“When nothing any longer arises for the soul except bitterness, both from God and from men; when one is reduced to the same state as our Lord when he exclaimed on the cross, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?, then it is that the soul’s act of love saves the world and it becomes, in a certain sense, co-redemptrix like the Sorrowful Mother…” –Father Reginald Garrigou LaGrange, O.P. (+ 1964)
Intention: I call in healing and righteousness for America.
Tuesday: Use My Suffering
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”
—Matthew 26:38
Reflection:
Jesus gave us an example of what to do when suffering shows up:
submission, charity, and offering the suffering up to the Father.
In accepting the Father’s will, He trusted that everything would
work out well in the end.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, when I have to be in pain, please accept my suffering
and use it to purify the church and protect the Holy Father.
Amen.
Tuesday: Cover With Your Blood
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you
want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!”
—Matthew 27:21
Reflection:
In the scourging at the pillar, Jesus suffered excruciating pain
because of the whips, but He also probably suffered humiliation
as people looked on with bemused expressions on their faces.
Prayer:
Precious Blood of Christ, Price of Our Salvation, please cover
me, to heal my hurts, inadequacies and sins. Amen.
Tuesday: Substandard Human Rights
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
[Even] Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and
mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he
sent him back to Pilate.
—Luke 23:11
Reflection:
We often think that our own cross is too heavy to carry for
even one more day. But all we have to do is think of how Jesus
was crowned with thorns after being scourged, to realize that
we can endure a lot more than we think, if we take Him as our
example and model.
Prayer:
Lord, please comfort and protect those who are imprisoned
because of their faith beliefs in countries with substandard
human rights. Free them, O Lord, from unjust religious laws.
Amen.
Tuesday: Crosses Allowed by God
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the
dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our body.
—2 Corinthians 4:8–10
Reflection:
We might have sometimes thought that the cross was destined
for Jesus alone, and not for us. But salvation does not mean a
release from suffering. Rather, it gives value to our suffering.
Prayer:
Dear Father, please motivate me to accept my cross as if it comes
directly from You, and to trust that value will come out of it. I
don’t have to understand how now; I only need to trust. Amen.
Tuesday: Pardon My Enemies
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father
will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will
your Father forgive your transgressions.
—Matthew 6:14–15
Reflection:
Jesus is the model we should follow regarding forgiveness of
enemies. He forgave those who killed Him, while on the Cross.
Yet it is so hard for us to do the same. Could it be that we
have trouble forgiving ourselves, and that is the reason for our
insufficient charity toward our neighbors?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please give me the compassion to pardon myself as
well as my enemies, and to persevere to the end in offering up
sacrifices, for the sake of all souls and peace on earth, until I
die. Amen.
