Allow The Love And Self Sacrifice
Jesus Demonstrated Through
His Crucifixion Permeate
Your Entire Being
"Greater love than this no man hath,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13
The Crucifixion is one of the most popularly depicted historical events in art.
Every Catholic home should have a crucifix to remind them of what Jesus suffered
in order to redeem them and all mankind.
It is helpful to look at a crucifix or a picture of Jesus on the cross while
meditating on the final of the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary.
Even listening to some uplifting music during your meditations on the rosary
will help you become part of this intense event.
Keep the following story, the saddest in the life of Jesus in mind while praying
this mystery of the Rosary.
When meditating on this last of the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary,
keep in mind that the fruit of the mystery is perseverence.
After the miserable carriage of the cross, Jesus finally arrived, exhausted to the
place where He was to be crucified, Golgatha.
The executioners offered Him wine mixed with a sedative, but when Jesus tasted it,
He refused to drink.
Between the hours of 9 and 12 o'clock, Jesus was crucified between two thieves,
one on His right and the other on His left.
"And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." -Luke 23:34
An inscription was posted above Jesus on the cross. It was written in three languages,
Hebrew, Latin and Greek.
It read, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. -John 19:19
The chief priests were very disturbed by this inscription. They did not want people to
think Jesus was their king, for that is the reason they wanted Him put to death.
So they went to Pilate and said, "Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said,
I am the King of the Jews.
"Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written." -John 19:21-22
The soldiers took clothes of Jesus and divided them amongst themselves. His tunic
was made of one piece so rather than dividing it they said to one another,
"Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be." -John 19:24
Many people were passing by on their way into the city for the Passover.
They ridiculed Jesus as He hung there on the cross, saying things such as...
"Thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it:
save thy own self: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." -Matthew 27:40
The chief priests and scribes also ridiculed Him saying, "He saved others; himself
he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross,
and we will believe him." -Matthew 27:42
The soldiers, giving Him sour wine taunted, "If thou be the king of the Jews, save
thyself." -Luke 23:37
One of the thieves that was crucified with Jesus also ridiculed Him.
He dared to say, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."
The Good Thief reproached the other for his blasphemy. He defended Jesus as he
rebuked the other saying, "Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned
under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward
of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil."
"And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.
"And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in
paradise." -Luke 23:39-43
Mary mother of Jesus, was standing near the cross along with John and Mary Magdalene
and the other Holy Women.
When Jesus looked down upon His sorrowing mother, He said to her, "Woman, behold thy son."
Then looking at St. John, Jesus said, "Behold thy mother." -John 19:26-27.
Jesus was not only asking St. John to care for Mary, which he did, but Jesus was
also giving Mary to be the mother of all.
From about noon until 3 o'clock the sky became dreadfully dark.
This fearsome occurrence terrified many of the onlookers and their demeanor
changed from mockery to that of dread and repentance.
Then at 3 o'clock, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" -Matthew 27:46
those near the cross thought Jesus was calling out to Elijah.
Then Jesus said, "I thirst."
The executioners filled a sponge with vinegar and put it up to the mouth of Jesus.
Some of the bystander said, "Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him." -Matthew 27:49
Then Jesus said, "It is consummated." -John 19:28-30
"And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
And saying this, he gave up the ghost." -Luke 23:46
The head of Jesus bowed and His spirit departed.
When Jesus died, there was a great earthquake and the Temple was torn in two.
St. Matthew's Gospel says that the graves of the dead were opened and that the bodies of
the saints rose and went into Jerusalem where many people saw them.
The soldier and many of those who witnessed the death of Jesus repented and believed.
The centurion said, "Indeed this was the Son of God." -Matthew 27:54
The chief priests however, went to Pilate and asked him to have the legs of those
being crucified broken because they did not want the bodies to stay on the cross
on the sabbath day.
Upon Pilate's command, the soldiers went and broke the legs of the thieves first
but when they came to Jesus they saw He was already dead. But to be sure, they
speared open His side and "immediately there came out blood and water." -John 19:34
Mary and John and Mary Magdalen silently gathered at the foot of the cross worshiping
Jesus the God-man and their Savior.
