Day 38 Church-Pope Novena

WELCOME TO DAY 38 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA FOR
THE CHURCH AND POPE FRANCIS

Introductory Thoughts

There is much talk about the Church these days and there is even more talk about Francis. This one man generates many opinions! Some people love him, others hate him. Some say he is a saint, others say he is the ‘Devil’ or the ‘Antichrist’. Some say he is a wonderful reformer, others say he is a woeful destroyer. Some say is he is the pope, others say he is not a pope. Some say he was validly elected, others say the election was invalid. Some say he is a good Catholic, others say he is a good Freemason. Some Catholics dislike him, while many Freemasons publically say they love him. Some, who accept him as pope, dislike some of things he is doing. Others, who do not accept him as pope, like some of things he is doing. Some see Francis as the one who will unite the Catholic world, others see Francis as the one who will bring about the prophesied Great Schism in the Church. One single man―but many opinions about him. Francis is an “enigma”―which means “somebody or something that is not easily explained or understood; a mystery, a riddle or a puzzle.”

He speaks of understanding sinners, no matter how bad they are―he speaks of accompanying sinners in their ‘walk’ through life, he speaks of finding ways of accommodating sinners, he speaks of showing sinners mercy―yet when it comes to his fellow Catholics, who are Conservative or Traditionalist, there is little mercy or understanding for them. Francis speaks of Conservatives or Traditionalists as being “rigid”, “hypocrites”, “closed hearts”, “judgmental”, “rigorists”, “Pharisees”, “moralistic”, “unbending”, etc. Yet never do we hear Francis talking about Liberals and Modernists in the same tone. When asked about “gays”―Francis says: “Who am I to judge?” Yet when it comes to Traditionalist and Conservatives, he judges severely.

Francis later explained his comment in a new book The Name of God is Mercy, published in 2016: “On that occasion I said this: ‘If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?’ I was paraphrasing, by heart, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized. I prefer that homosexuals come to Confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”

Well, what if a person is Conservative or Traditionalist, and seeks the Lord and is willing? Why does Francis judge that person? Why does not Francis see to it that “these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.” It is no wonder that Francis has created a very noticeable and increasing division in the Church―as Our Lady of Akita says, “in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops” and which looks like growing with every successive Synod.

That is why we are praying this 54-Day Rosary Novena for the Church and for Francis―because, as Our Lady said at Akita in 1973: “Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests!” Regardless of whether you like Francis or dislike him; trust him or distrust him; think he is or is not the pope; see him as a an ally or an enemy―Heaven tells us to pray and good to our enemies; and Our Lady tells us to pray very much for the pope, the bishops and the priests. What are you doing? Are you talking the talk (gossiping about them), or are you walking the walk (praying for them)? The devil prefers you to merely talk the talk―and he will fill your mind and imagination with plenty of fuel for gossiping. Our Lady wants you to pray for them―even if they are bad, even if they are evil―for, like her Son, she seeks and save that which was lost― “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11) … “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) … “What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4).

That is why Our Lady came to Fatima―to seek the lost sheep, to seek the conversion of sinners. She begged for prayers and sacrifices―not gossip and anger―for the conversion of sinners. She complained that so many sinners are lost because there is nobody to pray and offer sacrifices for them: “You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them … Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners? Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort … Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to Hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them! … If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved!” (Fatima, 1917, May, July, August).

Those three children responded to Our Lady and “walked the walk” as well as spreading the message of Fatima by “talking the talk”―what will do? Will you be a “child of Mary” or a “child of devil”? Don’t be shocked or surprised by that comment! Sister Lucia of Fatima herself said the very same thing, in essence, to Fr. Fuentes, on December 26th, 1957: “Father, the Blessed Virgin did not tell me [explicitly] that we are in the last times of the world, but I understood this for three reasons. The first is because she told me that the Devil is engaging in a battle with the Virgin, a decisive battle. It is a final battle where one party will be victorious and the other will suffer defeat. So, from now on, we are either with God or we are with the Devil; there is no middle ground.” We are, as Lucia says, on one side or the other―neglecting to pray and fight puts us on the side of the devil, whether we like it or not, whether we believe or not, whether we admit or not. Our Lord said something similar: “He that is not with Me, is against Me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth” (Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23).

