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"The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary illustrate the sacrificial character of the Christian life. The crosses of life are varied, but they can all be reduced to the one or other of the sufferings commemorated in these sorrowful mysteries. In particular, they are: Fear, anxiety, and disgust experienced with regard to the crosses that actually afflict us or that we see approaching: bodily pain, humiliation, the labors and hardships imposed upon us by our vocational duties, bitterness against those whom we consider the cause of our suffering, the urge to throw off the cross when patience gives out.
The general lesson inculcated by these mysteries is patience, the spirit of penance and love of the cross, and that is the object our Lady of Fatima had in view when she asked for meditation on the mysteries of the rosary."
- Father Aloysius Biskupek, S.V.D.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy
Jesus, though fully divine, also experienced the full range of human emotions and suffering. It's helpful to know that even the Son of God felt fear and sorrow too.
Prayer and surrender
Jesus' prayer, "Father, if it be your will, let this chalice pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but yours be done," teaches us about surrendering to God's will, even in the face of suffering. Even though Jesus didn't want to experience so much pain, following God's will was most important.
Loneliness and isolation
Jesus must have felt intense loneliness when his closest friends couldn't stay awake to pray with him during his agony. But it shows us that even in times of loneliness, God never leaves us alone. Prayer can be a source of comfort during such times.
The Chalice
Jesus refers to "this chalice" in his prayer. The chalice symbolizes the suffering and crucifixion he is about to endure. What's the significance of the chalice (the challenges) in our own life and how we can accept it with grace?
Strength in prayer
Jesus turned to prayer in his hour of need. He told the disciples to pray so they would not fall into temptation. Prayer fills us with courage and grace to avoid sin and follow God's will, no matter how hard it may be.
15 And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy
Jesus endured extreme physical pain as Roman soldiers used whips or scourges, typically made of leather strips embedded with pieces of bone or metal, to repeatedly strike him. Reflect on how his body was broken and wounded for our sins.
Endurance
Jesus's ability to endure such torment with patience and humility is a powerful example. We can turn to Jesus as a model of endurance to find strength during our own trials.
Silent love
Jesus endured the scourging without complaint or retaliation, showing immense love and forgiveness. He teaches us to cultivate forgiveness and love in our own heart, even in the face of adversity.
Witness to Truth
The Scourging at the Pillar represents a significant moment in Jesus' Passion, where he willingly takes on the role of the Suffering Servant as prophesied. In Isaiah 53, prophecies describe a servant who would endure suffering, rejection, and death for the sake of others. This is later fulfilled in the events of Jesus' life, particularly the Scourging at the Pillar.
Offering suffering
We can offer our own trials and sufferings in union with Christ's suffering on the pillar as a form of intercession and sacrifice for others. By reflecting on Jesus' suffering, we can transform our personal suffering into a meaningful and redemptive act, aligning it with a higher purpose, as an offering to God for the benefit of others.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy
Jesus experienced excruciating physical pain inflicted by the crown of thorns, as the sharp thorns pierced his scalp and forehead. As they were pressed down, the thorns would have dug into his flesh, leading to significant bleeding. Reflect on how Jesus endured this pain for our sake.
Royal mockery
The soldiers mockingly hailed Jesus as "King of the Jews" and placed a reed in his hand as a mock scepter. There is irony in this scene because Jesus, the true King, was ridiculed and scorned.
Jesus' silence
Jesus remained largely silent during this ordeal, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 that "he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
Majesty in humility
Despite the mockery and pain, Jesus displayed a majestic humility. We can see how this challenges the worldly notions of power and authority, emphasizing the spiritual and selfless nature of Christ's kingship.
Meditation on Christ's humanity
Jesus felt pain, humiliation, and the weight of the crown of thorns, reminding us of his full humanity alongside his divinity. He wanted to experience the pains and sorrows of being human to save each of us, even though he didn't have to.
Solidarity with the oppressed
The Crowning with Thorns caused humiliation that degraded Jesus and demonstrated Roman authority over him. Jesus' experience of being mistreated relates to the experiences of oppressed people today.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaicis called Golgotha).
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy
Jesus willingly embraced the heavy burden of the cross, symbolizing his acceptance of God's will and his mission of redemption. This inspires our own ability to accept life's challenges and crosses with faith and trust.
Simon of Cyrene
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry the cross. Acts of kindness and compassion can come from the most unexpected sources. We, too, can assist others in carrying their burdens and share in their difficulties.
Fallen along the way
Jesus fell under the weight of the cross three times on the way to Calvary. He rose each time, persevering in his journey, demonstrating the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Veronica's compassion
The compassionate act of Veronica, who wiped Jesus' face with her veil. She didn't shy away from Jesus' suffering but actively sought to alleviate it. We can show compassion and kindness to those who are suffering.
Walking the narrow path
The path that Jesus walked with the cross represents the narrow path of discipleship and the challenges that come with following Christ. There are sacrifices and commitments involved in being a faithful disciple.
Trust in God's providence
Jesus placed trust in God the Father during this painful journey. Even in the midst of trials, we can deepen our trust in God's providence for our lives.
The weight of sin
The heavy cross symbolizes the weight of sin that Jesus bore for humanity. He could tangibly feel the heaviness of the cross on his back, representing our sins he was carrying with every step.
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.
20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”
27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy
The crucifixion is the very means by which Jesus offered redemption and salvation to humanity. Reflecting on this aspect can lead to prayer about forgiveness, atonement, and the idea that even in our darkest moments, there is hope for transformation and renewal.
Suffering and sacrifice
Jesus' crucifixion was an extreme example of suffering and sacrifice. It invites us to contemplate the nature of suffering and what it means to make profound sacrifices for the greater good.
The role of forgiveness
Jesus' famous words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," highlight the theme of forgiveness in the crucifixion. He didn't seek revenge but rather offered compassion to those who were hurting and mocking him.
The symbol of the cross
The cross symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus out of love for humanity. This act of sacrificial love is what changed everything for us.
Resurrection and victory
Jesus' crucifixion was not the end but rather the beginning of a profound victory over sin, death, and darkness. Three days later, Jesus resurrects and triumphs over sin for all of humanity. Ultimately, the crucifixion leads to eternal joy, hope, and renewal.
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
(Verse) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
(Response) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
(Verse) Let us pray,
(Response) O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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