First Sorrowful Mystery:
The Agony in the Garden.
These then are the 7 steps in of St Teresa of Avila’s method of meditation and mental prayer.
1. The preparation which is the placing of ourselves in the Presence of God.
2. The reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
3. Meditating and reflecting on the passage.
4. Colloquy. Prayer.
5. Thanksgiving.
6. Offering,
7. Petition.
Carmelite Meditation
Step 1
Enter into the Presence of God
You might find it easier to close your eyes for this step. Be aware of how the presence of God is all around you. Say: “In you my God I live and move and have my being. I salute you Lord present here in this room with me. I salute you in heaven.
Step 2
The Reading
1 Reading: Matthew 26: 36
then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples:
Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray. And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then he saith to them:
My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me. And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh to his disciples, and findeth them asleep, and he saith to Peter:
What? Could you not watch one hour with me?
Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak.
Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy will be done.
And he cometh again and findeth them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy.
And leaving them, he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word.
Then he cometh to his disciples, and saith to them: Sleep ye now and take your rest; behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Step 3:
Meditation and reflection on the passage:
“What? Could you not watch one hour with me?”
That first word “What” brings us up short. It’s so abrupt. Jesus’ first emotion is dismay and disbelief. “What” He says.
Jesus is serious. He shows His displeasure. Jesus expected to find them awake and deep in prayer, not deep in sleep.
He seems incredulous: “Could you not watch one hour with me?” they are looking up at Him. They can say nothing. They thought they would stay awake and pray.
Does Jesus feel abandoned by these especially chosen three. Peter who so short a time ago had pledged his life to his Lord. James who Jesus had playfully nicknamed ‘son of thunder’ he would be the first Apostle to die a martyr. Beloved John to whom he would bequeath His mother. All three had been privileged to experience His transfiguration. Surely they could have watched one hour with Him. He had warned them about temptation. When they had asked Him to teach them to pray Jesus had specifically said, “lead us not into temptation.’
Judas was on his way; spurred on by Satan. That fiend had rushed ahead, he was here in the garden now. They had let down their guard.
After all they had seen, and heard and experienced how could they sleep when He had specifically asked them to pray.
Perhaps at this point in the meditation we move seamlessly into the 4th step the prayer of intimacy and love for our Saviour.
Step 4:
Colloque or Prayer
“What do you want me to learn Lord from this first sorrowful mystery.?”
The answer springs from the reading:
I seem to hear Jesus say: “I constantly ask you to watch and pray.
Be truthful now with me.
How often do I come and find you sleeping?”
I lower my head in shame.
He continues: “Yes I am shocked that so often I come and find you ignoring my Mother’s invitation to pray Her Rosary. I’m shocked that after all the graces I have given you, I find you unresponsive. Spiritually Asleep.
Yes it is true that Peter, James and John had the experience of seeing my Divinity. But isn’t it true that you have been given the gift of faith, to enable you to see what they could not possibly see. The whole story of redemption. You know who I AM. You know my church needs prayer. You know that millions of souls are lost daily because they have no one to pray for them. I expect you to watch and pray. Stay here and watch with me.”
My answer: “Yes Jesus I will stay and keep you company.”
He impresses on me again: “Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Keep joining me in mental prayer. Keep watch over yourself. Keep watch for my inspirations. pray against temptation.”
“My Lord my first temptation is to avoid or ignore your calls to prayer during the day. Not to meditate My second temptation is the to leave prayer often; to fall asleep by drifting off to other worldly thoughts.”
I explain to Jesus what I am learning:
“Jesus you chose 12 apostles and you yourself said one of them was a devil. You choose Peter as the rock on which to build your church. You choose James and John to witness your divinity. These were ordinary people, people like me. You choose me to be Catholic. Dear Lord how I have let you down.
Jesus waits…….. for the enormity……….. of the responsibility ……to sink in to my understanding.
For a fleeting moment I feel it.
Inside the narrow gate.
Bound completely to His will.
Then it is gone.
Step 5:
Thanksgiving:
Thank you Lord for allowing me to come here to watch with you. Thank you for touching my heart. Thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for constantly calling me to pray. Thank you for not giving up on me. This thought makes me afraid that perhaps you might turn away and not bother with me any more. Thank you for all the beautiful Catholics all over the world praying to you now. Thank you for Increasing their number Lord.
