THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary honor the profound suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ during His Passion, reflecting on His love and redemption for humanity They are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays:

 

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

And they went to a place which was called Gethsem′ane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.  And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch.” 

And going a little farther [than a stone's throw], he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this chalice from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” 

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  

And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

(Mark 14 : 32-42)

THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.  And they had then a notorious prisoner, called [Jesus] Barab′bas.  So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, [Jesus] Barab′bas  or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 

Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.” 

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab′bas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

And they said, "Barab′bas.”  

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said, “Let him be crucified.” 

And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?”

But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified.”

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 

And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”  

Then he released for them Barab′bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

(Matthew 27:15-26)

THE CROWINING WITH THORNS

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him,  and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”  (Matthew 27:27-29)

Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him.”  So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”  (John 19:2-6)

And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.  And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.  (Matthew 27:30-31)

THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol′gotha. (John 19:17)

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre′ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.  And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.  But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’  For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”  (Luke 23 : 26-31)

 

THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH

And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 

There was also an inscription over him, 'This is the King of the Jews.' One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

It was now about sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last."

(Luke 23 : 33-46)