Archive for the ‘Spirituality’ Category

Jesus dies upon the cross.

Friday, April 10th, 2009

The fifth mystery of the Passion and Death of Our Lord: Jesus suffers and dies for us upon the cross.

   Both in living and in dying, Jesus shows us how to love.  In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught us to pray for our persecutors; on Mount Calvary He prays for those who have condemned and crucified Him.  In the parables of the Good Shepherd and the Prodigal Son, Jesus taught us about God’s love for repentant sinners; on the cross He forgives and saves the repentant thief. Words cannot describe the great evil of sin, but the suffering and death of our Savior give us an insight into the damage caused by our disobedience.
   We pray for an increased sense of sin and sorrow for sin.  Our Father
   1. They crucified Him there, and the robbers, one on his right hand, the other on his left.  Hail Mary
   2. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Hail Mary
   3. One of the robbers mocked Him saying: “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”  Hail Mary
   4. But the other said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom.”  Hail Mary
   5. Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this day you shall be with Me in paradise.”  Hail Mary
   6. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to his mother, “Woman, behold thy son.”  Hail Mary
   7. Then He said to the disciple, “Behold thy mother.”  Hail Mary
   8. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”  Hail Mary
   9. Knowing that all was now completed, Jesus said, “I thirst,” in order to fulfill the scripture.  Hail Mary
 10. And after taking the wine, Jesus said, “It is consummated”; and bowing his head, He gave up his spirit.  Hail Mary
Glory be

References: Luke 23:33-49; John 19:25-30

The centurion declared, “Clearly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39)

John F. Kippley
Seven Day Bible Rosary

Jesus carries his cross to Calvary.

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

The fourth mystery of the Passion and Death of Our Lord:  Jesus carries his cross to Calvary.

   How honored must have been Simon of Cyrene after the Resurrection.  Yet on Good Friday, it was not a pleasant task that this man was forced to accept; it was carrying or helping to carry a cross.  He did not know that it was the cross on which the Savior of the world would be crucified. In his humanity, Jesus needed help to carry his cross, and so do we.  Helping to carry the cross of Christ was undoubtedly a cause of salvation for Simon of Cyrene and his family, and it will be the same for us.
   We pray for the gift of perseverance.  Our Father
   1. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak and put his own garments on Him.  Hail Mary
   2. As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain Simon of Cyrene who was coming in from the country;  Hail Mary
   3. And upon him they laid the cross to carry it after Jesus.  Hail Mary
   4. There was following Him a great crowd of the people and of women who were bewailing and lamenting Him.  Hail Mary
   5. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me but weep for yourselves and for your children.  Hail Mary
   6. “The days are coming . . . when men will say to the mountains, “Fall on us,” and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’  Hail Mary
   7. “If they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”  Hail Mary
   8. And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.  Hail Mary
   9. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.  Hail Mary
 10. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  Hail Mary
Glory be

References: Matthew 27:31; Luke 23:26-31; Mark 15:22; Isaiah 53:3-4

John F. Kippley
Seven Day Bible Rosary

Jesus is mocked, scourged, and crowned with thorns.

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

The third mystery of the Passion and Death of Our Lord: Jesus is mocked and scourged and crowned with thorns.

   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that “if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” and in his passion He shows us his teaching in action.  Ridicule may be one of the most painful experiences we will have to endure.  In word and in deed Our Lord teaches us that we are not to respond to insults with vengeance. Many of us find it difficult to deny ourselves any available pleasure.  The scourging of the flesh of Jesus is a never-ending statement about the need for self-sacrifice in the life of Christian discipleship.
 We pray for the gifts of humility and voluntary self-denial.  Our Father
   1. Pilate saw that he was doing no good so he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd;  Hail Mary
   2. Saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this just man; see to it yourselves.”  Hail Mary
   3. And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”  Hail Mary
   4. Then he released Barabbas, but Jesus he scourged and delivered to them to be crucified.  Hail Mary
   5. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around Him.  Hail Mary
   6. They stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak on Him, and they wove a crown of thorns and placed it on his head.  Hail Mary
   7. They put a reed into his right hand, and bending the knee before Him they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.”  Hail Mary
   8. And they spat on Him, and they took the reed and kept striking Him on the head.  Hail Mary
   9. He was wounded for our iniquities; He was bruised for our sins.  Hail Mary
 10. Upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.  Hail Mary
Glory be

References: Matthew 27:24-30, Isaiah 53:5

John f. Kippley
Seven Day Bible Rosary