Step 6:
Offering
When grace bids me, turn my attention to you Lord at odd moments during the day, I will remind myself: “Watch. I will watch how easily I am tempted to ignore the call of grace. I will learn about myself. I offer you now Jesus all my duties that I carry out to day. I offer you every minute of my time living today.
Step 7:
Petition
This last step, the seventh step can be anything from a simple, “I love you Jesus Help me to love you even more.” to a more intense petition for your own soul and the souls of others.
Please Lord if you find me sleeping …. please don’t turn away telling me I can take my rest now. Please don’t give up on me. Teach me Lord how to love you more and more each day. I petition the Father God now in Jesus name for enlightenment for the following people:……………. let them come to know love and serve you here on earth Lord so that they can be happy with you for ever in heaven.
This is the end of the meditation.
Your own meditation will probably take a completely different form.
What are the personal things that spring to your mind during the 1st step: The Reading.
In the reading you might find that the Lord draws your attention instead to his call to your commitment to do His will.
As you read how Jesus said the self same prayer. You may find He is asking you to join Him in a greater petition to become more committed to prayer for your brothers and sisters.
Are you suffering from mental anguish, fear, fear of the future, fear of the rest of the day. Look at Jesus more closely as He prays in the garden. What is He telling you about your life. Remember He promised to swap burdens with you. He will take all your terrors if you take His burden which is light. The burden of saving souls.
In the meditation do you see yourself with the apostles. Do you experience Jesus walking toward you. Are you ashamed. Filled with despondency at the fragility of your spiritual life.
Your meditation is personal. Your thoughts and feelings, your love for your saviour is a treasure beyond price. The riches of these moments with Him can not be comprehended by anyone else but you.
God Bless.
The 2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
For the wickedness of my people have I struck him.
Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.
Isiah 53:4
We begin again with a list of the 7 steps of St Teresa’s way of mental prayer.
St Teresa tells us that she often used a pious book to help her focus her attention on her meditation. We will use a few sentences from the visionary Anne Catherine Emmerish.
our meditation of the 2nd Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.
The Scourging at the Pillar.
the 7 Steps:
1. The preparation which is the placing of ourselves in the Presence of God.
2. The reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
3. Meditating and reflecting on the passage.
4. Colloquy. Prayer.
5. Thanksgiving.
6. Offering,
7. Petition.
Step 1
Enter into the Presence of God
You might find it easier to close your eyes for this step. Be aware of how the presence of God is all around you. Say: “In you my God I live and move and have my being. I salute you Lord present here in this room with me. I salute you in heaven.
I recall the words of Holy Scripture: “Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him.” (John 19:1)
Step 2
The Reading
The Second Sorrowful Mystery “The Scourging at the pillar”
An excerpt from Anne Catherine Emmerich
The night had been extremely cold, and the morning was dark and cloudy; a little hail had fallen, which surprised every one, but towards twelve o’clock the day became brighter, and the sun shone forth.
The two fresh executioners commenced scourging Jesus with the greatest possible fury; they made use of a different kind of rod,—a species of thorny stick, covered with knots and splinters. The blows from these sticks tore his flesh to pieces; his blood spouted out so as to stain their arms, and he groaned, prayed, and shuddered.
Two fresh executioners took the places of the first two, who were beginning to flag; their scourges were composed of small chains, or straps covered with iron hooks, which penetrated to the bone, and tore off large pieces of flesh at every blow. What word, alas! could describe this terrible—this heartrending scene!
Mary His Mother had fainted and now came to herself for a time, and saw her Divine Son all torn and mangled, being led away by the archers after the scourging: he wiped his eyes, which were filled with blood, that he might look at his Mother, and she stretched out her hands towards him, and continued to look at the bloody traces of his footsteps. I soon after saw Mary and Magdalen approach the pillar where Jesus had been scourged;
they knelt down on the ground near the pillar, and wiped up the sacred blood with the linen which Claudia the wife of Pilate had sent them.
Step 3:
Meditation and reflection on the passage:
“he wiped his eyes, which were filled with blood, that he might look at his Mother, and she stretched out her hands towards him, and continued to look at the bloody traces of his footsteps.”
