How to pray the Chaplet of Tears
The Chaplet of Tears has 59 beads. Instead of a cross, it has a large medal that is followed by 3 small beads, then a single bead, and then another medal of Our Lady of Lourdes. Following this, there are 7 sets of 7 beads that are each separated by 1 individual bead for a total of 6 beads.
Begin with the “Sign of the Cross.”
On the medal, recite the following prayer:
“Crucified Jesus!
Prostrated at your feet,
we offer You the Tears of Her,
who with intimate,
sympathetic love
accompanied You
on Your Painful Way of the Cross.
Grant, O good Master
that we take to heart
the lessons which the tears
of Your Most Holy Mother afford us,
so that we may fulfill Your Holy Will on earth
that we may become worthy to laud
and bless You in Heaven for all Eternity.
Amen.”
On the 3 beads following the first medal, pray:
“O Jesus!
Hear our petitions.
For the sake of the tears
of Your Most Holy Mother.”
On the single bead that follows the 3 beads, pray:
“O Jesus!
Look upon the tears of Her,
Who loved You most while on earth.
And who loves You most intimately in Heaven.”
On the single bead prior to the sets of 7 beads, pray:
(See the meditations below for each set of beads.)
V. “O Jesus, look upon the tears of her who loved you most upon earth”
R. “and loves you most ardently in Heaven”
On each bead in the set of 7 beads, pray:
V. “O Jesus, hear our prayers”
R. “For the sake of your most holly Mother’s tears.”
Upon completing the 7 sets of beads, repeat 3 times:
V. “O Jesus, look upon the tears of her who loved you most upon earth”
R. “and loves you most ardently in Heaven.”
Conclude with the following prayer:
O Mary, Mother of love,
sorrow and mercy,
we beg you to unite your prayers
with ours so that Jesus, your Divine Son,
to Whom we turn may hear our petitions
in the name of your maternal tears
and may give us in addition
to the favors we ask,
the crown of everlasting life.
Amen.
THE SEVEN MEDITATIONS
While praying each set of 7 beads, the faithful are called to meditate on the following events.
1 ST SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother during Simeon’s Prophecy that a sword would pierce Her Heart.
2 ND SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother during her Flight into Egypt.
3RD SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother during her Search for Jesus.
4 TH SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother during Jesus’ painful Way of the Cross.
5 TH SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother during the Agony of Jesus on the Cross.
6 TH SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother when the Sacred Body of Jesus was taken from the Cross and placed into Her arms.
7 TH SET OF BEADS
The tears shed by our Most Holy Mother when Jesus was placed in the Sepulcher.