Prayers of the Rosary
The First Sorrowful Mystery
The Agony in the Garden
(Luke 22:39-46)
Jesus went out and made his way, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; his disciples accompanied him. On reaching the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not be put to the test." He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, then went down on his knees and prayed in these words: "Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." An angel then appeared to him from heaven to strengthen him. In his anguish he prayed with all the greater intensity, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. Then he rose from prayer and came to his disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Wake up, and pray that you may not be subjected to the trial".
Meditation:
Consider how the Immaculate heart of Mary shares the same sense of sorrow as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the sight of so many sins offending God throughout the ages. Have I become blind to sin in myself and in the world, or do I wish to console my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Second Sorrowful Mystery
The Scourging at the Pillar
(Mark 15:6-15)
Now on the occasion of a festival he would release for them one prisoner - any man they asked for. There was a prisoner named Barabbas jailed along with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising. When the crowd came up to press their demand that he honor the custom, Pilate rejoined, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?" He was aware, of course, that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. Meanwhile, the chief priests incited the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead. Pilate again asked them, "What am I to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" Pilate protested, "Why? What crime has he committed?" They only shouted the louder, "Crucify him!" So Pilate, who wished to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and after he had had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Meditation:
Consider the sorrow which filled the Immaculate Heart of Mary, seeing Her Son beaten by the soldiers, and yet the respect She feels at the meekness He displays - a meekness taught to Him by Her Immaculate Heart. Will I remain as I am, or will I allow myself to be taught by the virtues of Her Immaculate Heart?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Third Sorrowful Mystery
The Crowning with Thorns
(John 19:1-8)
Pilate's next move was to take Jesus and have him scourged. The soldiers then wove a crown of thorns and fixed it on his head, throwing around his shoulders a cloak of royal purple. Repeatedly, they came up to him and said, "All hail, King of the Jews!", slapping his face as they did so. Pilate went out a second time and said to the crowd: "Observe what I do. I am going to bring him out to you to make you realize that I find no case [against him]." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak, Pilate said to them, "Look at the man!" As soon as the chief priests and the temple police saw him they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said, "Take him and crucify him yourselves; I find no case against him." "We have our law," the Jews responded, "and according to that law he must die because he made himself God's Son." When Pilate heard this kind of talk, he was more afraid than ever.
Meditation:
Consider the meekness and mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Mary is called the Mother of Mercy - do I seek Her help in imitating the virtues of Her Son or am I stubborn in my sinfulness? Do I implore His Mercy for myself and for all souls through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
The Carrying of the Cross
(John 19:16-22)
Jesus was led away, and carrying the cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him, and two others with him: one on either side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate had an inscription placed on the cross which read, JESUS THE NAZOREAN, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, was read by many of the Jews, since the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The chief priests of the Jews tried to tell Pilate, "You should not have written, 'The King of the Jews.' Write instead, 'This man claimed to be king of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
Meditation:
Consider the sad meeting of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary on the way to Calvary - a meeting which no words could ever express. Do I seek to escape God's will for me, seeking Him only when I need His help - or am I able to see the will of God in all the moments of my life, even the most difficult, in imitation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
(John 19:25-30)
Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, there is your son." In turn he said to the disciple, "There is your mother." From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care. After that, Jesus, realizing that everything was now finished, said to fulfil the Scripture, "I am thirsty." There was a jar there, full of common wine. They stuck a sponge soaked in this wine on some hyssop and raised it to his lips. When Jesus took the wine, he said, "Now it is finished." Then he bowed his head, and delivered over his spirit.
Meditation:
Consider how on Calvary, the Immaculate Heart of Mary was entirely united to the Sacred Heart of Her Son - even to the extent of being rightfully called the Co-Redemptrix of all men. Do I take up my own place on Calvary, uniting myself to Jesus in His Passion and Death, as did the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, Hail Holy Queen
Pope John Paul II recommends that the Joyful Mysteries be used on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Glorious Mysteries of Sundays and Wednesdays, and the New Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays.
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