Traditionally, Saturdays are dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. As we conclude our meditations on the Fruits of the Sorrowful Mysteries, we can ask Our Lady of Sorrows for the grace to give ourselves—mind, will, and heart—to God.

The saints have said that at the end of our lives, we will be judged on how we have loved, especially how we have loved the most underprivileged among us. The Lord allowed Himself to be nailed to the Cross, to be humiliated and abused beyond our imagining.

Many of us have had seasons in our lives when we were not sure how we would get through the day. Faced with life's inexplicable and sudden burdens, our legs buckle and hearts tremble. Our Lord also knew the crushing weight of darkness, of sin. He bore all of it, carrying the Holy Cross up Mount Calvary. 

In the previous Mystery, we reflected on the purity of Our Lord and Our Lady's intention: their singleheartedness. In the Crowning with Thorns we see the truth: “He was tested as we are in every way but did not sin†(Hebrews 4:15).

The Saints and mystics recount the tremendous love with which Our Lord embraced His Passion and Death. Imagine the unflinching, resolute love that kept Jesus tied to that pillar, lash after agonizing lash. The vastness of His love is unfathomable. He endured it all to win salvation for each person—it was for you, dear sister in Christ. 

The First Sorrowful Mystery // The Agony in the Garden Fruit of the Mystery // Conformity to the Will of God Reflect The night before my perpetual vows, in my family home, I had prayed in my room. My Sisters, young women in discernment, friends, and family had all gathered to witness my final “yes forever” to God. I trembled at the gravity of the words I was about to declare. Only God knew what the future would bring. I only knew there would be plenty of sacrifices to accompany the joys in my life as a Daughter of St. Paul. Having spent over ten years in preparation for that day, I knew I had to rely totally on God to live my religious life well. So, that night I prayed to be simply, honestly, who I was before the Lord—no more and no less: a woman from Tempe, Arizona, who was responding to God’s call and publicly giving Him full permission over her life. Faced with the ultimate sacrifice, Our Lord trusted in God, His Father. “Father, let this cup pass from me, but not my will but your will be done” (Matthew 26:39). In this First Sorrowful Mystery, we draw spiritual strength from Our Lord, finding particular courage to face the areas of our hearts where we need the grace to persevere. Perhaps we face financial insecurity, uncertain health, or a challenging family situation. We hold these circumstances in our hands and offer them to the Lord as we pray this First Mystery.   [bctt tweet="In this First Sorrowful Mystery, we draw spiritual strength from Our Lord, finding particular courage to face the areas of our hearts where we need the grace to persevere. #BISblog #prayerpledge" via="no"]   Let Us Pray Jesus, shoulders the burdens of the day with us in such a way that everything will be pleasing to the Father. May Your will be done. Amen. For Discussion What does trust in the Lord mean to you? What does that look like in your life; how has it looked in the past? What "cup" are you struggling to accept in your life right now? How can the Agony in the Garden console you in your struggle?     Praying the Rosary Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it! Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary. I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary. Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation. And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!   [bctt tweet="By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 18 #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

As human beings, we naturally run from suffering—because we are made for perfect goodness, truth, and beauty. We are made for union with God.