Are you with Our Lady―in praying the Rosary very much, as she said at Akita, for the pope, the bishops and the priests? Or are you against Our Lady by neglecting or, even worse, refusing to pray the Rosary very much for the intentions she wants it praying? Your call! Your life! Your judgment! Your fate! Or will you try to wriggle-out of your duty and responsibility with the lame excuse of Cain: “And the Lord said to Cain: ‘Where is thy brother Abel? [Francis]’ And he answered: ‘I know not: am I my brother's keeper?’ [Am I Francis’ keeper?] And the Lord said to him: ‘What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to Me from the earth! Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand!’” (Genesis 4: 9-11).

“O come on!” you say, “Isn’t that a bit strong―calling us murderers because we won’t pray for Francis?” Let Holy Scripture answer you: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer!” (1 John 3:15). “He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him―how doth the charity of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). “If any man say: ‘I love God!’ and hateth his brother; then he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?” (1 John 4:20). “But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you!’ So that you may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:44).

DAY 38 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

WHO ON EARTH ARE WE PRAYING FOR?

The grandparents of the future Pope Francis, Giovanni and Rosa Bergoglio, after marrying in Turin, Italy, moved to the town of Asti, when Giovanni came back from the First World War in 1918. Soon, Mario José's family would seek to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. They were due to set sail in October 1927, on the Principessa Mafalda, but were forced at the last minute to change their tickets and did not leave until a year later. It was a lucky escape; the Mafalda went down off Brazil, taking more than 300 passengers to their deaths. Eventually, the following year, they sailed from Genoa, in Italy, to Buenos Aires in Argentina, on the ship Giulio Cesare, to join Giovanni’s elder brothers, who had done well with their paving firm in the city of Paraná in Argentina. The couple took with them their only son, Mario, a 20-year-old bank clerk, who would eventually become the father of the future pope.

The future pope's grandparents spent two years in Paraná, before the depression caused the paving business to founder and the brothers to separate. Giovanni, Rosa, and their son, Mario, made their way to Buenos Aires. They were out on the street, with nothing. Francis’ grandfather bought a warehouse with 2,000 pesos which he borrowed, and his son Mario (Francis’ future father), who was an accountant, sold goods out of a basket. Mario was soon to meet Regina Sívori — the daughter of Genovese immigrants — through their parish, and they married in 1935. A year later, their eldest son, Jorge Mario (the future Francis), was born, on December 17th, 1936, in Flores, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He was baptized a week later, on Christmas Day. He was the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio (1908–1959) and Regina María Sívori (1911–1981).

The figure who always looms largest in Francis' telling is Mario's mother, the pope's grandmother, Rosa Margarita Vassallo. She was a humble-born, well-read, devout and compassionate woman with finely honed political instincts. List those qualities, and you realize how much of Rosa her grandson has inherited. She was of peasant stock, and as smart as a whip. Sent to Turin at an early age to get a good education, she spoke French and was well-read. Mario — she had five more children, but they were stillborn — took after his mother: He, too, worked hard and did well at school.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17th, 1936, Mario Bergoglio was an Italian immigrant accountant, born in Portacomaro (Province of Asti) in Northern Italy's Piedmont region. Regina Sívori was a housewife, born in Buenos Aires, to a family of northern Italian (Piedmontese-Genoese) origin. Mario José's family left Italy in 1929 to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. According to María Elena Bergoglio, the Pope's only living sibling, they did not emigrate for economic reasons. His other siblings were Alberto Horacio, Oscar Adrián and Marta Regina. Two great-nephews, Antonio and Joseph, died in a traffic collision.

In the sixth grade, Bergoglio attended Wilfrid Barón de los Santos Ángeles, a school of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires. He attended the technical secondary school Escuela Técnica Industrial N° 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen, named after a past President of Argentina, and graduated with a chemical technician's diploma. He worked for a few years in that capacity in the foods section at Hickethier-Bachmann Laboratory, where his boss was Esther Ballestrino. Before joining the Jesuits, Bergoglio worked as a bar bouncer and as a janitor sweeping floors, and he also ran tests in a chemical laboratory.

In the only known health crisis of his youth, at the age of 21, he suffered from life-threatening pneumonia and three cysts. He had part of a lung excised shortly afterwards. Bergoglio has been a lifelong supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro football club. Bergoglio is also a fan of the films of Tita Merello, neorealism, and tango dancing, with a fondness for the traditional music of Argentina and Uruguay known as the milonga.