I read this sentence over and my mind was silent. The scene becomes very real.
Those first few words: “he wiped his eyes, which were filled with blood…” I realise that some of the strokes from the whips had lashed around his face and seared His tender skin. One gash high on His fore head was open and oozing.
The blood trickled down into His eyes. His hands being chained he could only close His eyes.
They had finished beating Him and so they unchained His hands from the pillar. He had heard His mother’s cry of anguish when she had seen the brutality of the scourging, so Jesus knew where She was among the spectators.
As they forced Him to His feet Jesus wiped his eyes and turned to where He knew His mother was.
He looked at Her. What did the silent look convey?
It was between Mother and Son. Between God and the woman. It is not our place to know.
She stretches out Her arms to Him.
She watches Her son being pulled away and is left looking at the bloody footprints across the floor.
She can’t breathe, she can’t speak. The pain of a mother watching Her son being viciously beaten and is helpless.
Step 4:
Colloque or Prayer
Lord i want to pray to you now directly, personally this is the part of my meditation when Saint Teresa would bid me move closer to you in love.
But as I read these words of description of your suffering I cannot lift my heard to look at you. I feel so ashamed.
I don’t remember any sin that makes me feel this way. I don’t remember anything I did wrong.
It seems that my sins big and small have dissolved into my soul and they are part of me: the fallen me.
This is who I am before you my Lord and Saviour.
This is who I am before Your dear Mother who suffered so much that terrible day.
This is who I am before the beautiful saints in heaven. A miserable worthless creature.
Suddenly I understand King David’s heartfelt cry
“Against Thee alone have I sinned, have mercy on me, O God. All day long I cry to Thee, O Lord. I stretch out to Thee my hands.”
Your mother reached out her arms to you Jesus; is there a possibility that you could ask her to reach out her arms for me.
No. maybe not. Perhaps she means me to do as she did and reach out my arms to you.
Yes now I see my sins. My rejections of you in the past.
I’m deeply sorry for these unhappy decisions in my life that make me turn my back on the holy life you offered me.
I lift my arms and reach out to you now but its still hard to lift my head. I love you lord and I know that you want me to take responsibility for my behaviour and so I will look at you and I will let you look at me.
Look into the eyes of my soul Jesus. Tell me what it lacks in love for you.
And so our eyes meet.
I didn’t expect you to look at me with love. I didn’t think your eyes would be so soft when you look at the likes of me.
You do know lord that I hurt other Christians by giving them bad example, that I helped destroy your church that came from the wound in your side?
Yes I see you do.
And yet still you want to love me.
Silently – directly -personally love me.
This is too much for me to bear as I think of your flesh being cut to pieces.
I think I’ll finish now and come back another day.
Suddenly Jesus reminds me of – A little verse of scripture from Isaiah:
“But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.”
These lashes, this terrible flogging. The pain. Seeing your Mother’s anguish: I should have suffered all this but Father God chose to inflict it on you instead. You didn’t really want to suffer this but in the garden you accepted your Father’s will.
How can I ever thank you enough for what you have done for me.
Step 5:
Thanksgiving:
Jesus, thank you lord for suffering for me. Thank you for staying there at the pillar while reprobates like me lashed you with my sins.
Mother Mary, Dearest Mother of Jesus. Mother of God. Thank you for agreeing to God’s will for you that day.
Thank you for co-operating with God’s plan for salvation. My salvation.
Thank you for your part by co-operating with God’s plan for Redemption.
Thank you.
Thank you Dearest Mother for the great privilege of being invited to consider and meditate on the life of Your dear Son through the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
Holy Spirit thank you for the wisdom and understanding you give to your holy people like Anne Catherine Emmerich, who kept herself pure and holy and listened so attentively to your inspirations.
Thank you lord that in me you show three of the most beautiful
of your divine attributes. Forgiveness Mercy and Love.
Step 6:
Offering
To-day Jesus I will really try to chain myself to God’s Will for me. I will endeavour not to complain about the petty irritating incidents that I suffer throughout the day.
I offer you now that part of my mind that is entrenched in judging others and blaming others for these problems.
