The Seven Sorrows Chaplet and our Lady of Kibeho

 

Apparitions of Mary took place in Kibeho, Rwanda between 1981 and 1989 and are one of the few Vatican-approved Marian apparitions in modern Africa. After extensive investigation, the Church officially recognized the visions received by three young women — Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie-Claire Mukangango — as authentic in 2001.

 

Mary appeared to them under the title “Nyina wa Jambo,” which means Mother of the Word. Her message was not focused on predicting specific political events, but on calling the world back to conversion of heart. During Mary’s apparitions to Marie-Claire, —a former skeptic who had tried to expose Alphonsine as a fraud—she assigned the young woman a mission to reintroduce the Seven Sorrows Rosary. When Marie-Claire protested she had no resources to share this worldwide, Mary replied, 'My child. My grace can do all things. You just do your part, and the grace of God will take it to the next person.'

 

Twelve years later, Marie-Claire and her husband were killed in the genocide of over a million people in Rwanda. Her mission, however, continues: the devotion has spread exactly as Mary promised, passed from person to person across the world.

 

During Mary’s apparition to the three women, she spoke with urgency, but also tenderness. Mary's message centered on four interconnected themes:

• Repentance and conversion — a return to God through sincere prayer, humility, and moral renewal
• Suffering accepted with love — uniting one’s pain with Christ rather than fleeing from it
• Prayer of the heart, especially the Rosary and the Seven Sorrows Rosary

• Compassion and reconciliation — warning against hatred, division, and violence

One of the most striking aspects of Kibeho is that the visionaries were shown disturbing images of rivers of blood, abandoned bodies, and intense human cruelty. At the time, these visions were difficult to understand. Years later, the 1994 Rwandan genocide shocked the world with scenes hauntingly similar to what the girls had described. The Church is careful not to present the apparitions as fortune-telling, but as a maternal warning: when humanity refuses conversion, suffering follows.

Mary’s tone at Kibeho was deeply maternal. She wept for humanity, describing the world as walking toward destruction because people had forgotten God and grown indifferent to one another. But her message was never despairing. She insisted that prayer and repentance can change hearts and history. She spoke less about punishment and more about the possibility of mercy.

 

For those approaching with questions or doubt, Kibeho need not be read primarily as a supernatural claim requiring belief, but as a profound reflection on the human condition—one that speaks to our deepest hungers for meaning, connection, and hope.The messages are simple and ancient: return to prayer, love one another, turn away from hatred, and entrust suffering to God. Whether one approaches the apparitions with strong faith or fragile faith, the heart of the message is recognizable as the Gospel itself — a call to come home.

A Simple Guide to the Rosary

At its heart the Rosary is a guided meditation on the life of Jesus with Mary as a companion and teacher. It consists of a sequence of prayers and a prayerful walk through the Gospel. The prayers begin with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary combines the angel Gabriel's words at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth's greeting at the Visitation (Luke 1:42).
 

Rosary beads and chaplet (more about that shortly) beads are simply tool that helps the body stay steady while the mind and heart reflect, but they aren't essential. If you're interested, they can be purchased on many sites, including The Catholic Company. The repeated prayers — especially the Hail Mary — create a gentle rhythm, like breathing. ('Hail Mary' is simply this prayer: (Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.) That rhythm frees attention so a person can quietly contemplate key moments in Christ’s life: his birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection. Catholics call these moments the Mysteries of the Rosary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and––added by Saint John Paul II in 2002––the Luminous.
 

Each decade (a set of ten Hail Marys) focuses on one mystery  (key moments in Christ’s life) While the lips pray, the heart reflects: What is happening here? What does this reveal about God? Where is my life touching this mystery? In that sense, the Rosary is closer to Christian meditation than to recitation. Mary’s role is not to replace Christ, but to lead the person more deeply into him — much like reading the Gospel with someone who loves Jesus and helps you notice what matters.
 

What is a Chaplet?

A chaplet is a set of prayer beads used for Catholic devotion—similar to a rosary, but shorter and simpler. The word comes from the Old French chapelet, meaning "little crown" or "garland."

• A rosary is the full prayer cycle: 5 decades (sets of 10 beads), meditating on 20 mysteries from Christ's life
• A chaplet is a shorter devotional prayer, often focused on a specific aspect of faith—like the Divine Mercy, the Immaculate Conception, or the Seven Sorrows 

Chaplets use beads to help you keep count, just like a rosary does, but they're briefer and focused on a particular spiritual theme. Most Catholics have a rosary at home; fewer own chaplets—but chaplets can be powerful tools for prayer, especially when time is limited or when you want to meditate deeply on one specific mystery.
 

The Seven Sorrows Chaplet

The Seven Sorrows Chaplet is an ancient devotion that dates back to the 13th century, after she appeared to Saint Brigit of Sweden. It was promoted by the Servite Order (as the Servite Rosary) and given renewed emphasis at Kibeho when Mary asked Marie-Claire to spread it throughout the world.

I've created a straightforward booklet for clinicians and caregivers to help you learn more about chaplets and the Seven Sorrows Chaplet, specifically. 

To read the booklet, click here.