The Second Sorrowful Mystery // The Scourging at the Pillar
Fruit of the Mystery // Purity + Mortification
Reflect
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.
Our Lady also underwent a passion with her Son. Her scourging was not physical, but her heart felt torn every time the soldiers stuck her beloved Son. Saint Gabrielle of the Sorrowful Mother says, addressing Mary, in his Creed of Our Lady:
I believe that if all the love which all mothers have for their children, all that all husbands and wives have for each other, all that all the Angels and Saints have for those who are devoted to them were united in one, it would not equal the love that you have for even one soul.
Imagine, if Our Blessed Mother’s love can be described this way, how much more God loves each of us. In fact, Saint Paul says: "God proves this love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (see Romans 5:8).
Every welt and gash Jesus suffered from that merciless scourging proves His love for you. And He would suffer it all again. In fact, the Church teaches that every Holy Mass is a renewal of the Sacred Passion. God is not only a generous giver, He also receives all we entrust to Him with infinite generosity. May we surrender everything to Him, especially at Holy Mass and as we pray this Second Sorrowful Mystery. May we experience the truth of His Word: “take my yoke upon you... for my yoke is easy and my burden light" (Matthew 11: 29).
Let Us Pray
Lord, meditating on the scourging You endured on our behalf compels us to abandon our hearts to the purification of Your Holy Spirit. May we never be afraid of mortification, knowing that You are ever-present in the moments we feel stripped or despised. Amen.
For Discussion
What are some things you could offer to the Lord right now in prayer and especially at the Offertory of the Mass?
What are some ways you can see God’s love in the big and small trials of your daily life?
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 19 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet