Sorrowful Rosary

May Our Lady give us a deeper understanding of suffering through the five Sorrowful Mysteries
I. The Agony in the Garden
“Father, if you are willing take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42

Christ knew He would suffer. He spent His life speaking the Truth. Those in authority did not like Him. Mary carried many fears for her Son in her Immaculate Heart. John hailed Him as the meek Lamb of God. Jesus spoke often of His death; invited others to do what He was about to do – “take up the Cross;” then deliberately went up to Jerusalem to His earthly doom. But when that long-awaited suffering was only a sunrise way, Jesus Christ fell upon His Face and bled at the thought of pain and asked that, if it were possible, the chalice be withheld.

To tremble at pain is Christlike. Suffering is not a good thing that merely appears evil. It is an evil which human nature shrinks from – and grace can sanctify.


II. The scourging at the Pillar

“I shall have him flogged.”
Luke 23:16

Christ shrank from pain, but did not refuse it. Late morning saw Jesus flung against a praetorium pillar, while the hired men of Rome wore themselves out whipping and lashing Him near to death. Every thump of the iron-weighted cords tore fresh red rents in His Flesh. Jesus, who the night before had turned wine to Blood, now shed that Blood like wine poured out. His Body is the chalice of His spilt-out Blood, and the cup He no longer asks His Father to remove.

God knows how desperate we feel when we ask Him to relieve our sufferings because God was with Jesus in all Jesus’ pain. To accept pain as Jesus did is to sanctify it – and ourselves.