Our Lady of Tears Chaplet

In Campinas, Brazil, Sister Amália Aguirre of the Missionary Sisters of Jesus Crucified said that on March 8, 1930, Our Lady appeared to her in tears and gave her this chaplet. The bishop of Campinas approved the devotion in the early 1930s, and it spread from there.

Jesus wept. John 11:35

Jesus, Your mother cried for You. She watched You suffer and couldn’t take it away. You know what tears are, too. You wept at a friend’s grave. Look at the tears in my own life today, the ones people see and the ones they don’t. For the sake of hers, have mercy on mine. Amen.

The chaplet uses 49 white beads in seven groups of seven, plus three more at the end. Begin with an opening prayer like this one. On each large bead, pray the first prayer below; on each of the seven small beads, the second. After the seventh group, pray the first prayer three times, then the closing prayer.

Jesus, crucified for me, I come and kneel at the foot of Your cross. I bring You the tears of the one who walked with You all the way to Calvary. Teach me what her tears teach: to love You when it costs something, to do Your will here, and to praise You one day in heaven. Amen.

Sister Amália said Jesus taught her these two short prayers. Translated here from the Portuguese. The first is for the large beads, the second for the seven small beads.

Look, O Jesus: these are the tears of the one who loved You most on earth, and who loves You most in heaven. My Jesus, hear our prayers, for the sake of the tears of Your most holy Mother.

After the seven groups and the three final prayers, close the chaplet.

Mary, mother of sorrows, you stood by your Son when He suffered. Stand with us now. Join your prayers to ours, and bring them to Jesus, so that for the sake of your tears He may hear what we ask, give us the grace we need, and bring us home to heaven. Amen.

Mary cried at the cross, and three days later the tomb was empty. A prayer for when you’re the one crying.

Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. John 16:20

Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. Psalm 126:5

Lord, Mary’s tears at the cross weren’t the end of her story. Three days later the tomb was empty. I’m crying now, and I can’t see my third day yet. Turn this sorrow into joy, as Jesus said You would. And while I wait, let my own tears make me gentler with everyone else who is hurting. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If a whole chaplet doesn’t fit before work, start with one group of seven.

Good morning, Lord. Before this day begins, I take a few beads in my hand and remember Mary at the foot of the cross. She stayed. Help me stay near You today, through whatever comes, and let my first words this morning be a prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.