CLICK ON THE DAY YOU
ARE PRAYING

VARIOUS PRAYERS AND MASS COLLECTS

FOR OUR ENEMIES

COLLECT
O God, the lover and guardian of peace and charity, grant unto all our enemies true peace and charity, together with remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their wiles. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by these gifts which we offer unto Thee, and in Thy mercy deliver us from our enemies, granting them the pardon of their sins. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this communion, O Lord, deliver us from our sins, and defend us from the wiles of our enemies. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose spirit the whole body of the Church is sanctified and governed, hear our prayers for all orders, that, by the gift of Thy grace, all in their different degrees may faithfully serve Thee. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Grant, O Lord, unto Thy servants forgiveness of their sins, consolation in life and perpetual guidance, that serving Thee, they may always deserve to obtain Thy mercy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Deliver, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from sin and from all enemies Thy servants who humbly pray to Thee; that, living in holy converse they may never be afflicted by any adversity. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE PRELATE OR BISHOP AND THOSE UNDER THEIR CHARGE

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, Who alone workest great wonders, send down upon Thy servants and upon the flocks committed to their charge the spirit of Thy saving grace; and that they may truly please Thee, pour down upon them the continual dew of Thy blessing. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Look favourably, O Lord, upon the sacrifice of Thy servants, that what we offer devoutly on their behalf in honour of Thy name, may be as a beneficial remedy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Accompany, O Lord, with Thy continual help,those whom Thou hast refreshed by this heavenly gift, and grant that those whom Thou ceasest not to cherish may become worthy of eternal redemption. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR A HOLY POPE

COLLECT
We most humbly entreat thee, O Lord, that Thy boundless goodness may grant, as bishop to the most Holy Roman Church, one who shall ever be pleasing to Thee, by his loving zeal in our regard, and, by his beneficent rule, deeply revered by Thy people to the glory of Thy Name. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
May the abundance of Thy loving kindness grant to us, O Lord, that, by the sacred gifts which we reverently offer Thee, that we may have cause to rejoice that a pontiff, pleasing to Thy majesty, preside over the conduct of our Holy Mother Church. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Since we have been refreshed with the Sacrament of Thy Precious Body and Blood, O Lord, let the marvelous grace of Thy majesty make us joyful, by granting us a supreme pontiff who may both, instruct Thy people in virtue and fill the hearts of the faithful with the fragrance of spiritual odors. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Sorrowful Mystery
THE AGONY OF OUR LORD IN THE GARDEN

REFLECTION

Just as they say “Like father, like son”―meaning the son turns out like his father―we could also say: “Like Mystical Head, like Mystical Body”―meaning, what Jesus went through we must also go through. The saints and theologians often speak of the Mystical Body of Christ having to live through or replicate the life of Christ and undergo the events of His life. This is, of course, meant in a general or broad way―and not in all the tiny details of Christ’s life. Part of that life was His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was an agony caused by the thought of the terrible sufferings and tortures that threatened His immediate future―the beginning of His Passion and Death was only hours, even minutes, away.

Similarly, our Passion and Death is, in a sense, “just around the corner” and, sadly, just as Peter the pope let Our Lord down in the approach or “run-in” to His Passion almost 2,000 years ago, so, too, is Pope Francis letting Our Lord down during our “run-in” to the Passion and Death that awaits us shortly. Not just Francis, but a succession of popes since Paul VI, who, in 1965 slashed Lenten penance by 95% at time when the world needed more penance, not less penance. In addition there is less insistence on prayer than before. When you look at the annual encyclicals on the Holy Rosary being produced by Pope Leo XIII in the late 1800s―what do we have today that compares to that? Our Lord, in the Garden of Gethsemane, told Peter (James and John) to pray, but they slept. Our Lady of Fatima (1917) and Our Lady of Akita (1973) told us to pray the Rosary VERY MUCH, but we have ‘slept’ or turned to more entertaining worldly things.

Prayer brings about far more things than we give it credit for! Likewise, lack of prayer brings about far more evils than we imagine. Sure, Pope Francis prays the Rosary daily, he even recommends the Rosary―but it is more in passing than focusing. He should be preaching the Rosary like he preaches mercy―but he doesn’t and therefore the world misses out on a lot of mercy. For, regardless of what Pope Francis thinks will solve the problems in the Church and the world, Our Lady has told us that it HAS TO BE the Rosary.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. And a hymn being said, going out, He went, according to His custom, to the Mount of Olives. He went forth over the brook Cedron and His disciples also followed Him. Then Jesus came with them into a country place, a farm which is called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray!” And taking with Him Peter and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, He began to fear and to be heavy, and grow sorrowful and to sad. Then He said to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with Me!”

