Resources for 7 Sorrows

Powerful Promises & Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows ~ Fr. Chad Ripperger (1 hr 7 mins)

In this powerful one-hour talk, Fr. Chad Ripperger explores the deep spiritual significance of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering theological insights and practical guidance for healing and spiritual growth. He explains how devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows strengthens virtue, aids in overcoming sin, and plays a vital role in spiritual warfare.

This devotion is especially recommended for those seeking inner healing and a deeper union with Christ through Mary’s example of suffering and love.

Our Lady of Sorrows as Patroness of Exorcist Priests

Exorcist priests have a strong connection to Our Lady of Sorrows because of her powerful intercessory role against demonic forces and her profound suffering during Christ's Passion, which provides comfort and inspiration in spiritual battles. This devotion is rooted in biblical accounts of her presence at the foot of the cross, her role as the "perfect enemy of evil," and spiritual insights from figures like St. Bridget of Sweden and Fr. Chad Ripperger, who highlight her divine protection and ability to confound and defeat demons. 
 

Theological Basis

  • Her Role as the "Perfect Enemy of Evil":
    Mary's Immaculate Conception and sinlessness make her the ultimate adversary of Satan. Demons hate and fear her because she embodies all they reject. 
     
  • Her Suffering and Compassion:
    As Our Lady of Sorrows, Mary shared in her Son's suffering, enduring immense grief. This deep connection to suffering makes her a powerful intercessor for those in spiritual distress, particularly those afflicted by demonic possession. 
     
  • Divine Graces and Protection:
    Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows involves meditating on her Seven Sorrows, which, according to promises revealed by Our Lady herself, grants spiritual protection and special graces to combat the infernal enemy. 
     

Spiritual Insights from Exorcists

  • Fr. Chad Ripperger's Teachings:
    Fr. Chad Ripperger, a well-known exorcist, has emphasized the importance of this devotion for spiritual protection. He notes that Our Lady offers her direct help to those in spiritual battles. 
     
  • Demons' Reaction to Her Presence:
    There are accounts from exorcists describing demons reacting painfully and screaming in the presence of Mary, indicating her overwhelming power and the light she brings. Demons also fear her, as seen when they refer to her indirectly as "that woman" or "she" rather than speaking her name directly. 

Top Images of Mary beating satan

William de Brailes | Circa 1240s | British Library, Public Domain

The story behind it is that Mary punches Satan square in the face to retrieve a charter that a priest named Theophilus had used to sell his soul to the devil. 

Institute for Research and History Texts. Public domain.

This illustration in the French Martyrology of Notre-Dame des Près is dated around the years 1275-1300

*Sailko, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

This painting from the Italian Renaissance shows Our Lady fighting relentlessly for her children. The image is based on an old tale in which a frustrated mother asked the devil to take her child.