Also referred to as Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows, the swords aimed at Mary’s heart symbolize the pain she felt watching her Son during the time of his crucifixion. Traditionally the seven sorrows are: 1. The Prophecy of Simeon as found in Luke 2; 2. The Flight into Egypt from Matthew 2; 3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, also in Luke 2; 4. Mary’s meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, the Fourth station of the Cross; 5. The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary; 6. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross; 7. The Burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea.
