Preparing for Lent: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Some Catholics are devoted to praying a daily rosary, a number of prayers while meditating on events in the lives of Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Tuesdays and Fridays and on Sundays during the Lent, the events for meditation, known as mysteries, are called the Sorrowful Mysteries.

The five Sorrowful Mysteries are: (1) the agony in the garden, (2) the scourging at the pillar, (3) the crowning with thorns, (4) the carrying of the cross, and (5) the crucifixion.

Personally, I dread Tuesdays and Fridays. It takes me about 12 minutes to say a rosary, and it is agonizing to spend the time really concentrating on these painful events. The thought of doing them again on Sundays frequently seems too much to bear. Sometimes I have rushed through the Sorrowful Mysteries and then, slowly did another rosary with the Glorious Mysteries which are much more cheerful. The Glorious Mysteries are: (1) the resurrection, (2) the ascension, (3) the descent of the Holy Spirit, (4) the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and (5) the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.

But during Lent, we are asked to meditate on the sorrows of Our Lord and practice personal sacrifices in emulation of Him and to develop our own personal discipline and spiritual life.

I rarely say a rosary without also reading aloud a scriptures or meditations that go with each mystery. (That's why I take 12 minutes, instead of 10 like many experienced Catholics.) The scriptures* I usually read and each mystery are:

1. The Agony in the Garden

And His sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the ground. And rising from prayer He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow. Luke 22, 44-45

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

Pilate, then, took Jesus and had Him scourged. John 19, 1

3. Crowning with Thorns

And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet cloak; and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed into His right hand.