I will “go against the self” as often as I remember when faced with those chores I want to put off until later. As a penance I will do them immediately.
I offer you every ace or pain I might endure today. With St Paul I will say:
“and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:”
Step 7:
Petition
In my petition today lord I ask for grace to keep on keeping on.
To follow those bloody footsteps and all that it means to me and to You.
Mother of God, chosen Co-redemtrix of God’s world show me how to offer everything to Jesus as you taught the little children of Fatima.
This is the end of the meditation.
God Bless.
The 3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
“Holiness, in man, is only possible according to the Divine Plan: to know this plan, to adapt oneself to it is the whole substance of holiness.”
(Union with God by Dom Marmion)
This is the Meditation and Mental Prayer Podcast, Catholics talking to God. Today I want to give a special welcome to our listeners in the Philippines (Make this sound very personal – within reason of course)
Our meditation today is on the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
We begin again with a list of the 7 steps of St Teresa’s way of mental prayer.
St Teresa tells us that when she first began mental prayer she used either scripture or a pious book to help her focus her attention on her meditation.
Having quickly listed the 7 steps for any new listeners as the bell tolls We will enter into our meditation of the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.
The Scourging at the Pillar.
the 7 Steps:
1. The preparation which is the placing of ourselves in the Presence of God.
2. The reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
3. Meditating and reflecting on the passage.
4. Colloquy. Prayer.
5. Thanksgiving.
6. Offering,
7. Petition.
Step 1
Enter into the Presence of God
Be aware of how the presence of God is all around you.
Say: “In you my God I live and move and have my being.”
Keep repeating – slowly – these words of scripture until they quell all distractions and your mind and body become quiet.
Say: “I salute you Lord present here in this room with me. I salute you in heaven.
Imagine now the scenes that Our Blessed Lady has asked you to meditate upon in this 3rd sorrowful mystery.
Unite yourself with Jesus in spirit, love Him, be kind to Him and relieve His loneliness.
Step 2
The Reading
The Third Sorrowful Mystery “The Crowning of thorns”
Stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him (Mt. 27:28)
Plating a crown of thorns they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. (Mt 27:29)
Bowing the knee before Him they mocked Him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews. (Mat 27:29)
Spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head. (Mt 27:30)
And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace, and they called together the whole band: And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon him. And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews. And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him. And after they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own garments on him, and they led him out to crucify him. (mk 15:16)
Step 3:
Meditation and reflection on the passage:
The soldiers would have been aware, of the huge crowd of people lining the roads to Jerusalem a few days ago.
Some of the soldiers would have witnessed the scene having been send out to quell any trouble.
They would have heard the jubilant cries of the Jews to crown Jesus their king.
They had Jesus captive now.
The solders begin to mock the Kingship of Christ. They are laughing and enjoying themselves at His expense.
They decide to enact a ceremony of crowing Him King.
They strip Him of his garments put a scarlet cloak over his shoulders and making a crown of thorns for Him they press it onto His head.
And knowing the homage paid to kings they form into marching order, and passing before Jesus they bowed their knees and pretended to adore Him.
With loud laughter, they saluted Him. Jeering at Jesus they shouted: “Hail, king of the Jews.”
Some had heard of His ability to prophesy and now they deride Him even more. They put a blindfold on Jesus and strike Him. They demand that He prophesy to them. “Tell us who struck you.” they demand. At each blow they laugh and jeer as He knocked sideways. Jesus is silent.
The thorns have penetrated into His forehead.
From each piercing thorn blood rushes out running down his face and into his eyes. There is blood saturating his hair.
Can you imagine if all the people who had ever done you harm or disliked you gathered around you and had free reign to insult you and laugh at you. To tear your clothes off and punch you.
What if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt they were going to kill you and no one was going to help you. No one was going to rescue you from these evil people.
Step 4:
Colloque or Prayer
Dearest Jesus I am deeply sorry that my sinful thoughts have crowned you with thorns.
To Jesus is due all honour and glory because He is the true King of the Universe; see yourself now acknowledging this as you bow down in true worship before Him crowned with thorns.
Did they blindfold you Jesus because they could not bear you to look at them.
mockery and ridicule
Go back now in your mind heart and soul and be there at that time. The soldiers have left Jesus alone and you can go near Him. They will not see you.
