Meditations on the Scriptural Rosary, the Passion

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For our non-Catholic brothers and sisters, I would like to share how devout Catholics ponder the mysteries of our salvation in the rosary. I will not start with the Joyful, because they are Mary focused, and I don’t want to come out swinging in the beginning, so I thought i would start with the Sorrowful Mysteries, which focus almost exclusively on Jesus.

The five Sorrowful Mysteries are all deeply rooted in Scripture, with only Minor References to Tradition.

The five mysteries are:

The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion

In contemplating how much Jesus sufferd for our sins, that we might be set free, we come to appreciate the unfathomable Love of our God, who from all eternity possessed Love so incomprehensible, that He wanted to suffer for creatures.

For in the first world he created, He could not redeem the creatures, for their choice was with full knowledge of Him, and irrevocable. And likewise, God cannot suffer in His Divine Nature, which is pure spirit, which was the type of creature that He first created, the creature that, if it falls, is not redeemed (the demons).

But God foreknew he could create a second type of creature, that while possessing free will and intellect, that is, a spiritual component, like the first creature, it would nevertheless also possess a physical component. For if God could do this, THEN, in His Infinite Foreknowledge, He could arrange to BECOME such a creature, to ACQUIRE this physical Nature, and suffer in it, so as to be able to have mercy on the creatures, in as much as His suffering, because Infinite, pays the debt they never could.

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary then contemplate this wondrous thing, the suffering that Our God, the Eternal Son, endured for us, in order to pay our debt, and love us to a greater degree than if we had never fallen to begin with.

For, as many saints have written, to have mercy and to love to a greater degree a creature, brings greater glory to God than if the creatures had never fallen to begin with. Therefore, the Passion of Our Lord actually glorifies God MORE than if man had never fallen, and lived in paradise indefinitely.

In a moment, I will now begin the Scriptural Rosary of these wonderful mysteries.

 

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The First Sorrowful Mystery, the Agony in the Garden.

O Lord Jesus, you suffered the torment of the dark night of the soul in the garden. You shrunk from your Passion in your human nature, but eventually you fully yielded to the Will of the Father, and accepted your Cup of Infinite Suffering. As we contemplate your spiritual and emotional agony as you pondering your forthcoming sufferings in that garden, help us to be like you finally were, fully prepared to accept whatever the Will of the Father is for us, even if it mean, our very lives. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I. “I am sorrowful unto death.” O Lord Jesus, how can we not have sorrow for our sins, which offend thee? Have mercy on us, give us true contrition, that we might alleviate the sorrow you feel for our ungrateful hearts.

II. “Stay here and pray that you are not put to the test. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Lord Jesus, we pray for the strength to remain true to thee, even if it mean we suffer. Lord Jesus, give us the strength to endure whatever trials you wish to permit us to pass through, that we may not falter, but remain strong in our spirit, by Thy Love within us, that we may endure the tortures of the flesh, that is truly weak, but supported by Thy grace, of which you said to Thy Apostle, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

III. “Father, if it possible, let this cup pass Me.” O Lord, may Thy Will be done.

IV. And Jesus returned to the Disciples, looking for solace, He found them asleep. O Lord Jesus, permit us not to sleep when our loved ones and brothers and sisters suffer. Help us not to be like the Apostles, who were about to all but desert you. Help us to sacrifice in love to be there in the times of need for all thy Father’s children, for they are You, Lord Jesus, even as you said, “When you did it to the least of My brothers, you did it to Me.”

V. “Father to Whom all things are possible, let this cup pass Me.” O Lord, may we accept Thy Holy Will.

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VI. And Our Lord Jesus sweat drops of blood: O Lord Jesus, we pray for all those who suffer in the soul, great anxiety and agony. May they be relieved of their mental sufferings, and take upon thee the yoke that is light.

VII. Finally, Jesus uttered, “But Father, not My Will, but Thine be done.” In the end Jesus, you fully consented to the cross, even in your human nature. Give us the strength to accept our death, and the sufferings you have reserved for us, that we, like you, may offer them up for our own sins, and for the Redemption of the world.

VIII. And an angel came and comforted Jesus. O Lord Jesus, may we comfort the afflicted, visit the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit our brothers in the prison.

IX. And Jesus returned, finding the Disciples still asleep and said to them, “Come, get up, let us be on our way, My betrayer is here.” Lord Jesus, help us be on our way in this dark world that waits with spiritual swords and clubs, to persecute us, and all for only speaking of love and human pricelessness.

X. just then, Judas arrived with a big crowd. O My Jesus, let us not run away when the time comes for us to endure the persecution. Strenghten our feeble knees to stand firm in our witness to thee, so that, acknowledging you before men, You may acknowledge us before your Father, and Our Father.

The Second Sorrowful Mystery, the Scouring at the Pillar:

I. “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” O Lord Jesus, have mercy on those who stab in the back for personal gain. May our businesses and places of accomplishment find all men only offering their talents in love and sacrifice, and not to seek only vainglory, at the expense of the truly hard working.

II. “Put away your sword, Peter! Shall I not drink the Cup My Fatehr has for Me?” O Lord Jesus, the path to converting the world is not by literal revolution and force, but only by sacrificing in love, and offering our trials for the conversion of sinners. You have shown us the way, Lord Jesus, may we follow it. For it is selfless Love and witness to it that shall bring peace, not lashing out in wrath at those who do not understand.

III. “Am I a thief and a brigand, that you come at Me armed with swords and clubs? Each day I taught peacefully in your synagogues and streets, and never did you apprehend me. But alas, this is to fulfill the Scriptures. This is your hour, the hour of darkness.” Lord Jesus, the selfless offering of life of thy martyrs brought down the tyranny of paganism and brought the light unto the Gentiles. But now, the Gentiles have lost faith, because thy Father’s children have not loved one another, and have divided. Reunite them, Lord Jesus, by Thy Prayer and the Holy Spirit, so that the world shall once again know that the Father sent Thee.

IV. “This man said He could rebuild the Temple in three days!” And they scoffed and beat Him. O Lord Jesus, it could not have been any other way. They to whom you have given the Initial Covenant would necessarily reject its fulfillment, it is inevitable fallen nature, that takes things as an end unto themselves, instead of only pointing to the final end. We pray, Lord Jesus, that you hasten the day when thy Father’s first child shall accept the New Covenant, and be reconciled with his younger brother, who wasted the inheritance in the times of their covenant, but who now has received mercy.

V. “I adjure you, in the name of the Living God, to tell us if you are the Christ!” “I AM!” Lord Jesus, you are truly fully God, the Yahweh that was before anything Was. May the whole world come to know that you are not merely a Prophet, but our very Maker in the flesh, the Son of God Incarnate.

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