Meditations on Crowning with ThornsMeditations on Crowning with Thorns

Recommendation: Please read the contents of one Recommendation: Please read the contents of one of the 20 mysteries meditations before you start of the 20 mysteries meditations before you start your prayer. Some of these presentations (e.g. The your prayer. Some of these presentations (e.g. The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion) contains Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion) contains over 60 slides. With so much spiritual food that it over 60 slides. With so much spiritual food that it is best to read and contemplate on a few of the is best to read and contemplate on a few of the slides each time.slides each time.

We welcome biblical scholars, theologians, We welcome biblical scholars, theologians, lecturers and professors of theological institutions lecturers and professors of theological institutions and seminaries and lay people around the world to and seminaries and lay people around the world to contribute precious pearls in the form of pictures contribute precious pearls in the form of pictures and wordsand words to accompany specific scenes in the to accompany specific scenes in the Rosary in Visual Art. You can contribute through Rosary in Visual Art. You can contribute through the BLOG on our website.the BLOG on our website.

Third Sorrowful MysteryThird Sorrowful MysteryCrowning with thornsCrowning with thorns

They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on his head, and stuck a of thorns they fixed it on his head, and stuck a reed in his right hand…reed in his right hand…

Fruit of the Mystery: Fruit of the Mystery: CourageCourage

1. Humiliation of Jesus1. Humiliation of Jesus

Eduard Manet, Jesus mocked by the soldiers. 1865. Art institute of Chicago. USA

1.* The mocking of Jesus

He bore this dreadful torment to expiate all the sins of the human mind, of man who thinks he is wiser than God, who wants to reason and explain everything.Let us ask for the grace of humility of mind.

Eduard Manet, Jesus mocked by the soldiers. 1865. Art institute of Chicago. USA

1.* The mocking of Jesus

As His enemies began to insult and mistreat Him, she correspondingly increased her praise of the suffering God Man, thus making reparation for the sacrilegious sins of evil men. (Mary of Agreda)

Christ, You are the King of Kings, yet You allowed Yourself to be mocked and derided. Help us to bear insults with equal patience.

If those who deride us are wrong, let us not hold it against them. If they are right let us correct our faults for Your sake.

2.* Crowning with thorns

Thereupon they took Jesus to the Thereupon they took Jesus to the pretorium, where, with the same cruelty and pretorium, where, with the same cruelty and contempt, they again contempt, they again despoiled him of his despoiled him of his garments and in order to deride Him before garments and in order to deride Him before all the peopleall the people as a counterfeit king, clothed as a counterfeit king, clothed in a much torn and soiled mantle of purple in a much torn and soiled mantle of purple color. They placed also upon his sacred color. They placed also upon his sacred head a cap made of woven thorns, to serve head a cap made of woven thorns, to serve Him as a crown (John 19, 2). This cap was Him as a crown (John 19, 2). This cap was woven of thorn branches and in such a woven of thorn branches and in such a manner that manner that many of the hard and sharp many of the hard and sharp thorns would penetrate into the skull, some thorns would penetrate into the skull, some of them to the ears and others to the eyesof them to the ears and others to the eyes.. (Mary of Agreda)(Mary of Agreda)

Anthony van Dyck, Crowning with Thorns, 1620. Museo del Prado. Madrid.

3.** Humiliations

The sight of Jesus’ humiliations makes us accept scorn and abasement as our due. Let us unite our little earthly sufferings to those of Jesus, in order to give them merit and infinite value..

Anthony van Dyck, Crowning with Thorns, 1620. Museo del Prado. Madrid.

3.A

Even today,Christians mock Him by living in mortal sin, by receiving communion in mortal sin, by not believing the truth contained in the scriptures.

Anthony van Dyck, Crowning with Thorns, 1620. Museo del Prado. Madrid.

