To mark Baby Loss Awareness Month, we have created these reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as a way of accompanying all grieving parents in our community. We invite you to pray through these mysteries and share them with anyone who has experienced loss, assuring them of our prayers. If you would like your baby to be remembered amongst all those lost in this community, please add their name to Jude’s Garden, our virtual garden of remembrance so that others can ask their intercession and pray for you.
The Fruitful Hollow will be meeting virtually later this month to pray this rosary as a community. It is our wish to honor and remember every name in Jude's Garden. An email will be sent out soon with specifics on that event soon.
Introduction
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
(Isaiah 53:3-4)
Say the Apostles’ Creed
“I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” Lord, you know my sorrow as intimately as you know me. In all my weakness I unite my grief wholly to You.
Our Father…
He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon him.
(Isaiah 53:5)
Hail Mary…
Mother Mary, you’ve carried the weight of the passing of your son, Jesus. Accompany me in my hardship and grant me your hope in the resurrection.
Hail Mary…
Mother Mary, you’ve carried grief of the passing of your son, Jesus. Accompany me in my grief and grant me your hope in the resurrection.
Hail Mary…
Mother Mary, you’ve carried the sorrow of the loss of your son, Jesus. Accompany me in my sorrow and grant me your hope in the resurrection.
Glory Be…
The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death… “He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”... Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” … He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time saying the same thing again.”
(Mathew 26: 36-38, 39, 42, 44)
Lord, as we see You in prayer in the Garden, we see how You understand the pain of praying for a suffering to pass. You did not want to drink from that cup just as we do not wish to drink the cup of loss. You prayed for its removal, intentionally and repeatedly, such that sweat as drops of blood began to appear on Your kingly brow. How You understand the fervor of our prayers! How you understand the effort and blood we shed as we ask the Father to let our cup pass as well. You received no verbal answer from your Father; yet His silence was your answer; and His will. He allowed Your suffering for the salvation of all. Allow us to take up our own cross. You’ve shown us that through our response to the will of the Father, heaven awaits us. How blessed are we to be loved and held by You who know suffering so intimately. Help us to feel your embrace of comfort and understanding as we journey through our garden to understand the Father's will for us and accept it as You did. Always hopeful, always obedient, always loved. Amen.
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
“[Pilate] went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him”... “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews”? They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!”...“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged”
(John 18:38-40, John 19:1)
Lord, You who are fully human and fully God know the vivid pain a human body can endure. You who were found not guilty endured a death so horrific it’s hard to imagine. At the pillar, Your skin broke from each whipping. Your body felt each strike and ounce of pain. Yet, you remained at the pillar; obedient to the will of your Father. I unite my pain and grief to Yours. Show me how to be joyful, hopeful and as steadfast as You were at that moment. Teach me, in the midst of my pain, how to follow my Father’s will for salvation. Guide me in this grief-filled road of uncertainty. Show me Your love as I surrender to You and Your plan for me. Lead me where I am needed to serve You. Transform my pain into a gift to others. Amen
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
“And the soldiers wove a crown out of thornes and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him”. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!”
(John 19: 2-5)
Lord, not only did you experience the physical pain of the crown of thorns shoved into your head, but you were also made to endure the emotional pain of being mocked and ridiculed. These deep wounds of guilt, regret and embarrassment are painful and heavy. You who are fully God and fully human know and understand the internal struggle that I carry silently. You were not guilty, you did nothing to deserve this mockery, yet here You are. Jesus, when I’m feeling guilt, regret and embarrassment, when I feel as if I have let others down, when I feel as if I am to blame for the loss we’ve experienced, when I find myself guilty of things I had no control over, turn my face toward yours and meet my gaze. I unite my human sufferings fully to Yours. It is in your eyes that I feel seen and I hear the truth. I’ve done nothing to deserve this pain, yet it has brought my eyes to Yours. Keep my eyes locked into yours. Amen.
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carried the Cross
“So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.”
(John 19:17)
Lord Jesus, as You carried the heavy cross to Calvary, You bore the weight of our sins and sorrows. I, too, carry a heavy burden, the loss of my precious child. The path feels long, and my heart aches under the weight of grief. Help me to walk this journey as You did, with patience and trust in the Father’s plan. Give me the strength to rise each time I stumble and the courage to keep moving forward, even when the pain feels overwhelming. Let me find comfort in knowing that You are walking beside me, sharing in my suffering. Teach me to unite my cross with Yours, transforming my sorrow into a path of hope. May Your example guide me, and may I feel Your loving presence with every step. Amen.
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion of our Lord
“So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. … When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God. Even the soldiers jeered at him… It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.”
(John 19:17, Luke 23:33-36, 44-46)
Lord, you chose to fully embrace humanity by allowing your human body to die. The people around you did not understand your decision to continue hanging on the cross. You chose to save the world instead of saving yourself; thank you Lord for your persistent love. Please grant me the grace to be persistent in my love of others. Thank you for creating the most incredible space for my child(ren). I find comfort in knowing that after being held in my womb they are now cradled in your arms. Take my human load, grief and sorrow and use it to do Your will. Teach me how to continue walking the path You have for me in the midst of suffering. Amen.
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