In the Christian congregation of Saints and Great Martyrs, the Mother of God has a special position. Gracious and Merciful, the Virgin Mary hears the suffering, not ignoring their suffering and prayers. There are many miraculous icons of the Virgin, to which prayers of the same name are offered. One of the most powerful of these icons is "Softening Evil Hearts", or "Seven-shot."
But what helps the prayer “Softening evil hearts”? What should the Virgin be asked for? What are the rules for reciting prayers? You can find answers to these and other questions about the miraculous icon and the prayer "Softening Evil Hearts" in our article.
How does the “Softening of Evil Hearts” prayer help?
The image of the Virgin Mary in world Christianity has always been identified with the Universal Mercy, Maternal Love and Purity. In the presence of the Virgin, it is impossible to be angry, feuding and committing anti-human crimes.
As for the icon "Softening Evil Hearts", prayer for this image helps in cases:
- Feuds and feuds on national grounds;
- Troubles at work;
- Serious quarrels with loved ones;
- Mental and physical illnesses;
- The tear of a child at school;
- Unreasonable outbursts of anger and hysteria;
- In case of discord between legal spouses or lack of understanding with children;
- The emergence of a strong and implacable enemy in the immediate environment.
The Mother of God with a pierced heart pacifies the anger that grows in human souls. She awakens mercy and conscience in enemies, and helps quarreled friends and enemies to make peace in the near future. Being embodied by Mercy, the Virgin Mary contributes to the revival of compassion even in the most callous or immature human minds, and the power of the influence of the prayer “Softening evil hearts” is prohibitive.
What should I ask for?
The Merciful Mother of God hears all requests, if they are presented with due respect and reverence before Her Holiness and Greatness of the One God, the Fruit of Her Womb.
However, during the prayer “Softening Evil Hearts,” it is recommended to ask:
- About protecting yourself and your loved ones from enemies and envious people;
- About the awakening of good feelings and repentance in the hearts of those who wish you harm;
- About help in raising children and finding a common language with offspring;
- About love and peace;
- On the remission of all past sins and help in abstaining from future sins;
- Relief of suffering in case of physical illness;
- On enlightenment of the mind in case of mental illness;
- On solving corporate and personal problems with superiors and staff at work;
- On protection from the negative effects of dark magicians and psychics;
- On the safe study of a child without the yoke of teachers and classmates.
But the main thing that you should ask the Mother of God in the prayer “Softening Evil Hearts” is that She pray to the Lord God for you.Only the Virgin Mary is able to propitiate God in His Wrath, especially if your past sins are strong.
Prayer Rules
When reading the prayer of the Seven-shot Mother of God, "Softening Evil Hearts," you must follow a specific set of rules:
- The prayer text should be read out in a quiet voice or whisper, but in a confident tone;
- Before and after reading, overshadow yourself with the sign of the Cross three times and bow to the floor. You can read the prayer "Softening Evil Hearts" on your knees;
- Read the canonical prayer text. Some errors and allegories are allowed. Then you can formulate a personal request to the Virgin;
- Reading the prayer “Softening Evil Hearts” is recommended in the evening;
- During prayer, your thoughts should be clean. Wish good, health, love and prosperity even to your worst enemies. So you will earn special mercy from the Compassionate and Merciful Virgin Mary;
- You need to pray with an open heart, a sense of reverence for the Saints and infinite reverence for them. It is important to remember that without sincere faith a prayer service, no matter how strong it is, will not work.
Important! Recently, the so-called "audio prayers" have become popular. In fact, the prayer does not read out the prayer text, but listens to it on the record. In the case of the prayer "Softening of evil hearts" is not worth it, because in this case there will be no direct appeal to the Virgin.
What prayer is worth reading when you hang the seven-shooter icon in the house?
Before you install the Seven-shooter icon in the house, you need to read the prayer “Softening Evil Hearts”. Previously, in the room where the icon of the Mother of God will stand, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning - so carefully so that not a single speck of dust remains. The prayer of the Mother of God of the Seven-shot is read until the moment the icon is on the wall. You can pray in the process of setting the icon.
