How to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15) and the Month of September

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows with Kids

The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, offering a special time to reflect on the deep compassion and sorrow of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This devotion culminates in the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th, a day to honor the seven sorrows that pierced Mary’s heart. Whether you’re celebrating with family, a homeschool group, or on your own, here are some meaningful and engaging ways to observe this beautiful feast day and month.

1. Learn and Create: Coloring, Matching, and Learning about the Seven Sorrows

Kick off your celebration by combining creativity, learning, and play. Start by introducing the Seven Sorrows of Mary with a fact sheet that explains in a kid-friendly way each sorrow in simple terms. This will set the stage for the activities that follow. Next, dive into the coloring page of Our Lady of Sorrows, allowing children (or yourself!) to reflect on her sorrowful heart as you fill in the image with color. There are also some FREE coloring pages of each of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. To reinforce the lesson, use the Seven Sorrows number matching activity available in the Catholic Printable Shop. This engaging game helps children match each sorrow with its corresponding number, making the learning experience both educational and fun.

2. Meaningful Foods to Celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows

Food is a wonderful way to deepen the connection to the feast day, using simple yet symbolic dishes to bring the story of Our Lady of Sorrows to life:

Blue Jello for the Tears of Mary: Prepare blue jello to represent the tears of Mary. Serve it in clear cups, perhaps topped with a dollop of whipped cream, symbolizing the purity of her sorrowful heart.
Heart-Shaped Cookies: Bake or buy heart-shaped cookies decorated with blue icing to symbolize Mary’s sorrowful heart. Adding a few edible silver pearls can represent her tears, making these cookies a beautiful and tasty reminder of the feast.
Red Velvet Cake or Cupcakes: The rich red color of red velvet cake or cupcakes symbolizes the suffering of Christ, while the cream cheese frosting represents Mary’s purity and the consolation found in her faith.

3. Do the Stations of the Cross

Reflect on the passion of Christ through the Stations of the Cross, a powerful way to connect with the sorrows of Mary. As you meditate on each station, consider how Mary must have felt witnessing her son’s suffering. Doing the Stations as a family can deepen your understanding and bring a profound sense of empathy for Our Lady of Sorrows. On FORMED there is a kid-friendly video you can watch and follow along with called Brother Francis: The Stations of the Cross.

4. Sing the Stabat Mater

Conclude your celebration by singing or listening to the Stabat Mater, a beautiful hymn that contemplates Mary’s suffering at the foot of the cross. The somber melody and mournful lyrics can really help you contemplate the sorrowful mystery of this feast day. Here is a moving rendition on YouTube, it has images of Our Lady along with the Latin and English translation of the hymn.

Final Thoughts

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and dedicating the month of September to her can be a deeply enriching experience. Through coloring, interactive activities, and thoughtful reflection, we can enter more fully into the heart of Mary, understanding her sorrows and drawing closer to her son, Jesus. Whether you’re observing this devotion for the first time or continuing a longstanding tradition, these activities provide meaningful ways to engage with this beautiful aspect of our faith.