1st Mystery - The Agony in the Garden

They came to a place named Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray. My soul is sorrowful even to death." He prayed to His Father: "Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what You will." (Mark 14:32-36) Reflection "And His sweat became as drops of blood, running down to the ground" (Luke 22:24). These words express the intimate suffering of the mind, the extreme bitterness of solitude, the failing of the broken body. The scene in the garden invokes strength and consolation for those who suffer with Christ, for those who are troubled and afflicted.

2nd Mystery - The Scourging

They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:1-15) Reflection A great lesson for everyone is drawn from this mystery. We are not called to a bloody martyrdom, but to the constant and daily discipline of suffering. Along this path, one comes to a more perfect likeness to Christ and to the participation in His merits.

3rd Mystery - The Crowning with Thorns

The soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed Jesus in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed in on Him. They began to salute Him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking His head with a reed and spitting upon Him. (Mark 15:16-19) Reflection Each of us is called to carry the burden of responsibility in our lives. This burden is a crown which weighs heavily and pierces with annoyances and pain in the form of misunderstanding, indifference or loneliness.

4th Mystery - The Carrying of the Cross

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. So they took Jesus and, carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:16-17) Reflection Human life at times can be a long, continuous and burdensome pilgrimage. There is a cross for each one of us. After reflecting upon Jesus carrying His cross, we are encouraged to embrace our cross and to carry it with generosity.

5th Mystery - The Crucifixion

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus. Darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:33-46) Reflection Jesus said: “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:13). Through His death, we are saved and have the promise of everlasting life.