Sacred Calendar
The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.
Calendar standard
Pre-1955 Roman usage
The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.
The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.
Daily observance
Today in the City of God
The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.
Choose a date
Daily observance
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Season: Time after Pentecost
The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.
Today's pilgrimage
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Rank: Double of the Second Class
Color: white
Octave: Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Simple Octave (commemorated)).
Commemoration: St. Nicomedes, Martyr.
Quote for the day
Simeon
“Thy own soul a sword shall pierce.”
Luke 2:35, Douay-Rheims
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - September 15
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.
Highlighted saint
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Our Lady standing beneath the Cross.
This feast honors the sorrows of Our Lady, especially her faithful standing near the Cross of her Son.
Her witness teaches compassion without rebellion, sorrow without despair, and fidelity when glory is hidden.
Virtue to practice
Compassionate perseverance.
Error to resist
The devotion that wants Mary's tenderness without sharing her fidelity beneath the Cross.
For the pilgrim in exile
Stand with Our Lady where Providence places you. Sorrow becomes safer when it remains close to Christ crucified.
Imitate today
- Stand near Christ in suffering.
- Offer sorrow without bitterness.
- Console the Sorrowful Mother by fidelity.
Sources
- John 19:25-27, Douay-Rheims.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 15.
From Matins
The Mother standing where redemption flows.
Matins - Third Nocturn - Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, On Virgins
“There stood by the Cross His Mother.”
Doctrine taught
- The Breviary keeps the Seven Sorrows by placing the faithful beside Our Lady at Calvary, where Simeon's prophecy is fulfilled.
- St. Ambrose teaches that Mary stood fearless beneath the Cross, looking with a mother's love upon the wounds through which redemption flowed for mankind.
- The lesson forms Marian compassion: the faithful must learn to see salvation beneath suffering and to remain near Christ when others flee.
For the pilgrim in exile
Stand with Mary beneath the Cross. Her sorrow is not despair, but faithful union with Christ's sacrifice and a school of compassion for the Church.
Sources
- The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Third Nocturn for the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, lessons vii-viii.
- Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.
Breviary Witness
The Mother standing beneath the sacrifice.
Matins - Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Breviary witness
- The Breviary remembrance of the Seven Sorrows keeps Our Lady near the Cross, suffering in faithful union with her Son.
- Her sorrow is neither rebellion nor despair, but compassion ordered by perfect obedience.
For the pilgrim in exile
Bring sorrow to Our Lady before it turns bitter. She teaches the soul to stand near Christ when flight would be easier.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for September 15, Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- John 19:25-27, Douay-Rheims.
Gospel of the day
There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - John 19:25-27
“Woman, behold thy son.”
What Our Lord teaches
- Mary stands beneath the Cross in faithful compassion and union with the sacrifice of her Son.
- Christ gives His Mother to the beloved disciple, and through him to the Church.
Virtue to practice
Stand near the Cross without fleeing sorrow.
Error to resist
The devotion that wants Mary's tenderness without her sword of sorrow.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let Our Lady teach you how to suffer without bitterness. She stands, and she will help you stand.
Sources
- John 19:25-27, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel for the Seven Sorrows.
Meditation
The Church Made Public
Pentecost teaches that the Holy Ghost does not create private religious enthusiasm detached from doctrine, worship, and authority. He gathers, sends, teaches, and strengthens the visible Church. The remnant must therefore seek fire without disorder and zeal without novelty.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, pardon my faults, raise my heart from discouragement, and teach me to begin again under Thy mercy.
Thought for the pilgrim
The pilgrim is formed by returning to God again and again.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Make a brief examination of conscience before sleep and end the day with an act of contrition.
Source notes
Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X
Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952
Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, p. xxv.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Division of the Ecclesiastical Year, p. x: a simple octave is commemorated only on the eighth day under the rite of a simple.