Christ's Mystical Body.



INTROIT John 19:25

There were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Salome and Mary Magdalene.

John 19:26, 27. "Woman, behold, thy son," said Jesus; then to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother."

V. Glory be . . .



COLLECT

O God, in Your
passion the prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled that a sword of sorrow
should pierce the sweet soul of Your glorious Virgin-Mother Mary. We
reverently recall her sufferings and sorrows. Mercifully grant us the
fruits of the redemption that was paid for by Your own sufferings; who
lives and rules in God the Father . . .



Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES

Toward the close of the first century Nicomedes, a priest, was scourged to death for refusing to sacrifice to idols.



Stay close to
Your people, O Lord, so that the brilliant merits of Your blessed martyr
Nicomedes may help us, and his prayers win for us Your unfailing
mercy. Through our Lord . . .



LESSON Judith 13:22, 23-25

The Lord hath
blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies
to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God,
above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and
earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the
prince of our enemies. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day,
that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be
mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not
spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy
people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.



GRADUAL

You are sorrowful and tearful, O Virgin Mary, standing by the cross of the Lord Jesus, your Son, our Redeemer.

V. O
Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain, the
Author of life who was made man, bears this punishment of the cross!



Alleluia, alleluia! V. By the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ stood the sorrowing Holy Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the world.

SEQUENCE

At the Cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her Heart, His sorrow sharing,

All His bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed

Was that Mother highly blessed

Of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,

'Whelmed in miseries so deep,

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

She beheld her tender Child,

All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation

Saw Him hang in desolation

Till His spirit forth He sent.

O sweet Mother! Font of love,

Touch my spirit from above,

Make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you His pain,

Who for all our sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,

Mourning Him who mourned for me,

All the days that I may live.

By the Cross with you to stay,

There with you to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of you to give.

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 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. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 19:25-27

At that time, there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his
mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus
therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved,
he saith to his mother: "Woman, behold thy son." After that, he saith to the disciple: "Behold thy mother." And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.



OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Jer. 18:20

Remember, O Virgin Mother of God, to speak good things in our behalf
before the face of God, that He may turn away His anger from us.



SECRET

O Lord Jesus Christ, we offer You our prayers and sacrifices. May we,
who commemorate the piercing of the sweet soul of blessed mary, Your
Mother, share the reward of the saints through her loving and constant
intercession and the prayers of those who stood with her beside the
cross, as well as through Your own meritorious death; who lives and
rules with God the Father . . .



Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES

Graciously receive the gifts we offer You, O Lord, and may the prayer of
Your blessed martyr Nicomedes make them acceptable to Your majesty.
through our Lord . . .



COMMUNION ANTIPHON

Happy the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who without dying earned the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of our Lord.



POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord Jesus Christ, may this sacrifice which we have received in memory
of the sorrows of Your Virgin-Mother obtain for us from Your mercy
every grace and help; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .



Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES

Cleanse us by the Sacrament that we have received, O Lord, and wash us
all sinfulness through the intercession of Your blessed martyr
Nicomedes. Through our Lord . . .