The pain Mary felt when Jesus was lost in the Temple all those years ago was
drastically renewed as this new sorrow pierced her suffering heart.
The body of Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of His sorrowful mother.
The Bible passages for The Crucifixion were taken from the timeless Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
If you are looking for a more modern language version of the The Crucifixion, our recommendation would be the
St. Ignatius Press Bible.
If you would like to read the full scriptural account of the Crucifixion it can be found
in Matthew 27:33-51, Mark 15:28-35, Luke 23:32-46 and John 19:19-30
Return to Sorrowful Mysteries page
More Meditations
On The
Rosary Sorrowful Mystery
The Crucifixion...
Below you will find further thoughts to enhance your meditation on the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Return often to this page when you are praying this Sorrowful Mystery of the rosay - The Crucifixion.
Remember to bookmark this page so you can refer to it often...
You can also contribute your own meditations on this Rosary mystery by going here...
Below are some meditations to think about as you pray...
Jesus is mocked and defied by those beneath the cross who try to tempt Him to save
Himself and come down.
But although He definitely could have He never would have.
He was saving and redeeming all mankind.
That is the reason He came into this world and the reason He died on the cross.
Not to save Himself but to save others.
Never give into the temptation to save yourself from trouble or discomfort,
you may very well be losing your soul in the process.
The crucifixion is the act of redemption for the sin of Adam.
Because God is a just God, mankind needed to make reparation for their disobedience to Him.
Only man could repair for his sin.
So God became man in the Person of Jesus and laid down His life as the ultimate act
of redemption.
That is why Jesus is called both Redeemer and Savior.
The seven last phrases Jesus uttered from the cross are recounted in the story above.
Below you will find a meditation on each.
They are known as the Seven Last Words of Jesus.
-
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Jesus teaches you to love your
enemies. As is seen from these words from the cross, Jesus practiced what He preached.
You shouldn't hate those who do evil to you, but rather pray for them.
Many have been converted from a life of wickedness to a life devoted to Jesus.
One such saint is St. Dismas, the Good Thief, who was assured a place in Heaven
by Jesus Himself.
-
This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. These words of Jesus to the Good
Thief, allow you to rest in peaceful assurance that if you are truly sorry for
your sins, no matter how great, Jesus will forgive you.
-
Behold thy son. Behold thy Mother. Mary is such a beautiful example to
all mothers.
You see this in her dedicated and loving presence at the death of her Son Jesus.
And He as the perfect Son, asks His favorite disciple to care for her when He is gone.
Jesus is suffering upon a cross in reparation for the sins of mankind and He is thinking
of His Mother. He must have been very devoted and attached to her. There is no
better example of filial devotion to Mary than that of St. John. Behold thy Mother.
Jesus makes Mary the spiritual Mother of mankind from the cross. You can be confident
that she, as a good Mother, will care for your needs in life and especially at the hour
of your death.
-
My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? It is especially important
to cling to God when you are feeling desolate and abandoned.
The faith is not just for the strong but for the weak and you must turn to God all
the more in your times of need.
-
I thirst. Jesus' sufferings are unimaginable. Recall all the torture
He had undergone, His dreadful agony, the scourging, the crowning with thorns,
the carrying of the cross and now finally the dreadful crucifixion.
He had nothing to eat or drink since the Last Supper. Jesus refused to drink.
He wouldn't even take the sedative that the soldiers offered Him. He was teaching
you to be moderate and temperate in your eating and drinking and admonishing you to
develop the virtue of abstinence.
-
It is consummated. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and
completed the work He came to do: redeem mankind. You can be at peace as your
life draws to a conclusion if you spent your life as Jesus did: devoted to duty.
Never spend your time being lazy or idle. There is much truth to the old adage,
"An idle mind is the devils workshop."
-
Father, into Thy hand I comment My spirit. This is the most beautiful
way to pray for a holy death. It is good that a dying person's soul be commended to God.