.“Too many sacrileges are committed by those who no longer believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and by those who go to Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin without going to confession.Go to confession often and help the faithful to make frequent confessions.” (Gobbi)

2. Loss of Faith & Suffering2. Loss of Faith & Suffering

Words of the queen Words of the queen on:on:

Loss of faithLoss of faithContemplate face of Contemplate face of ChristChrist

SufferingSuffering

Quentin Massys, Ecce Homo, 1526. Palazzo Ducale. Venice.

4.* Loss of faith “He is rejected and spurned by many of the faithful who follow ideologies which are in style today but which propose values opposed to those of the Gospel.”

“Secularism has entered into the lives of so many of the baptized and the priests who behave, not as disciples of Christ, but according to the spirit of the world.” (Gobbi)

WORDS OF THE QUEEN.WORDS OF THE QUEEN. (The Virgin Mary speaks (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)

““What is seen in the saints and in perfect Christians in those times, What is seen in the saints and in perfect Christians in those times, would happen in the present times with all the Catholics if they would happen in the present times with all the Catholics if they would accept grace and work with it instead of permitting it to go to would accept grace and work with it instead of permitting it to go to waste, and if they would seek the way of the Crosswaste, and if they would seek the way of the Cross; for Lucifer fears ; for Lucifer fears it as much now as in the times thou hast been writing of. it as much now as in the times thou hast been writing of. But soon But soon the charity, zeal and devotion in many of faithful began to grow cold the charity, zeal and devotion in many of faithful began to grow cold and they forgot the blessings of the Redemption; they yielded to and they forgot the blessings of the Redemption; they yielded to their carnal inclinations and desires, they loved vanity and avarice their carnal inclinations and desires, they loved vanity and avarice and permitted themselves to be fascinated and deceived by the false and permitted themselves to be fascinated and deceived by the false pretenses of Lucifer,pretenses of Lucifer, obscuring the glory of their Savior and obscuring the glory of their Savior and inveigling them into the meshes of their mortal enemies.. They inveigling them into the meshes of their mortal enemies.. They presume to plot the destruction of the whole Church by the presume to plot the destruction of the whole Church by the perversion of so many who have fallen away from it; and by perversion of so many who have fallen away from it; and by inducing those who are in it, to think little of it, or by hindering inducing those who are in it, to think little of it, or by hindering them from producing the fruits of the blood and death of their them from producing the fruits of the blood and death of their Redeemer. Redeemer. The greatest misfortune is, that many Catholics fail to The greatest misfortune is, that many Catholics fail to recognize this great damage and do not seriously think of a recognize this great damage and do not seriously think of a remedy.”remedy.”

5.* Man of Sorrows

Jan Mostaert, 1472-1555

“His face no longer has the semblance of a man, so disfigured is it by the blood and the blows.” (Gobbi)

“To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.”(Pope John Paul II)

5A. Man of Sorrows

Jan Mostaert, 1472-1555

Sister Marie of St Peters, a Carmelite nun who lived in Tours France, in 1844, had a vision in which Jesus told her:

"Those who will contemplate the wounds on My Face here on earth, shall contemplate it radiant in heaven.”

6. Man of Sorrows

“The more we contemplate the face of the suffering Christ, the more we love Him.” (St. Faustina Kowalska)

“Lay a caress upon his face so disfigured. Anoint his body with balm. Make reparation by your presence for the countless acts of abandonment. Let your ministry be a service of love for Him.” (Gobbi)

6. Man of Sorrows

“Today, Jesus is again struck in the poor, the weak, the little ones, the oppressed, the exploited, the persecuted, the abandoned, the marginalized, the sick and the dying.” (Gobbi)

Suffering is part of human existence. Christians are called to suffer with and for others. (Pope Benedict XVI)

.

7. The beatings7. The sufferings

Titian. The Crown of Thorns. 1542.

Titian, The Crown of Thorns. 1540. Museum of Louvre. Paris.

