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.
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!
By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 18 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Maria Kim-Ngân Bùi, after twenty years in religious life, is discerning a call to found a community of consecrated religious women dedicated to Our Lady and who will pray reparation for sins against the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, pray for conversions, and work for the evangelization of those who have left the Church or feel furthest from the Church.
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