Our Lady of sorrows question

[DLedoux]

I suffer from deep depression and my dad just died a couple months ago, so that doesn’t help. I thought who better to pray to but the Virgin Mary to ease my sorrow. She suffered more than I can bare seven times and most importantly during our Lord’s crucifixion. So to add on to what I’m saying is I want to devote my time to our Lady of sorrows, but I have a few questions
Does it require me to do anything before doing so? I am not a confirmed Catholic yet, but I want to be and do I need the chaplet to our Lady of sorrows to do the devotional? What are some different ways to do devotionals. I know how to pray the rosary, so do you think praying the sorrowful mysteries would be good idea? I would love to know some different ways why people pray to our Lady of sorrows and different ways I can do them without the chaplet.

Thank you for reading and God bless!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Hi DLedoux, First let me say I’m really sorry about the loss of your dad. I’ve been there and I know it hurts a lot. I hope you are getting the counseling help you need to assist you with your grief on top of the depression you already suffer. Prayer is great but medical help with it is also fine and good.

Second, it’s wonderful that you would turn to Our Blessed Mother at a time like this. She’s always right there to help and comfort her children who have suffered a loss. Since she experienced the death of her own parents, husband and son, she totally undestands and will help you.

You are not required to do anything before praying to Our Lady.
You do not need a chaplet in order to pray any devotion to her. Many people find the chaplet helpful in keeping track of the prayers, or a nice thing to look at and hold to focus their thoughts, but you are not required to have one in order to pray, and there are people who just count prayers on their fingers.

You can do the chaplet to Our Lady of Sorrows, and you can also do the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. I would suggest that you alternate the Sorrowful Mysteries with the other mysteries (Joyful, Luminous and Glorious) so you focus also on the other aspects of Our Lady’s life. It wasn’t sorrowful all the time.

You can also Google and find more prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows on the web, as well as pictures of her. Here’s one such prayer:

Liturgical Year : Prayers : September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows

A chief provider and curator of Catholic information on the web since 1996. Our editorial voice, always faithful to the teachings of the Church, assists and inspires Catholic clergy and laity.

www.catholicculture.org

Remember that we get to pray our private devotions in the way we like, there are no “rules”. So feel free to pray in the way that works for you. The important thing is that you are praying.

 

[awesomecatholic]

I’m sorry about your dad. It is amazing that you are turning to Our Lady. She wants you to know how much she loves you, once I knew she loved me I was much more at peace. You do not have to anything before praying to the Blessed Mother and do not need a chaplet. You could just count with your fingers. I also recommend praying a novena to her.

 

[awesomecatholic]

I should also say congrats on wanting to become Catholic. I plan on becoming one as soon as I turn 18.

 

[po18guy]

Sorry to hear of this. Our Lady always and everywhere leads to her Son. Devotion to her is naturally ordered so as to take you to the feet of Christ. Consider praying the Seven Sorrows Rosary. I find it quite helpful and meditating on the mysteries places our own problems in perspective.