You put your head close to his head as one of the thorns catches on your forehead and tears at your skin. You have caused Him more pain
I cause you more pain Jesus even as I now try to commiserate with you.
Jesus they have pressed these thorns deep into your head. Your mother wants me to think deeply on this crowning of thorns. Her heart was sore then for what was happening to you. Her heart is sore now because of all the bad thoughts that I refuse to discourage in my mind.
Show me Lord my thoughts. Let one thorn pierce the darkness of my mind.
Please Lord don’t let me have to wait until my judgement to see my soul clearly.
Bring to light the thoughts that I have hidden deep within the recesses of my mind. The thoughts that I am ashamed of. The thoughts that deny your kingship over my life. Bring to the surface the millions of impressions you have placed on my mind calling me to your love. The thoughts I have ignored. The good thoughts I have deliberately stifled.
You taught us to ask, seek and knock so:
I ask you Jesus to shine a great light on my dark thoughts. Show me those unholy thoughts Lord so that I can confess them in the Sacrament of Confession.
I am seeking now Jesus to be painfully aware of my sins in thought.
I am knocking on the door into this mystery of the crowning of thorns show me my soul.
You ask me Jesus, am I sure I really want this enlightenment.
You ask me do I understand the implications of the knowledge that this will bring me.
I am beginning to understand the gravity of my request, Lord.
Perhaps I should not have asked for this.
It’s a mini judgement isn’t it. A judgement giving me time to change.
But having gained this insight all my future sins in thought will be with full knowledge and full consent. Makes things more serious, I know. I can no longer hide behind a blindfold refusing to see the changes I must make in my life.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light for my path. I swear and I am resolved to obey thy righteous judgments.” (Psalm from Terse on Monday)
Step 5:
Thanksgiving
“To the King of the ages, Who is immortal, invisible, the one only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Tim. 1:17)
Thank you Jesus for suffering all this pain to open heaven’s gates for me. Thank you for staying silent so that I can better understand how I am to behave in the face of adversity.
I have heard it so often said that you suffered for me while I was still your enemy.
Step 6:
Offering
In the garden you asked your Father to be relieved of the suffering you were facing into. In fact you asked Him three times. But each time you added “not my will but thine be done.”
You stayed silent throughout the pain being inflicted upon you. You knew it was your Father’s Will.
The pain of the thorns was horrible but much more terrible was the contempt the soldiers showed you. You the King of Heaven.
I will love and embrace contempt with all my heart. Whatever happens to me I will bear in silence because I love you and want to follow in your footsteps. I will even praise you for the contempt others show me as a present coming directly from you. I know that because You love me You chastise me.
From this moment on I renounce all claim to worldly honour and praise. You were despised and sneered at so I will not fight against aspersions or condemnation.
Step 7:
Petition
My petition today Lord is not for myself but for all those who suffer dark thoughts of despair.
So many people have lost hope Lord and never having been taught about faith, hope and charity have no framework to recognise that despair and a desire to end their lives by their own hand is the voice of self-hated.
There are others Lord who suffer self-hatred so much that their only thought is to avenge themselves on themselves and murder themselves. It’s a terrible state of affairs Lord.
By the grace of this mystery of the crowning of thorns around your sacred head I beg you to help them Lord.
Lord Jesus by the suffering you endured in the crowning of thorns, heal those people who are deep in depression.
Those who are experiencing severe mental distress.
Those who feel such wretchedness that they say they hate themselves.
Th dark thought: I cant do this any more. Father God, lead them not into temptation but deliver them from the evil promptings of Satan to end the light of life you gave them.
Jesus suffering, help those who can no longer think their own thoughts of love and life. Help them.
Lord I ask for them the natural human grace of Peace which Stan has robbed them of.
Mother Mary you only have to look upon the suffering souls and satan and his demons will flee.
Holy Spirit enlighten their thoughts. Help them discern where best to turn for the help they need.
Jesus grant to those suffering mental misery the same peace you held within yourself throughout your suffering and death on Calvary.
Give them peace Lord. Peace that stills the angry thoughts. Peace that stills the constant recriminations against themselves.
Give them the grace to hear your words: “Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” (Matt 11:28)
This is the end of the meditation.
