The Second Sorrowful Mystery:
The Scourging at the Pillar

Our Lord was scourged with a flagrum, a whip with small pieces of bone and metal attached to the leather thongs. Far more horrific than a regular whip, the flagrum inflicted deep wounds, lacerating our Lord’s flesh as he stood bound to a pillar. He willingly endured it for love of us.

The crowd insistently cried for Pilate to crucify Jesus. Pilate remained reluctant, though he consented to have Christ scourged.

Our Lord was scourged with a flagrum, a whip with small pieces of bone and metal attached to the leather thongs. Far more horrific than a regular whip, the flagrum inflicted deep wounds, lacerating our Lord’s flesh as he stood bound to a pillar. The Roman soldiers inflicted as much pain as possible without killing him, avoiding hitting him over the heart or excessively in the head. Otherwise, only the exhaustion of the soldiers slowed the onslaught at all. Jesus silently endured this brutal torture to as near death as the skilled torturers could bring him. He willingly endured it for love of us. “[H]e was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed” (Isa. 53:5).  

Jesus suffered because of our sins and for our salvation. He willingly suffered for love of each one of us. Even the best of us is utterly unworthy of such a gift, and yet to Jesus even the worst of us is worth such a generous gift. Such is the love and mercy of our God. And how we foolish humans needed to see firsthand the all-giving, unconditional love of God! That spiritual medicine beyond all other—indeed, the only one that would heal us—the only one that could convince us we indeed could become children of God through his abundant gifts. Let us not waste any of that wondrous gift, any of his abundant grace, as we journey home with Our Lord!

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Jesus kept his eyes on heaven. He could not see heaven. He could not even sense the Father’s presence. Indeed, he endured complete desolation, yet his mind remained on pleasing the Father and reuniting with the Father. His mind remained on his great love for each of us and our eternity with him. The present horror was passing; the present horrors of our times are passing. We too must keep our eyes on heaven, our true home, our eternal bliss with God and the hosts of heaven, especially during the darkest times of this life. We can bear all things with Jesus’ help.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Jesus suffered for those who tortured and mocked him. He created them—gave them life, love, and everything—knowing they would torture, mock, and kill him. And his love flowed on through it all. He reached out to them with forgiveness and love through it all. He reaches out to us through it all. And he reaches out to those with the hardest, coldest hearts around us. Indeed, he reaches out to them through us. Let his love and mercy flow through you. Love those who hate you and persecute you. Pray for them and reach out to them in Christ’s love.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength” (1 Cor 10:13). Let this promise comfort us as we follow Christ in submission to whatever trials the Lord allows to come our way.

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“[I]t is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins” (CCC 598). We must acknowledge the terrible consequences of our personal sin and purge ourselves of sin through his abundant grace.

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Sacred art typically spares us the gruesome reality of the Passion. The number and size of his lacerations are typically minimized—often not present at all. Let us meditate on that gruesome, bloody detail to better appreciate his great sacrifice.