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be
destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer." -Romans 6:6
Here St. Paul is admonishing you to die daily to your selfish ways by crucifying
your evil inclinations.
The words, Our old man is speaking of the corrupt state of man's soul before it
was saved by Jesus Who transformed you into a new man.
The Body of sin St. Paul is referring to is sin and vices which have hold of you.
"And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead,
who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours; for their works follow them." -Apocalypse 14:13
Strive to live your life for Jesus and die in Him and you will inherit eternal life.
Poor Mary stood at the foot of the cross and had to helplessly watch the torments
Jesus suffered.
Remember if you, like Mary, suffer for Jesus, you will be also be glorified with Him.
Below you will find Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in the Passion of Jesus.
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "[He] was reputed with the wicked" -Isaias 53:12
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "And there were also two other malefactors led with him
to be put to death." -Luke 23:32
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "[He] hath prayed for the transgressors." -Isaias 53:12
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do." -Luke 23:34
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture
they cast lots." -Psalms 21:19
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "They, dividing his garments, cast lots." -Luke 23:34
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "But they have thought to cast away my price; I ran in thirst: they blessed
with their mouth, but cursed with their heart." -Psalms 61:5
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished...said:
I thirst." -John 19:28
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "The bruised reed he shall not break." -Isaias 42:3
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first,
and of the other that was crucified with him, ... when they saw that he [Jesus] was
already dead, they did not break his legs." -John 19:32-33
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "They have dug my hands and feet. They have numbered all my bones.
And they have looked and stared upon me." -Psalm 21:17-18
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "When they saw that he [Jesus] was already dead, they did
not break his legs." -John 19:33
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of prayers: and they shall look upon me,
whom they have pierced: and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him, as the manner is to grieve for the death of the firstborn." -Zacharias 12:10
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first,
and of the other that was crucified with him. ... when they saw that he [Jesus] was already
dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side,
and immediately there came out blood and water." -John 19:32-34
-
Crucifixion Prophecy - "Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the
God of truth" -Psalms 30:6
Crucifixion Fulfillment - "And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands
I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost." -Luke 23:46
The Old Testament verse that follows is a description of how the sacrificial lamb
must be prepared taken from the time of Moses and the first Passover meal.
Notice the parallels between the Paschal lamb and Jesus, the "Lamb of God" -John 1:36
The words of David, "O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me?" -Psalms 21:2
are the same words Jesus uttered from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?"
-Matthew 27:46
Prayer After Meditation Upon
The Crucifixion...
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast suffered so greatly and offered Thy Own life in
order to redeem me for my many sins.
I thank Thee for I truly am not worthy of Thy great love. I often repeat the
words of the centurion, "Lord I am not worthy that Thou shalt enter under my roof
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."
Please forgive me my many sins. I pray that I may never again offend Thee.
I ask Thee to increase in me all the virtues that I may persevere in faith so
when my time comes, I can proclaim the words of St. Paul, ":I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." -2 Timothy 4:7
Amen.
Return to the fourth Sorrowful Mystery page - Carrying the Cross
Return to our Rosary Mysteries page
More scriptural meditations on the rosary - The Crucifixion here...
Catholic Mysteries Of The Rosary
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood. The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God became man and dwelt among us read more...
Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
What a gift the the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are. Meditating on these
Mysteries of Light bring even deeper understanding of the public life of Jesus.
They fill in the blanks between Jesus' childhood and His suffering and death on
the cross. Therefore read more...
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind you of how much Jesus
loves you. He suffered and died for you. "Greater love than this no
man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13. You are loved by Jesus read more...
Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries are the crown of Jesus' triumphs. How
exhilarating to know that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead,
making you an heir to Heaven. Reminding yourself of these glorious
events as you pray the Rosary prayer will keep your faith alive and strong read more...
Return to our Origin of the Rosary page
Return to our What is a Rosary page
Return to our Meditations on the Rosary page
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