God Bless.
Remember the guided meditation here is for instruction only. You and His Majesty, as St Teresa, called Jesus will have your own personal things to say to each other.
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
The 7 steps
1. The preparation which is the placing of ourselves in the Presence of God.
2. The reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
3. Meditating and reflecting on the passage.
4. Colloquy. Prayer.
5. Thanksgiving.
6. Offering,
7. Petition.
Step 1
Enter into the Presence of God
Be aware of how the presence of God is all around you.
Say: “In you my God I live and move and have my being.”
Keep repeating – slowly – these words of scripture until they quell all distractions and your mind and body become quiet.
Say: “I salute you Lord present here in this room with me. I salute you in heaven.
Imagine now the scenes that Our Blessed Lady has asked you to meditate upon in this 4th sorrowful mystery.
Unite yourself with Jesus in spirit, love Him, be kind to Him and relieve His loneliness.
Step 2
The Reading
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
The Carrying of The Cross
The following are scripture verses that can be meditated upon to bring to mind Jesus carrying His Cross to Calvary. Chapters and verses are listed in the show notes.
And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children. (Matt 27:25)
Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified. (Matt 27:26)
Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him forth. And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha (John 19 :16 – 17)
O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: (Lamentations 1 :12)
And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross. (Matthew 27:32)
And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him. (Luke 23: 27)
But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (Luke 23 28)
For a just man shall fall seven times and shall rise again. ( Prov: 24.16)
And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink. (Matthew 27.33)
And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; for he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall save it. (Luke 9,23 ,24)
Step 3:
Meditation and reflections on the passage:
In these scripture readings, Jesus teaches you to love your cross; receive and carry it according to your Divine Master’s Will.
Jesus moves on the first steps on His way to Calvary; keep near to Him and you can hear Him say to you:
“He who will come after Me, let him take up his cross.”
Jesus falls for the first time under the cross.
He does not complain but rises meekly again to continue His way of sorrow. We must imitate Him in this resignation, especially when in hardship or sorrow we think we cannot go on.
Our Blessed Lady, more than any other soul, has experienced the depth of pain and desolation in the Passion of Jesus.
The sight of Jesus, His body mutilated and lacerated wounds the Heart of the Blessed Mother. She recalls the soft skin of His babyhood and cries out to Him.
Jesus understands how His Mother is suffering for Him and this causes Him further agony.
Realise how precious is the cross you carry. As God the Father chose the cross for His Son Jesus Christ so too He choses your cross. Carry it willingly. Learn to understand and appreciate it, for it is a gift and an honour.
Jesus falls a second time and no one pities Him: draw near to him by Faith and offer yourself to Him courageously. It will take courage.
Jesus is grateful for the sympathy you show Him in His Suffering. He desires true compassion from you. A compassion that fills you with sorrow for your sins and a desire to repent of your sins. Meditate upon how His sufferings are caused by your sins.
Jesus falls a third time. Can you hear the gasp that goes up from the crowd. He has crashed to the ground the weight of His cross causing His body to hit the stones with full force.
And still there is no complaint from His lips: he teaches you to suffer and be silent until your sacrifice is complete.
Remember why you are here on earth, a beautiful creature made by God, You came from God, you belong to God and you will return to God.
Step 4:
Colloque or Prayer
Lord could I talk to you for a little bit about carrying my cross. I rarely recognise, that what is happening to me, is a cross that I am carrying. A cross that you have chosen for me.
If I was to stop and realise that it was a cross I could stop myself reacting badly to situations.
Could I have some graces please. Some wisdom to see situations cropping up ahead of time. I need the wisdom of the Holy Ghost to shed light into in my personality, my emotions and my triggers. These triggers that press upon my pride, my demands to be treated well, my past hurts, past wounds not yet healed. The un-forgiveness in my life. Situations trigger an immediate response in me, a response that does not follow in humility your footsteps to Calvary. My train of thought gets all twisted and before I know it I am thinking uncharitable thoughts or committing sins of omission because I am so taken up with myself.
Lord Jesus if I could only understand my weakness better to be more prepared. I need more grace. Will you give me the grace to be holy.
