The Sorrowful Mysteries - Meditations of Bl. Card. Wyszyński - Version 3

The Agony in the Garden

We do not know whether the Mother of Christ was in the Garden of Olives, but surely with Her maternal soul She sensed that this was a very difficult moment for Her Son. Surely She was with Him in heart when the chalice of bitterness was offered to Him. She prayed that He would fulfill the Father's will, because after all, that was why He had taken the form of a Servant.
We are together with You, Servant of the Lord, in the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scourging at the Pillar

The best Son of the Living God, suffering humiliation at Pilate's court, wanted by His example to strengthen all who would suffer insults for His Name's sake.
We thank You, Christ, for submitting to the scourging. And to You, Best Mother, for equipping Your Son with the Body and Blood, thanks to which He could submit to His saving passion.

The Crowning with Thorns

Best Mother! Embracing the Child Jesus in Your arms, You crowned the Head of Your Son most tenderly and beautifully. You wanted, as it were, to protect Him from the crown of thorns that the soldiers forced onto His head. Even then, You wanted to make amends to Your Son for the passion He suffered. We, however, wishing to repay You for the great goodness You showed to the Son of God, crown You many times over.
We ask You that all the crownings of Your images may be for Your glory and the glory of Your Son, and to the aid of the Holy Church.

The Carrying of the Cross

Christ voluntarily took the cross upon His shoulders and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (Mk 8:34). The first Person who followed Him best in carrying the cross was undoubtedly His Mother, walking behind Him in the company of the women. She knew that everything happening to Her Son was the Father's will and was necessary. Fully, completely, and without reservation, She cooperated with Christ and with the Father's will.
We rejoice, Best Mother, that in the line of those following Christ, You alone understood the work of Your Son. By helping Him, You became the Companion of His Passion and the Co-redemptrix.

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Wondrous is the mystery of Christ's death, who through His death put our death to death and restored our life. The first Person to benefit from the merits of His cross was Mary. The Son of God submitted to the law of death, but protected His Mother from it. He permitted only Her dormition, but immediately wrought the miracle of the Assumption. By this, He wanted to show how effective His passion is for each of us: “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (Jn 11:25-26).
Mother of Life, Mother of all the living, You are at the beginning of the line of people who do not die. You will stand at the head of the procession of the resurrected, because the shadow of death did not touch You. We adore You in this great privilege won for You by Your Son. We desire to follow You and to lead others along this path.