Day Of Our Lady Of Sorrows
Day of Our Lady of Sorrows is a holiday observed in Slovakia on September 15th every year. It’s a Roman Catholic feast day that highlights the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary.
Slovakia (National holiday)The Seven Sorrows of this holiday that are referred to are The Prophecy of Simeon, The Flight into Egypt, The Loss of Jesus for Three Days, The Carrying of the Cross, The Crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus Being Taken Down from the Cross, and Jesus Being Laid in the Tomb. Faithful Catholics recite one “Our Father” and seven “Hail Marys” for each of these seven sorrows.
The History of Day of Our Lady of Sorrows
In 1564, a local noble was constantly mistreating his wife and got into an argument with her one day while they were riding in a coach. During this argument, he pushed her out of the coach, and she landed in the middle of the road.
This is when she made a vow that she would erect a statue of the Virgin Mary if her husband began treating her better. When he changed his behavior, she had a statue of the Virgin Mary placed on the side of the road. Over time, a chapel was built at this location, and it became a popular spot for religious pilgrims.
In 1667, the Vatican approved the celebration of a feast in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, and it was originally granted to the Servite Order. At the beginning of the 19th century, the feast was added to the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, and Pope Pius VII declared that the holiday should be adopted by the entire Catholic Church.
This feast day was originally assigned to the third Sunday in September, but Pope Pius X moved the date to the 15th of September in 1913. In 1927, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows was made the patron saint of Slovakia. In 1964, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Šaštín-Stráže was designated a Basilica Minor by Pope Paul VI.
Observing Day of Our Lady of Sorrows
Besides attending special church services on this day and reciting prayers for the Seven Sorrows, some of the faithful make a pilgrimage to the statue of the Virgin Mary in the minor basilica located at Šaštín-Stráže in Slovakia.
At this site, there are special masses not only for Day of Our Lady of Sorrows but also for Our Lady Help of Christians. The observance begins on September 15th, and events conclude by the 16th of September.
Slovakia (National holiday)