Oh yes Lord. Now I see; now I understand:
What you are saying to me Lord is that all those hurts, those trying times in my past, were crosses.
Am I right Lord in thinking that what you are showing me is; that if I had recognised them as a cross; and asked you to remove the cross; you could have done so. But instead I rejected the suffering and tried to hide from it.
The people who caused me suffering even in my childhood. I have to forgive them don’t I.
Can we do a deal Lord? You said we could swap burdens. If you take all those badly carried crosses from my past, from my childhood all the way up through my life ‘till yesterday I will take your cross.
So every time things get bad in my life teach me to stop and turn to you.
Teach me how to carry your cross instead.
I will stop myself reacting and start praying for sinners that they change and come to love you Lord.
Mother Mary would you teach me as you taught the children at Fatima. Teach me how to pray for sinners. Teach me how to offer penance for other people who are in danger of sinning today.
You told the children that many souls go to Hell because they have no one to pray for them.
I cannot feed the hungry or house the poor but I can pray for them. I can take your burden for souls.
Step 5:
Thanksgiving
Thank you Lord for this precious time together. Thank you for leading me to the life and prayer practice of St Teresa. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that you send into my life to guide me.
Thank you for my guardian angel who bids me turn aside from my busy day and do meditation and mental prayer.
Thank you for being so alive to me during the day.
Step 6:
Offering
I offer you my day Lord. All my thoughts, my actions. My difficulties and my successes.
Step 7:
Petition
I ask you Lord, to help me remember what I have learned today in this meditation. Should I fall into sin today please help me rise again quickly. Help me forgive myself. Help me forgive others who trespass against me.
Give me the grace to quickly recognise any cross that presents itself to me. Help me to accept it and then just as quickly pray for sinners. Pray for the Church.
5th Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Dies on the Cross
he 7 Steps:
1. The preparation which is the placing of ourselves in the Presence of God.
2. The reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
3. Meditating and reflecting on the passage.
4. Colloquy. Prayer.
5. Thanksgiving.
6. Offering,
7. Petition.
Remember, the guided meditation is here. for instruction only. You and his majesty, as Saint Teresa called Jesus, will have your own personal things to say to each other. The seven steps. One, the preparation, which is the placing of ourselves in the presence of God. Two, the reading of a passage from scripture or a pious book.
Three, meditating and reflecting on the passage. Four, prayer. Five, thanksgiving. Six, offering. Seven, petition.
Step one, enter into the presence of God. Be aware of how the presence of God is all around you. Say, I come from God, I belong to God, and I am returning to God. Say, in you, my God, I live and move and have my being. Keep repeating, slowly, these words of scripture, until they quell all distractions and your mind and body become quiet.
Say, I salute you, your majesty in heaven. I salute you, present here with me. Imagine now the scenes that our blessed lady has asked you to meditate upon in this fifth sorrowful mystery. Unite yourself with Jesus in spirit, love him, be kind to him, and relieve his loneliness. You are now in the kingdom of God.
Step two, the reading, the fifth sorrowful mystery. And Pilate wrote a title also. And he put it upon the cross and the writing was Jesus of Nazareth, the king of Jews. This title therefore many of the Jews did read because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.
And the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Write not, the king of the Jews, But that he said, I am the king of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. Step three, meditation and reflections on the passage. Jesus Christ is not just king of his own people. He is king of the universe, king of this world.
All governments rule only under his divine authority. Pilate wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, he would not change it. What I have written, I have written, he insisted. You will hear people say that this was Pilate’s way of mocking the leaders of the chosen people. However, all things are done according to the will of the Most High God.
God wanted the truth written. He willed the truth about his son to be known, for salvation is of the Jews. Almighty God owns this world. He created it out of nothing. We people, each individual one of us, is owned by God. We did not come into this world by our own power. I come from God. I belong to God. I will return to God.
Not just I. All people on this earth come from God, belong to God, and will return to God. God has revealed himself to people on earth. He reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This is the truth. The truth does not change. God does not change to accommodate wrong beliefs about himself. No matter how well intentioned or how many Catholics deem it good, Good?
To accept others wrong beliefs as their truth? Jesus clearly told his disciples, Going therefore, teach all ye nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And Jesus coming spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come.