2. And when He was gone forward a little, and was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast, He fell upon His face, flat on the ground; and He prayed, that if it might be, the hour might pass from Him, saying: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me--remove this chalice from Me! Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done!”

3. And He cometh to His disciples, and findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter: “What! Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation! The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak!”

4. Again the second time, He went and prayed, saying: “My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done!” And He cometh again and findeth them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy and they knew not what to answer Him.

5. And leaving them, He went again: and He prayed the third time, saying the saying the same words. And there appeared to him an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow and saith to them: “Sleep ye now and take your rest! It is enough! Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners! Rise! Let us go! Behold he is at hand that will betray Me!”

6. And while He was yet speaking, behold Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the people. Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place; because Jesus had often resorted thither together with His disciples. Judas, therefore, having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. And he, that betrayed Him, gave them a sign, saying: “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He, hold Him fast and lead Him away carefully!” And forthwith coming to Jesus, immediately going up to Him, he said: “Hail, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: “Friend, whereto art thou come? Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss?” Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him.

7. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said to them: “Whom seek ye?” They answered Him: “Jesus of Nazareth!” Jesus saith to them: “I am He!” And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon therefore as He had said to them: “I am He”, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them: “Whom seek ye?” And they said: “Jesus of Nazareth!” Jesus answered: “I have told you that I am He! If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way!” That the word might be fulfilled which He said: “Of them whom Thou hast given Me, I have not lost any one”

8. And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And behold one of them that were with Jesus, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Then Jesus saith to him: “Put up thy sword into the scabbard: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword! The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? Suffer ye thus far!” But when Jesus had touched his ear, He healed him.

9. And Jesus said to the chief priests, and magistrates of the temple, and the ancients, that were come unto Him: “You are come out as it were to a robber with swords and clubs to apprehend Me! I sat daily with you, teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me! But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!” Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving Him, fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked.

10. Then the band and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews apprehending and holding Jesus, took Jesus, bound Him and led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year, and then to Caiphas, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. But Peter followed afar off.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Going to His Agony the Garden of Gethsemane.
2. Sad and sorrowful unto death.
3. Seeking in vain the help of His disciples
4. Resigning Himself to the Will of His Father.
5. Indignant and disappointed with His three sleeping Apostles.
6. Praying all the more intensely.
7. Betrayed by Judas.
8. Refusing to flee from His enemies.
9. Healing the ear of Malchus.
10. Allowing Himself to be arrested and taken away.

The Second Sorrowful Mystery
THE SCOURGING OF OUR LORD AT THE PILLAR

REFLECTION

It is not just with whips and rods that we can scourge―we can also scourge with the tongue, as seen in the phrase “tongue-lashing”―the tongue can be a real scourge! Our Lord was innocent and yet He was scourged. Pope Francis has also “scourged” certain innocent ones too. He seems to reserve most of his “tongue-lashings” for the Conservatives and Traditionalists, while being “honey-tongued” towards Liberals, Modernists, non-Catholics and sinners.

The tongue can set the world on fire―for better or for worse―as Holy Scripture points-out: “In many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body. For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the pilot willeth. Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by Hell. For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man: but the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison. By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be!” (James 3:2-10).

Let us pray that Francis―and we ourselves too―use our ‘scourge’ wisely and justly, and not foolishly and unjustly.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. And when morning was come, all chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients of the people and the scribes and the whole council, took counsel against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. And the whole multitude of them rising up, binding Jesus, led Him away from Caiphas to the governor’s hall and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. They went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch.

2. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: “What accusation bring you against this Man?”
They answered, and said to him: “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee!” And they began to accuse Him, saying: “We have found this Man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ the King!”

3. And when He was accused by the chief priests and ancients, He answered nothing.
Then Pilate saith to Him: “Dost not Thou hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee?”
And He answered him to never a word; so that the governor wondered.
And Pilate again asked Him, saying: “Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee!”
But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate wondered exceedingly.

4. Pilate therefore said to them: “Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law!”
The Jews therefore said to him: “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death!” That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying what death He should die. But they were more earnest, saying: “He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
But Pilate hearing “Galilee”, asked if the Man were of Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem, in those days.