"Seven-shot" should be located opposite the front door. Thus, the gaze of the Virgin will be available to all who cross the threshold of the house. She will be able to protect the house from uninvited guests with malicious intent. Envious people, enemies and ill-wishers cannot enter the room where the Seven-shot Mother of God is located. On the doorstep of the house, such people will begin to feel sick, and when they see the icon, they will feel irresistible excitement and a desire to leave.
Text "Softening Evil Hearts"
The prayer "Softening Evil Hearts" is divided into 3 stages:
- Troparion:
“Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and quench the misfortunes of those who hate us, and allow all the crampedness of our souls.” Ha your holy image is looking, By your suffering and mercy we are touched and thou wound your wounds, but our arrows, which torment you, are terrified. “Do not let us, Mother of mercy, perish in our cruelty and cruelty of our neighbors. Thou art truly evil hearts. Softening.”
- Kondak:
“To the Chosen Virgin Mary, who has exceeded all the daughters of the earth, the Mother of the Son of God, He will give salvation to the world, we call with tenderness: look at our many-hapless life, remember sorrows and illnesses, you have undergone them like our earthly one, and have done with us according to Your mercy , let’s call Ti: Rejoice, many-sorrowful Mother of God, transforming our sorrow into joy. ”
- Prayer:
“O long-suffering Mother of God, Exceeding all the daughters of the earth, in Her purity and in many sufferings, You have transferred to the lands, receive our painful sigh and keep us under the shelter of Your mercy. You don’t have any other refuge and warmth of representation, but since you have the boldness to be born of you, help us and save us with our prayers, let us reach the Kingdom of Heaven without hindrance, and with all the saints we will sing in the Trinity to the one God now and evermore, and till the end of time. Amen."
After reading these canonical texts, you can turn to the Blessed Virgin with personal requests.
We recommend to watch this video about the prayer “Softening of evil hearts” on the “Seven-shot” icon:
Historical background and secrets about the icon
The icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "The Seven-shot" is also called "Simeon's prophecy." The roots of this denomination are connected with the prophecy of St. Simeon, who, holding the Baby Jesus in his arms, foretold His painful death on the cross, and that the Soul of the Blessed Virgin was pierced by 7 swords, as She sees the suffering of her Son. Therefore, on the "Seven-shot" Virgin Mary is portrayed with seven blades aimed at her chest.
The very image of the icon "Softening Evil Hearts" goes back to the iconography of South-Western Russia. At the same time, there is a North Russian version of the “Seven-shot” - unlike the “Softening of Evil Hearts”, the “Seven-gun” never depicts the Eternal Infant.
A lot of evidence is associated with the “Seven-shot” miracles. In particular, at the beginning of the 19th century, when the Holy Icon was in the St. John the Theologian Church by the Toshni River, one peasant of Kandikovsky district was seriously ill. The man was limping, his legs hurt, and no one and nothing could help him. But once a peasant had a dream in which a gentle female voice told him that if he went up to the bell tower of the church, he would find the image of the Virgin among the old icons and pray to him, he would certainly be healed. For a long time, the monks did not let the man into the bell tower, and when they let him in, the peasant found that the image of the “Seven-shot” was by mistake walled up the stairs. The monks were horrified by this involuntary blasphemy - all this time they walked on the face of the Virgin. Together with the peasant, they prayed for the Grace of the Virgin Mary, and were forgiven, while the devout peasant was completely healed of limp.
Another miracle of the "Seven-shot" associated with the cholera epidemic in the Vologda province of 1930. The terrible disease receded only when the famous icon was carried in the procession, offering the prayer "Softening of evil hearts."
Third miracle happened during the Great Patriotic War in the south of Voronezh region. The icon “Softening Evil Hearts” found by the lieutenant of Italian mountain rifle units Giuseppe Perego pacified the hostile ardor of Nazi soldiers, and until the end of the military operation they did no harm to any of the region’s civilians. This miraculous icon, now known as the "Don Madonna", is still stored in Italy and serves for prayers for Italian soldiers who died in the war.
