Sorrowful Mysteries - The Crucifixion

Lord Jesus, I cannot imagine the immensity of your suffering as Your wounds were ripped open once more, as Your garments were stripped from your flesh. The humiliation of Your nakedness before the crowds was eased by the swiftness of the love of Your mother. She wrapped you in swaddling clothes when You entered this world and she covered your nakedness with her mantle before you left this life. 

They nailed Your hands and feet, dislocated Your limbs and, in hoisting your cross upright, dropped it into a hole on Golgatha, to further rip your hanging flesh...You looked down at John, Your beloved disciple who represented us all at the foot of Your cross, and You looked at Your mother who faithlfully never left Your side...and in another act of infinite mercy, You gave her to us and gave us to her, because You knew how much we would benefit from the vigilant attention of such a loving and devoted mother. 

You cried out in anguish to the Father to not forsake you to fulfil the Old Testament prophesy. In the ultimate sacrifice, You handed over Your spirit to the Father so that we may be reunited with God. Blood and water gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, Father, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Blessed Mother, I ask that you cover all those reading this now with the soft mantle of your love. As they struggle with their sorrows, please become a mother to them...assist them in their journeys and protect them with your prayer. Take your little sons and daughters into your arms and dry their tears. With a warm embrace reassure them that everything will be according to God's plan and they have nothing to fear for themselves, their families. Lift their weary heads upward and gently, softly place a motherly kiss on his tear-stained cheeks, and tell them they are not alone, God will not abandon them. Ask the Father to bless them, to strengthen them and their faith, to give them increased hope, to recognize God's magnificant love through both joyful and sorrowful moments of their lives, just as scripture has revealed God's boundless love and rich mercy in the joyful, sorrowrful and glorious moments of your and Jesus' lives. Request of your spouse the Holy Spirit to shower all of them with graces..with courage, wisdom, fortitude and perseverance. Ask their brother, Jesus to take their hands and walk with them down the difficult paths....and ask Jesus to fearlessly show them the way to the Father.  I am confident that God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus love and honor you so, that they will not refuse you these favors which you ask of them. I ask all these things of you in the name of your most precious Son, Jesus.

Jesus, by Your life, death and resurrection, You have us free. We thank You, and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.