The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is The Crucifixion.
John 19:18-37
[18] Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. [19] And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. [20] This title therefore many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin. [21] Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. [22] Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written. [23] The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part,) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. [24] They said then one to another: Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saying: They have parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things. [25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
[26] When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. [27] After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. [28] Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. [29] Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth. 30] Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.
[31] Then the Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. [32] The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. [33] But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water. [35] And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.
[36] For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him. [37] And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Luke 23:39-47
[39] And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation?
[41] And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil. [42] And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. [44] And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. [45] And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
[46] And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost. [47] Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.
The overwhelming feeling while watching the Crucifixion scene in “The Passion of the Christ” is one of deep and profound humility. This is Our Savior, this is God, this is Love Incarnate, and He is sacrificing Himself for us. Sacrificing Himself for us because we are undeserving sinners and cannot save ourselves. Sacrificing Himself for us because He is the only One who can. Sacrificing Himself for us because He loves us so intensely that He wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Crucifixion scene, as with the entire movie, is excruciating to witness. Our Lord is in infinite pain, pushed to the limit of human endurance, shaking with agony. The scene is very well done, the intense humanity that it exposes is both frightening and moving. Much could be written just about the crucifixion scene, from the casting of lots for His garments, to the conversion of the good thief, to His gift to the Church of His Blessed Mother. Of Christ’s words from the cross, of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, of the rending of the cloth in the Temple, of the darkness, the earthquakes, and the conversions, much could be written.
Our lives are so comfortable, our world so beautiful, our door to eternal life so open thanks to Our Blessed, Loving Lord presenting Himself as the offering for our sin, the lamb without blemish, our Paschal sacrifice. We can never repay Him for this precious gift, we can only choose to love Him, to pick up our crosses and follow him. “The Passion of the Christ” is the greatest cinematic exhortation against complacency in recent times.
We adore you, Oh Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
The fruit of the mystery is perseverance. We pray for final perseverance, that we may continue in a state of grace to the end of our lives. As we meditate upon this mystery of the Most Holy Rosary, we pray for the grace to confess our sins and live sacramental lives of love. We pray for the strength to resist sin and habitually live in the state of grace.
Dear Crucified Lord, help us to persevere in our faith, and when our time comes, bring us home to heaven, let us be able to say, like St. Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen
May the grace of the Mystery of the Crucifixion come down into our souls. Amen.
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Thank you for ending with this most beautiful prayer, the Anima Christi. I was once told years ago by an old Irish priest so say this prayer immediately after receiving Holy Communion, and to teach all of my children to say this prayer after receiving. I have since found out that this was the tradition years past in the Church. Now, I see it printed on many prayer aid cards in churches, as it is also in prayer books under the category of prayers to be said after receiving.
Once after reciting it in a group home with/for an elderly lady, a caretaker who was clearly not Catholic came up to me and said that was the most beautiful prayer he had ever heard.
Thank you, Bette!