The Sorrowful Mysteries

Driving home the other day from a nice vacation with my family I was praying my rosary. It being Friday, I was reciting the sorrowful mysteries. Well through the first mystery, The Agony In The Garden, I thought about the number of times I have prayed before something big in my life. A surgery, a horse show, going away to college, having my babies, and of course before our wedding! I prayed for the strength and ability to go through this next thing in my life. That's what Christ wants us to do. Bring everything, the big and the small stuff, to Him!

The second sorrowful mystery, The Scourging At The Pillar. How many times have I been injured? Falling off of horses, in a car accident, being in labor, or even something as small as bending a fingernail back (ouch!). Christ took these beatings as a part of His ministry here on earth. But how powerful is it when we tie our injuries to His passion? Suddenly our physical sufferings have a purpose!

The third sorrowful mystery, The Crowning Of Thorns. Headaches, migraines, mental anguish, mental illnesses, reflecting on the evil in the world, making reparation for sins, and even missing a friend or family member. Memories can be painful. Thoughts can be painful. Again though, when we tie our pain into Christ's passion it can have a purpose. Christ's passion was not without purpose and so our suffering here on earth should not be without purpose either!

The fourth sorrowful mystery. The Carrying Of The Cross. We've all heard that we have to "carry our cross" but what does that mean? That starts with tying our physical and mental pains into Christ's passion. Carrying our cross means doing the work God has called us to do in our lives. Some parents have a disabled child to raise and care for. Some people can not have their own children. Many of us struggle with addiction of some kind. But whatever it is, God calls us to give it all back to Him to turn that negative into something positive.

The fifth sorrowful mystery. The Crucifixion. This is the toughest one. Our own death. Facing the end of this life. But the best part is, if we've followed the life God has for us in health and sickness and through joy and sorrow, we get to celebrate the first Glorious Mystery- The Reserection.

Mary Our Mother, pray for us!

Most Sacred Heart Of Jesus, Have Mercy On Us.