Chaplet of the Seven Dolors of Our Lady

History:

This is a devotion instituted in the course of the 13th century, in honour of the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, endured by her in compassion for the suffering and death of her Divine Son.  The 3 extra beads are in honour of the sorrowful tears of Our Lady.  These are said to obtain true sorrow for our sins.
Benedict XIII, Sept. 26, 1724, granted an indulgence of 200 days for every Our Father and every Hail Mary to those who, with sincere contrition, and having confessed, or firmly purposing to confess their sins, shall recite this Chaplet on any Friday, or on any day of Lent, on the Festival of the 7 Dolors, or within the Octave; and 100 days on any other day of the year.
Clement XII, Dec. 12, 1734, confirmed these indulgences and moreover granted the following:
1. A Plenary indulgence to those who shall have recited this Chaplet for a month, every day (confession, communion and prayers for the church, required as usual).
2. An indulgence of 100 years to all who should recite it on any day, having confessed their sins, with sincere sorrow, or at least firmly purposing to do so.
3. 150 years to those who should recite it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Holidays of obligation, with confession and communion.
4. A Plenary indulgence once a year, on any day, to those who are accustomed to recite it 4 times a week, on condition of confession, communion and the recital of the Chaplet on the day of communion.
5. 200 years indulgence to all who recite it devoutly after confession; and to all who carry it about them, and frequently recite it.  10 years indulgence every time they shall hear Mass, hear a sermon, or reciting Our Father and 7 Hail Marys, shall perform any spiritual or corporal work of mercy, in honour of our Blessed Saviour, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or any Saint, their advocate.
All these indulgences were confirmed by a decree of Jan. 17, 1747, and rendered applicable to the souls in Purgatory.

Medals/Beads:

Medals representing the 7 principal sorrows of Mary's life.

............0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0
C 0 0 0 M (.................................................................0
............0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  M  0 0 0

Method:

On each Medal:
Our Father
On each bead:
Hail Mary
1st set - Prophecy of Simeon:
Reflect on and sympathize in the sorrow of our Blessed Lady, when she presented her Divine Child in the Temple, and heard from the aged Simeon that a sword of grief should pierce her soul on His account.
2nd set - Flight into Egypt:
Reflect on her sorrow when, to escape the cruelty of King Herod, she was forced to fly into Egypt with St. Joseph and her beloved Child.
3rd set - Loss of the Child Jesus:
Reflect on her grief, when, in returning from Jerusalem she perceived that she had lost her dear Jesus, whom she sought sorrowing during 3 days.
4th set - Mary meets Jesus carrying His cross:
Reflect on her meeting her Divine Son, all bruised and mangled, carrying His cross to Calvary, and seeing Him fall under His heavy weight.
5th set - the Crucifixion:
Reflect on her standing by when her Divine Son was lifted up on the cross, and the blood flowed in streams from His sacred wounds.
6th set - Mary receives the body of Jesus from the cross:
Reflect on her sorrow, when her Divine Son was taken down from the cross, and she received Him into her arms.
7th set - the body of Jesus is placed in the tomb:
Contemplate her following His sacred body, as it was borne by Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, to the sepulchre, enclosed there, and hidden from her sight.
On the 3 remaining beads:
Hail Mary
Conclude with:
Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Lord Jesus, we now implore, both for the present and for the hour of our death, the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose holy soul was pierced at the time of Thy Passion by a sword of grief.  Grant us this favour, O Saviour of the world, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost forever and ever.  Amen.