The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery:
The Crucifixion

The soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross and raised it up. They divided his garments among them and cast lots for his tunic. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who had just tortured and crucified him. He assured the penitent thief that he would be with him in paradise that very day.

The soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross and raised it up. They divided his garments among them and cast lots for his tunic. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who had just tortured and crucified him. He assured the penitent thief that he would be with him in paradise that very day.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst.’ There was a vessel filled with common wine. So, they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit” (Jn. 19:26-30).

“It is love ‘to the end’ that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now ‘the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.’ No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all” (CCC 616).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

You are the “beloved disciple” standing beside Mary at the foot of the cross. Your master and dearest friend dies a gruesome death in front of you. He has already forgiven those who tortured and crucified him. He has already assured the repentant thief he would be with him in paradise. And now he tells you his mother is your mother, and indeed she is. How the Word incarnate, indeed love incarnate, gives so generously and without measure! May every beloved disciple love her as his own mother; may every disciple know how much Mother Mary loves and prays for them.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Jesus is the “‘New Adam’ who, because he ‘became obedient unto death, even death on a cross,’ makes amends superabundantly for the disobedience of Adam” (CCC 411). And Mary is surely the Woman whose offspring was destined to strike at the devil’s head (Gn 3:15); she is surely the New Eve. Mary, like Eve, was born in perfect communion with God, yet unlike Eve, she remained obedient in everything. Thus, the Fall is undone and God reaches to all, calling all to divine sonship through Jesus Christ. And we can now realize the promise of Jesus: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (Jn 14:23).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“[The repentant thief] said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:42-43). Are we not all the repentant thief?

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From the Cross “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do’”(Lk 23:34). Let us consider our foolishness and the great mercy of God.

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“I thirst,” Jesus said from the cross. Mother Teresa believed he thirsted for us, for our love and fellowship. Let us consider Jesus’ great desire for our love.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.