The five Sorrowful Mysteries bring to our minds in rapid succession the moving events of the last hours of our Savior’s life, from His agony in the garden to His death on Calvary’s cross.

The first Mystery, The Agony in the Garden. Portrays the gloom of Gathsemani, where “being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. “Jesus sees the awful sufferings He is to undergo on the morrow, and cries out; “Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as i will, but as Thou wilt.

In the second mystery, the scourging at the Pillar, we see Jesus being whipped with the relentless lashes until His sacred flesh is torn and the blood streams forth. “Then therefore Pilate took Jesus, and scourged Him.”

The third mystery, the Crowning with  thorns, we see the executioners in mockery of Christ’s claim to kingship, place upon Him a crown of thorns, that pierced His sacred brow. “And the soldiers, platting a crown of thorns, put it upon His head and they aput on Him a purple garment.

The fourth mystery, the Carrying of the Cross, turns our minds to the journey that our Savior made from the tribunal of Pontius Pilate to Calvary bearing the cross on which He was to be crucified. “And they took Jesus, and led Him forth. And bearing His own cross He went forth to that place which is called Calvary. “And there followed Him a great multitude of people and of women; who bewailed and lamented Him. Tradition tells us that among this pious throng was Mary, whose soul was indeed pierced with a sword as she looked upon her Son bearing His cross.

The fifth mystery, the Crucifixion, leads us to the climactic event in the sufferings of Christ – His death after three hours’ agony upon the cross. “And they crucified Him. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus, His Mother. The wor ds which Christ uttered as He hung upon the cross reach a climax in the prayers for the forgiveness of His executioners: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.