The Sorrowful Mysteries Visualizations For those of us who pray the rosary, visualizations can sometimes help us understand and appreciate the mysteries more fully... For example, imagine if we were there with Jesus, his Mother, and the apostles. What would it be like? How would we feel? How would we respond? As an example, here are some visualization aids that may be helpful in praying the Sorrowful Mysteries.
The Agony In the Garden "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. And he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (Mt 26:36-37) Let us start by imagining ourselves there in the Garden with Jesus and the disciples -- watching as Jesus begins to experience his agony... Jesus is suffering. I see him begin to sweat blood. There is no one to console him. His disciples have fallen asleep. Wanting to help, I nudge Peter trying to get him to wake up. I ask Peter to get the others up too. But as I'm speaking, shame comes over me - realizing I often fall asleep when saying my own prayers. I beg the Father to forgive these disciples, and not hold their human weakness against them. "Lord, they are good men", I tell Him. "You know how good they are. You know they will eventually give their lives for you. They are tired; they cannot help it." I ask the Lord to forgive them -- and to forgive me for my shortcomings also. Finally I observe as the angel arrives in the Garden. He bends down to offer Jesus some encouragement But it is a short-lived consolation for Jesus; the full weight of the passion still looms ahead. They say that the Father had to turn His back on His Son for a moment, in order for Love to be fully poured out. And it must happen that way. But we know that even in the midst of extreme trial, God does not abandon us...
The Scourging At the Pillar I will therefore chastise him and release him. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. (Lk 23:16, Jn 19:1) As this scene unfolds, let us imagine ourselves in the courtyard, close to the pillar where our Lord is to be scourged. It is late morning, and already the heat of the day is noticeable. I see the soldiers getting their whips ready and laughing -- acting as if they're drunk or high. It's clear where they're headed -- I want to stop them, but feel powerless to do so. They seem bent on punishing Jesus in a big way. One soldier begins slapping the Lord in the face. I notice one individual behaving less aggressively, and surmise he is more sensible and compassionate than the rest. Standing next to him, I tap him lightly on the shoulder. In a low tone, I try to reason with him: "What are you doing? You don't even know this man..." The other soldiers aren't listening, or perhaps they're too drunk to care. I continue my plea to the sensible one: "Look, what if their accusations are lies? Suppose he is innocent? Let him be!" Somehow I've managed to catch this fellow's attention. He pauses -- then raises his eyes to look up. Just for a moment. Is he reconsidering, I wonder? Then all the soldiers stop and there is silence. What's this? I feel the sun beating down on the back of my neck.,, Suddenly a more callous soldier curses -- and he pushes the sensible one out of the way. Then everyone leers at me in anger. In fear, I back off. The mercenaries grab heavy whips and begin to lunge at Jesus. Obviously my intrusion has not helped. I'm sorry, Lord
The Crowning with Thorns "And the soldiers led him away to the Praetorium. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him. Plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand." (Mt 27:28-29) In this scene, let us imagine ourselves in a public area directly opposite the praetorium in Jerusalem. It is still early in the morning and relatively quiet; there is scarcely anyone around. From a distance I spot something neatly laid out on a table on top of a purple cloth. It looks like a crown of sharp thorns, displayed for all to see. I know they've made it up for Jesus, and they are going to be taunting him in their mock ceremony of royalty. I've already heard them ridiculing him about being king. They've been trying to humiliate him publicly for months. This is all going to go down very soon -- and again I feel powerless to stop it. Those thorns are long and dreadfully sharp. They will cause the Lord much pain. Hasn't he already suffered enough already? I walk over to the table quietly. Thinking I can spare Jesus a little pain, I pick up the crown, and begin breaking off the ends of a few of the longest, sharpest spines. Perhaps my little act of sabotage will anger the guards--but no one's around right now. Who's going to know? Suddenly I cut myself on one of the thorns. The blood begins oozing down my finger and onto the crown and the purple linen. As I try to clean things up quickly, I realize I'm making a mess. Someone's going to know this crown's been tampered with; hope no one sees me. In fear, I run out of the room quickly. And I realize that some drops of my own blood will mix in with drops of the Lord's blood in a few hours...
The Carrying of the Cross "And as the led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Lk 23:26) Let us envision a scene on the outskirts of Jerusalem It is early in the day. The townspeople are saying that Jesus will be sent to Golgotha this afternoon... Across the way, I spot a man named Simon, from the region of Cyrene walking. I'm struck by his angular, muscular build -- he's dark and a bit wrinkled from years of labor in the outdoor sun. Perhaps I should mind my own business -- but I approach him and call out to him. Simon asks me who I am, and wonders what I want. "I just want to warn you", I blurt out. "Simon -- today when you go out to the fields, do not work too hard! Store up your energy. You will need it!" "Why?", Simon asks. I try to explain. "This afternoon the Jewish guards/soldiers will ask you to help a certain Jesus of Nazareth. Please do not grow angry when you are made to carry the cross for this man. Simon, this is important!" I want to tell this foreigner from Cyrene what to expect. He needs to know. He should know that his life will be changed suddenly, dramatically, forever -- in just a few hours. He must help Jesus as best he can. He must not think only about his own needs. Simon smiles a little. Perhaps he thinks I'm crazy. Or perhaps he understands. Maybe he already knows! I imagine Simon later that day underneath the weight of the cross with Jesus. As he looks over, he sees the Christ bruised and bleeding, and he knows... Simon realizes then how important his job is. How all his years of hard labor have prepared him for this very moment in time and in history. Simon is deeply moved with pity, and knows that he is now laboring alongside his Lord
The Crucifixion Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother. (John 19,25) Let us imagine ourselves on the hill of Calvary outside of Jerusalem It is around three o clock in the afternoon. I am really at a loss for words. It s Christ s final hour. Yes, the focus is on Jesus but I also see his mother. Standing underneath that cross in silence. How does she see things, I wonder? This is the holy woman who once said "yes" to the angel. This is the mother who was told a thorn of sorrow would pierce her heart--and it has. She's been with him at his birth and throughout his childhood. She was there when he was twelve years old in the temple when they thought they lost him. She was at Cana when they ran out of wine. And now she is here at the cross as he is being put to death. Most of the disciples have run off; she and a few women are the only ones remaining. It's getting dark now. The weather is changing. As a cry rings out from the cross, everyone knows it won't be long... What can I do? What can I say? How could I offer her a word of comfort, in view of what is happening? Anything I could say to this holy woman would be a sham. A joke. I know it is my sins that helped do this to her Son. Forgive me, God. So I remain silent. But in my heart I whisper a short prayer. "Thank you Mary for raising such a Son. Thank you for bringing him into the world, and thank you for everything. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mary. Amen."