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Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, and particularly to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s presence at the foot of the Cross, began to be celebrated liturgically in the fifteenth century, and was championed by the Order of Servants of Mary, or Servites. The earlier feast of the Seven Dolors, or Sorrows, was assigned to the Friday before Palm Sunday, and extended to the entire church in the early eighteenth century. Today’s feast was first granted to the Servite Order as their patronal feast, and originally celebrated on the third Sunday in September; it now occupies the Octave-Day of Our Lady’s Nativity and the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Integral to both feasts is the heartbreaking Sequence Stabat mater dolorosa. The Seven Sorrows themselves consist of: the Prophecy of Simeon; the Flight into Egypt; the Loss of the Child Jesus in Jerusalem; the meeting of Our Lady and Our Lord on the way to Calvary; The Crucifixion; the Descent of Our Lord from the Cross; and Our Lord’s Burial. These Seven Sorrows are usually represented by seven swords, or together as a single sword, piercing the Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Heart in fulfillment of St. Simeon’s prophecy: “and thine own soul a sword shall pierce.”
THE Octave of the Nativity and the Feast of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
At Rome, on the Nomentan road, the birthday of blessed Nicomedes, priest and martyr. As he said to those who would compel him to sacrifice: “I sacrifice only to the Omnipotent God who reigns in heaven,” he was for a long time scourged with leaded whips, and thus went to our Lord.
In the diocese of Chalons, St. Valerian, martyr, who was suspended on high by the governor Priscus, and tortured with iron hooks. Remaining immovable in the confession of Christ, and continuing joyfully to praise Him, he was struck with the sword by order of the same magistrate.
At Marcianopolis, in Thrace, St. Melitina, a martyr, in the time of the emperor Antoninus and the governor Antiochus. She was twice led to the temples of the Gentiles, and as the idols fell to the ground each time, she was hanged and torn, and finally decapitated.
At Adrianople, the holy martyrs Maximus, Theodore, and Asclepiodotus, who were crowned under the emperor Maximian.
Also, St. Porphyrius, a comedian, who, in the presence of Julian the Apostate, being baptized in jest, and suddenly converted by the power of God, declared himself a Christian. Forthwith, by order of the emperor, he was struck with an axe, and thus crowned with martyrdom.
The same day, St. Nicetas, a Goth, who was burned alive for the Catholic faith, by order of king Athanaric.
At Cordova, the holy martyrs Emilas, deacon, and Jeremias, who ended their martyrdom in the persecution of the Arabs by being beheaded, after a long detention in prison.
At Toul, in France, St. Aper, bishop.
Also, St. Leobinus, bishop of Chartres.
At Lyons, St. Albinus, bishop.
The same day, the decease of St. Aichard, abbot.
In France, St. Eutropia, widow.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.