The Seven Sorrows

Two days ago, we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross—the feast of suffering being transformed into glory. Yesterday, we celebrated the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows—the memory that Mary participated in the sufferings of her Son and thus, entered into the glory of her Son.

It seems appropriate to me that today, we should perhaps reflect on Joe’s sorrows. Like Mary, tradition has enumerated seven sorrows (and accompanying joys) of Joe:

1. The Doubt of St Joseph => The Message of the Angel

2. The Poverty of Jesus’ Birth => The Birth of the Savior

3. The Circumcision => The Holy Name of Jesus

4. The Prophecy of Simeon => The Effects of the Redemption 

5. The Flight into Egypt => The Overthrow of the Idols of Egypt

6. The Return from Egypt => Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth 

7. The Loss of the Child Jesus => The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

There are a plethora of prayers that are based on this tradition. Here is one that I found to be helpful: http://osjusa.org/prayers/seven-sorrows-and-joys/