The Rosary is, as St. John Paul II said, a way of contemplating the mysteries of the life of Christ in “the school of Mary”—the one who knows him best.
Below are five mysteries for contemplating the inner anguish that Jesus experienced in his passion, climaxing in his human experience of feeling forsaken even by the Father.
First Mystery of Abandonment:
Judas’ Betrayal
Our Father…
As they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (Matthew 26:21)
Hail Mary…
And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22)
Hail Mary…
He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.” (Matthew 26:23)
Hail Mary…
“The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!” (Matthew 26:24)
Hail Mary…
“It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:22)
Hail Mary…
Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Is it I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:25)
Hail Mary…
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)
Hail Mary…
But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up. (Psalm 41:10)
Hail Mary…
By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. (Psalm 41:11)
Hail Mary…
But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. (Psalm 41:12)
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Painting by James Tissot, sourced from Flickr
Second Mystery of Abandonment:
The Apostles’ Desertion and Peter’s Denial
Our Father…
They all forsook him, and fled. (Mark 14:50)
Hail Mary…
Peter followed at a distance. (Luke 22:54)
Hail Mary…
When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. (Luke 22:55)
Hail Mary…
Then a maid… said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” (Luke 22:56-57)
Hail Mary…
Someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” (Luke 22:58)
Hail Mary…
Still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” (Luke 22:59-60)
Hail Mary…
And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. (Luke 22:60)
Hail Mary…
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (Luke 22:61)
Hail Mary…
Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” (Luke 22:61)
Hail Mary…
And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62)
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch, Sourced from Flickr
Third Mystery of Abandonment:
Condemnation by the Sanhedrin
Our Father…
The chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. (Mark 14:55)
Hail Mary…
Many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not agree. (Mark 14:56)
Hail Mary…
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. (Psalm 69:4)
Hail Mary…
The high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” (Mark 14:60)
Hail Mary…
But he was silent and made no answer. (Mark 14:60)
Hail Mary…
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (Mark 14:61)
Hail Mary…
And Jesus said, “I am.” (Mark 14:62)
Hail Mary…
“And you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)
Hail Mary…
The high priest tore his garments, and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy.” (Mark 14:63)
Hail Mary…
And they all condemned him as deserving death. (Mark 14:64)
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Painting by Jose de Madrazo, sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Fourth Mystery of Abandonment:
Condemnation by Pilate
Our Father…
They bound Jesus and led him away and handed him over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1)
Hail Mary…
Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” (John 18:29)
Hail Mary…
They answered him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over to you.” (John 18:30)
Hail Mary…
Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” … And they said, “Barabbas.” (Matthew 27:17)
Hail Mary…
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12)
Hail Mary…
And they cried out again, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:13)
Hail Mary…
And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” (Mark 15:14)
Hail Mary…
But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:14)
Hail Mary…
Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” (Matthew 27:24)
Hail Mary…
And having scourged Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15)
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Painting by Antonio Ciseri, sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Fifth Mystery of Abandonment:
The Father’s Absence
Our Father…
When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (Mark 15:33)
Hail Mary…
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
Hail Mary…
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1)
Hail Mary…
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:2)
Hail Mary…
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads. (Psalm 22:7)
Hail Mary…
For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. (Psalm 22:16)
Hail Mary…
I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me. (Psalm 22:17)
Hail Mary…
They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:18)
Hail Mary…
But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! (Psalm 22:19)
Hail Mary…
I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. (Psalm 22:22)
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Hail Holy Queen….
Copyright © 2011 Mary Healy
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About Mary Healy
Dr. Mary Healy is associate professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and was appointed by Pope Francis on the Pontifical Biblical Commission. She is the author of several books, the general editor, with Dr. Peter Williamson, of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, and author of two of its volumes, The Gospel of Mark and The Letter to the Hebrews. She is also a contributor to The Great Adventure Catholic Bible.This article was also posted on The Great Adventure Blog on April 3, 2015.
Featured image of the Crucifixion sourced from James Tillack on Flickr
I thought this was very nice and appropriate, not just for Good Friday, but for all the Friday’s of Lent. A good companion to pray before the Stations of the Cross. Thank you.
Thank you this touched my heart and soul.
What an absolutely beautiful way to say the Rosary on Good Friday! Very powerful…..thank you!