5. And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad; for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod, with his army, set Him at nought, and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends, that same day; for before they were enemies one to another.

6. But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
And he said to them the third time: “Why, what evil hath this Man done? I find no cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go!”
But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

7. Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying: “Art Thou the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered: “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?”
Pilate answered: “Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered Thee up to me! What hast Thou done?”

8. Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My Kingdom is not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said to Him: “Art Thou a king then?”
Jesus answered: “Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth, heareth My voice!”
Pilate saith to Him: “What is truth?”

9. And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: “I find no cause in Him! But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch: will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all cried again, saying: “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate said to them: “What shall I do then with Jesus, that is called Christ?”
They all said: “Let Him be crucified!”
The governor said to them: “Why, what evil hath He done?”
But they cried out the more, saying: “Let Him be crucified!”
And the whole people answering, said: “His blood be upon us and our children!”

10. But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified; and their voices prevailed. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this just Man; look you to it!” And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them Barabbas, who for murder and sedition, had been cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he had Jesus scourged and delivered up to their will.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Brought before Pilate to be judged.
2. Accused of many false things.
3. Remaining silent under accusation.
4. Speaking the truth to Pilate.
5. Seeing Pilate ignore the truth.
6. Watching Pilate trying to please both sides.
7. Taken before King Herod.
8. Silent in the face of Herod’s questioning and mockery.
9. Judged unjustly by the cowardly Liberal Pilate
10. Allowing Himself to be scourged unjustly.

The Third Sorrowful Mystery
THE CROWNING OF OUR LORD WITH THORNS

REFLECTION

We think more than we speak. We think badly of others far more than we speak badly of others. We are far more ignorant in our minds than we like to reveal with our tongues. Thoughts can hurt others―especially when they are revealed. Fortunately most people do not know what we think! The devil does not even know what we think―though centuries of experience in observing mankind helps to make pretty good ‘educated’ guesses. Yet Our Lord DOES know what we think―there is nothing hidden from Him in the recesses of our mind. We will be judged upon every thought we ever had! Scary, huh?

Our words are the “tip of the iceberg” of our thoughts. We reveal only a fraction of thoughts “above water”―the vast majority remains hidden “underwater” in the murky deep waters of our minds. The scary thing with Pope Francis is that how much are his thoughts “off-the-road” of doctrine. The erroneous things that he has said, risk being the “tip of the iceberg” that hides the vast majority of the iceberg from sight. We need to pray that God―by grace or by punishment―keep Francis on the road of doctrinal rectitude and not let him stray from it in the way he has been straying.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. Then the soldiers of the governor led Jesus away into the hall, the court of the palace, and they called together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him.

2. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand.

3. And they began to salute Him, bowing the knee before Him, they adored Him. And they mocked Him, saying: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

4. And they took the reed and struck His head with the reed. And they did spit on Him and they gave Him blows.

5. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him back to Pilate.

6. Pilate therefore went forth again, and said to them: “Behold, I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him!”
Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns. And he said to them: “Behold the Man!”
When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants, had seen Him, they cried out, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

7. Pilate said to them: “Take Him you, and crucify Him! For I find no cause in Him!”
The Jews answered him: “We have a law; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God!”
When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: “Whence art Thou?”
But Jesus gave him no answer.

8. Pilate therefore said to Him: “Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?”
Jesus answered: “Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin!”

9. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: “If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar’s friend! For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar!”
Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews: “Behold your King!”
But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

10. Pilate said to them: “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar!”
Then therefore he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him forth.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Surrounded by cruel soldiers.
2. Stripped of His garments.
3. Clothed in purple as a mock king.
4. Crowned with long piercing thorns as a mock king.
5. Given a reed as a scepter and ridiculed as a king.
6. Spat upon by arrogant soldiers.
7. Beaten by the heartless soldiers.
8. Led before the crowd of Jews to be ridiculed and rejected.
9. Deemed worthy of death by the Jews.
10. Sentenced to death by Pilate.

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
OUR LORD CARRIES HIS CROSS TO CALVARY

REFLECTION

The modern-day Church seeks to remove as much as possible the Cross of Christ. Penance has been diluted to the point where Lenten penance has been reduced by 95% from 40 days of fasting to a mere two days of fasting―Ash Wednesday and Good Friday! Yet Our Lord warns: “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish!” Luke 13:3). Penance is most certainly a cross―but Jesus said: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me!” (Luke 9:23).

