Feast of the Seven Sorrows (Slovakia)
The Feast of the Seven Sorrows, observed annually on September 15, is a significant public holiday in Slovakia, a nation with a predominantly Roman Catholic population. This day honors the Virgin Mary, referred to as Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, reflecting on seven pivotal moments of pain in her life related to her son, Jesus Christ. These sorrows include Simeon’s prophecy, the flight into Egypt, the loss of Jesus in Jerusalem, and the events leading up to and including His crucifixion and burial. The feast has historical roots dating back to the 11th century, initially celebrated during Lent, but was later established as a September observance by Pope Saint Pius VII in 1913 to allow for greater contemplation of Mary’s suffering.
In Slovakia, the day is marked by solemn processions, church services, and special prayers, including novenas leading up to the feast. Many participants recite the Stabat Mater Dolorosa, a hymn that poignantly describes Mary’s grief during her son’s Passion. This observance not only highlights Mary’s role in the Christian narrative but also serves as a moment for believers to reflect on their own afflictions and seek solace. While the Feast of the Seven Sorrows is recognized in various countries, its status as a public holiday in Slovakia underscores the cultural and religious significance attached to it.
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Feast of the Seven Sorrows (Slovakia)
Feast of the Seven Sorrows (Slovakia)
September 15 of every year is a public holiday known as the Feast of the Seven Sorrows, (or Seven Dolors), in the small Central European nation of Slovakia. Slovakia, a landlocked nation, was part of Czechoslovakia until 1993 when that country was broken into the separate independent states of Slovakia and the Czech Republic during a peaceful separation process. Of Slovakia's approximately 5.5 million inhabitants, some two-thirds are Roman Catholic, which may explain why the Feast of the Seven Sorrows is a public holiday in Slovakia. The feast is observed by Catholics in other nations as well but not usually as a national holiday.
The Feast honors the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is known on this day as Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows because of seven traumatic events in her life: (1) Simeon's prophecy concerning Jesus at the child's circumcision, at which he told Mary, “A sword shall pierce your soul” (Luke 2:34); (2) her flight into Egypt with Joseph and the baby Jesus to protect the child from Herod's violence; (3) temporarily losing the 13-year-old Jesus in Jerusalem, only to find Him three days later preaching in the temple; (4) seeing Jesus on the way to His crucifixion; (5) beholding the crucified Jesus at the cross; (6) beholding Jesus taken from the cross; and (7) witnessing Jesus's burial. Catholics contemplate Mary's afflictions on this day in order to recall her important role in the redemption brought to humankind by her son Jesus.
The feast was first celebrated during Lent, on the Friday prior to Palm Sunday, by St. Anselm and members of the Benedictine order in the 11th century, and then by the Cistercians and Servites in the 14th and 15th centuries. Pope Benedict XIII formally established the feast in a decree in 1727, but the Servites had been celebrating it since 1688 on the Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Cross in September. Finally, Pope Saint Pius VII in 1913 fixed the date at September 15, with the rationale that Catholics are too preoccupied with contemplating Christ's Passion during Lent to give proper attention to Mary's suffering at that time.
Events such as solemn processionals and church services dominate the day's activities. Special novenas are also offered up to Our Lady of Sorrows during the nine days preceding and including September 15. During these novenas, Catholics say special prayers for the occasion and ask Mary for relief from specific afflictions. On September 15, many Catholics recite the Stabat Mater Dolorosa, probably written by St. Gregory the Great (d. 604), which describes Mary's sufferings as she watches her son's persecution and death on the cross.