The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery // The Carrying of the Cross
Fruit of the Mystery // Salvation
Reflect
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. Of all the ways to redeem humankind, He chose to endure the most painful and humiliating death in order to shatter whatever separates us from His love.
Jesus gave Himself so that we would know that there is no darkness, pain, or suffering that can separate us from Him if we choose to live in right relationship with Him. Saint Paul says, "what will separate us from the love of Christ?... we conquer overwhelming” (Romans 8:35ff).
When Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina, He still bore the marks of the nails that had pierced His hands and feet. The wounds from the scourging and the crown of thorns are not seen in the image of Divine Mercy, but only the the wounds from the nails used to affix Jesus to the Cross. When we look on Him, we receive the Holy Spirit's gifts, especially that of courage so that, when we must practice self-denial for the sake of love, we will have everything we need to live the situation in grace.
Let Us Pray
Lord, we praise and adore You. While Your Cross looked as folly to man, Your sacrifice won the victory of our eternal salvation. Today, we live in that victory. You are our King. Amen.
For Discussion
Jesus stopped at nothing to draw close to you and offer you salvation. What is stopping you from drawing close to Him in this season?
What does the gift of salvation mean for you today? How can you live in the reality of Jesus' victory?
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 22 #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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