Pope Francis fears to be divisive, yet Our Lord says the contrary: “Do not think that I came to send peace upon Earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s enemies shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for Me, shall find it” (Matthew 10:34-39).

“Think ye, that I am come to give peace on Earth? I tell you, no; but separation! For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against his father, the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law!” (Luke 12:51-53).

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

“And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17).

1. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.

2. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.

3. And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon. And they forced Simon, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up His cross.

4. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him.

5. But Jesus turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem! Weep not over Me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children! For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck!’”

6. Jesus said to them: “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills: ‘Cover us!’ For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?”

7. And there were also two other malefactors, led with Him, to be put to death.

8. Pilate wrote a title, also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews”.

9. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.

10. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: “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!”

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Accepting the Cross from mankind.
2. Embracing the Cross.
3. Carrying the Key of Salvation.
4. Falling under the weight of Cross.
5. Meeting His Holy Mother.
6. Accepting the help of Veronica.
7. Accepting the help of Simon of Cyrene.
8. Warning the women of Jerusalem of the future.
9. Falling for the second time under the Cross.
10. Falling for the third time under the Cross.

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD

REFLECTION

Today the Church fears to speak out against the world. The youth are besotted with the world―and most Catholics too for that matter―yet the Church is not forthright in repeating Our Lord’s words: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also … No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the clothing?” (Matthew 6:19-25).

“Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places” (Ephesians 6:12). “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world … fulfilling the will of the flesh and of our thoughts … But now in Christ Jesus, you, who some time were afar off, are … reconciled both to God by the cross” (Ephesians 2:2; 2:13-16). “Be dead with Christ from the elements of this world” (Colossians 2:20). “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16).

“Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God” (James 4:4). “I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21). “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

“And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him” (Mark 15:26).

1. And it was the third hour when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there. And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” The soldiers, therefore, when they had crucified Him, took and divided His garments, and they made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then one to another: “Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be!” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: “They divided My garments among them; and upon My vesture they cast lots.” And the soldiers indeed did these things.

2. And they put over His head the written inscription of His cause: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” And with Him they crucified two thieves; the one robber on His right hand, and the other on His left, so that the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith: “And with the wicked He was reputed.” And they sat and watched Him.

3. And they that passed by, blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying: “Vah! 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!” In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save! Let Christ the King of Israel come down now from the cross! If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe! He trusted in God; let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him! For He said: ‘I am the Son of God!’ He saved others; Himself He cannot save!” And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying: “If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself!” And the selfsame thing the thieves, also, that were crucified with Him, reproached Him with and reviled Him.

4. And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us!” But the other answering, rebuked him, 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!” And it was almost the sixth hour.

5. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen His mother and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He saith to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son!” After that, He saith to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

6. And when the sixth hour was come, the sun was darkened and there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?” That is: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” And some that stood there and heard, said: “Behold, this Man calleth Elias!” And the others said: “Let be! Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver Him!”

7. Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: “I thirst!” Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And immediately one of them running took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar and hyssop; and put it on a reed, put it to His mouth and gave Him to drink. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to His mouth. Jesus therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said: “It is consummated!” And Jesus again crying with a loud voice said: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit!” And after saying this, bowing His head, He gave up the ghost.

8. And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. And the centurion, who stood over against Him, seeing that crying out in this manner, He had given up the ghost, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: “Indeed this was a just Man! Indeed this Man was the Son of God!” And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts.

9.Then the Jews, because it was the Parasceve, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath day—for that was a great Sabbath day—besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He 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. For these things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “You shall not break a bone of Him.” And again another Scripture saith: “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.

10. And all His acquaintances, and the women that had followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joseph, and Salome: who also when He was in Galilee followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. And when evening was now come, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulcher which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher. And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where He was laid.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Stripped of His Garments
2. Nailed to the Cross
3. Raised-up on the Cross for all to see
4. Despised and mocked upon the Cross
5. Forgiving His enemies from the Cross
6. Opening Paradise to the repentant Good Thief
7. Bestowing His Holy Mother upon us in the person of St. John
8. Thirsting for the conversion of sinners
9. Feeling abandoned by His Father in Heaven
10. Laying down His life for sinful mankind