The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries

Leader:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All:  Amen

Leader: We pray this rosary with the intentions for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  May our local community be open to supporting those who the Lord is calling. 
(pause)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  He descended into Hell; the third day he rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. 

All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. 

Leader: for the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

Pray One Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory be.

For each mystery, pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and one Glory be.

The Agony in the Garden:  Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus asked his closest friends to join him in prayer. His friends were unable to stay awake. So, Jesus finds himself alone with His Father. Sometimes while following our vocations, we may find ourselves alone with the Father. It is in these prayer times we must be honest with the Lord about our fears, doubts, and troubles. In prayer, the Father will strengthen us and fortify us with the graces needed to accomplish what lie ahead.  As we meditate on this mystery, let us ask the Lord for the ability to continue to turn to him when the journey gets difficult. 

Scourging at the Pillar:  This was an unnecessary act given to Jesus by Pontius Pilate. If we live out our vocation faithfully, we will suffer acts of persecution and be treated unfairly.  As we meditate on this mystery, let us ask the Lord that when we face these difficult trials we may deal with them in patience and humility. Let us unite our sufferings to the Lord for “by his stripes, we are healed.”

The Crowning with Thorns: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” When we are working for the Lord and the work is belittled, mocked or criticized, it is the Lord himself, through our suffering who is crowned with thorns.  As we meditate on this mystery, let us ask ourselves, “Are we greater than He that we should be spared the same trials?”

Jesus Carries his Cross: Living out God’s plan for us, our vocation, is not always easy.  Jesus’ cross is a torment and a necessary tool for salvation. Jesus tells each of us, take up your cross and follow me. What are we waiting for?  As we meditate on this mystery, let us ask for the resolve to pick up our cross and walk the road to Calvary and to our salvation. 

Crucifixion: Jesus loved us so much that he laid down his life for us so that we might have life to the fullest. He restored our relationship to the Father. When we try to live out our vocation, we must take everything in ourselves that gets in the way of our relationship with the Father and nail it to the cross, no matter how painful that might be. As we meditate on this mystery, let us ask the Lord for courage to honestly examine our lives and nail those things that do not belong in our lives to the cross so that we might have everlasting life.

Conclusion

All: Hail Holy Queen mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show to us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.  Amen

Leader: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God

All: that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Leader: Let us pray,

All: O God, whose only begotten Son, by His death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating on these mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.