Glorify thy Son, that thy Son May glorify thee as thou hast given him power over all flesh that he may give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. Jesus Christ has been given all power over every creature on earth. Jesus says that the power has been given to him and so he has obtained it. He stands now as owner of all things.
He owns every human on earth. This power is not mine. The power to do miracles. It is a power of authority. Jesus Christ is God. Every society therefore depends on him with a sovereign and absolute dependence. The pagan, the Muslim, the Hindi in government positions are dependent on Jesus Christ no matter what they believe.
Truth says, God has the power and he teaches mankind how to use authority. When anyone in society does a good deed to make their country a better place, remember they can only do this by God’s power of good. They must acquire the power of good from he who is all good. Jesus said, No one comes to the Father except through me.
Non Catholics use this to condemn speaking to the Blessed Mother of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, no one comes to the Father except through me, because he knew that there would come a day that his own Catholic people would deny this truth and teach a serious heresy to accommodate untruth. Would we be willing to stand up to Jesus and say, Oh no, Lord, you’re wrong.
People who follow the Muslim faith can go around you and reach God. And as for all those who reject you, hate you, or don’t even believe you exist, they can float up to heaven because they are nice people. You cannot go around Jesus Christ to get to God the Father. It is heresy to advocate that all roads lead to God.
All roads do not lead to God. The only road to the Father is through Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. In the Acts of the Apostles we read, Neither is there salvation in any other, For there is no other name under heaven given to men, Whereby we must be saved. When Christians adhere to the heresy that the government has no right to enforce the Christian religion on all its subjects, they are denying the Christian faith.
You see, governments should not have to enforce Christianity on anyone, because all people should be following the religion that God made. And so, from their ranks proceed the men who rise to become government rulers. Those government rulers, Get their authority from God. They are there to represent God in truth.
God has told us that He is a triune God. He has explained He is a Father. Ecumenicism has come to mean reducing all elements of faith to the lowest common denominator. God’s Word is neglected, experience is valued above truth, a false and selfish faith is promoted, and sound doctrine and correction are despised as divisive and unloving.
This is the fifth sorrowful mystery. Jesus dies on the cross. Look what is written above the cross. Jesus is a king who has been crucified for the world. Watch as the soldier drives his sword up through the heart of Jesus. Watch the water and blood gush out. We recognize this as the establishment of the Catholic Church on earth.
The kingdom of God on earth. Step four. My Jesus, as the full realization of who you are hits me, I realize what was done to you. You had all the power and authority to exert your divine sovereignty over your enemies, but you did not use it, and your father God did not rescue you. You both understood the terrible, hugely important thing that was happening in this moment of Earth’s history and the history of man.
Adam, a mere creature, had dared to be disobedient to God Almighty. By his disobedience, he had condemned us all to death. Adam only sinned once. And how often have I sinned and caused this terrible suffering to my sovereign king? When I look at you, Jesus, on the cross, You a king, king of heaven, king of earth, king of all nations.
If I could just stop this moment in time and make it last forever. Live for now and to eternity in a moment of looking at you, my lord, crucified for me, for all mankind to restore us to holiness. I would like this moment forever. The king of the universe and me. Step 5. Thanksgiving. Thank you, your majesty, for the lights of inspiration you give me as I read your word or read things about you.
Thank you for my catholic faith. Thank you for calling me to meditation. Thank you for highlighting for me the changes I need to make in my behavior so that I can become worthy to take up my cross and follow you. Thank you for giving us your mother from the cross. Dearest heart of Jesus, I cannot thank you enough for dying on the cross for me.
Step six I offer you, Lord, all the crosses that come my way today and every day. When crosses loom before me, I will follow your actions in your agony in the garden. I will beseech our Father God, in your name, to remove the cross according to his holy will. And if it is not his will, I will go forward with courage and follow you to my little Calvary.
Step seven, petition. I bring before you now, your majesty, all the people who have asked me to pray for their intentions. I ask mercy for the souls of any of the family still suffering in purgatory. I especially beg you, instill in my heart the foundations of my faith. Let me never swerve from the steadfast knowledge that outside the Catholic faith, there is no redemption.
This is the end of the meditation. God bless. This episode was brought to you by MeditationJournals. com
This is the end of the meditation.
God Bless.