8.* The suffering “Make use of suffering as a means of healing you from the sickness of corruption, of infidelity, of rebellion, of impurity, of atheism.Pray that suffering may serve to convert all those who have strayed far from God.” (Gobbi)

Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul.(St. Faustina Kowalska)

3. Behold the Man3. Behold the Man

Words of the Words of the QueenQueen on: on:

The Man of all timesThe Man of all timesThe Science of SaintsThe Science of Saints

Master of the Bruges Passion Scenes, 16th century. Behold the Man

“Behold the Man ---- Here is your king!” the “Man of Sorrows”, despised and rejected.

“Behold the Man of all times. Upon Him have been placed all the sins of the world. He has borne on his body the sufferings of all.His divine resurrection is the greatest proof that He alone is the Man of all times.”He is the Man of the New times, because only in Him will there rise all men.” (Gobbi)

9.* “Behold the Man”

Master of the Bruges Passion Scenes, 16th century. Behold the Man

““I too have co-operated in this I too have co-operated in this work and have work and have paid the sorrows paid the sorrows and afflictionsand afflictions, which thou hast , which thou hast understood and which I wish thou understood and which I wish thou shalt never allow to be blotted out shalt never allow to be blotted out from my inmost memory. from my inmost memory. This is This is the science I wish thee to study the science I wish thee to study continuallycontinually and in which thou and in which thou must advance day by day, must advance day by day, putting putting into practice all that thou learnest into practice all that thou learnest to understand and know.”to understand and know.”

(Mary of Agreda)(Mary of Agreda)

9A. “Behold the Man”

“Man of Sorrows”, despised and rejected

Titian, Ecce Homo, 1543.

10.** “Crucify him!”And they all shouted: “Away with him----crucify him.”

WORDS OF THE QUEEN on WORDS OF THE QUEEN on The Science of the SaintsThe Science of the Saints (The (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)Spain.)

““Think well, then, my dearest, which of these thou wishest to choose Think well, then, my dearest, which of these thou wishest to choose in the sight of my Son and me. in the sight of my Son and me. If thou seest thy Redeemer, thy If thou seest thy Redeemer, thy Spouse and thy Chief tormented, afflicted, crowned with thorns and Spouse and thy Chief tormented, afflicted, crowned with thorns and saturated with reproaches and at the same time desirest to have a saturated with reproaches and at the same time desirest to have a part in Him and be a member of his mystical body, it is not part in Him and be a member of his mystical body, it is not becoming, or even possible, that thou live steeped in the pleasures of becoming, or even possible, that thou live steeped in the pleasures of the flesh. Thou must be the persecuted and not a persecutor, the the flesh. Thou must be the persecuted and not a persecutor, the oppressed and not the oppressor; the one that bears the cross, that oppressed and not the oppressor; the one that bears the cross, that encounters the scandal and not that gives it; the one that suffers, encounters the scandal and not that gives it; the one that suffers, and at the same time makes none of the neighbors suffer.and at the same time makes none of the neighbors suffer.

On the contrary, On the contrary, thou must exert thyself for their conversion and thou must exert thyself for their conversion and salvationsalvation in as far as is compatible with the perfection of thy state in as far as is compatible with the perfection of thy state and vocation. This is the portion of the friends of God and the and vocation. This is the portion of the friends of God and the inheritance of his children in mortal life, inheritance of his children in mortal life, in this consists the in this consists the participation in grace and gloryparticipation in grace and glory; which by his torments and ; which by his torments and reproaches and by his death of the Cross my Son and Lord has reproaches and by his death of the Cross my Son and Lord has purchased for them.”purchased for them.”

““I too have co-operated in this work and have paid the I too have co-operated in this work and have paid the sorrrows and afflictions, which thou hast understood and sorrrows and afflictions, which thou hast understood and which I wish thou shalt never allow to be blotted out from which I wish thou shalt never allow to be blotted out from my inmost memory.my inmost memory. The Almighty would indeed have been The Almighty would indeed have been powerful enough to exalt his predestined in this world, to powerful enough to exalt his predestined in this world, to give them riches and favors beyond those of others, to give them riches and favors beyond those of others, to make them strong as lions for reducing the rest of make them strong as lions for reducing the rest of mankind to their invincible power. But mankind to their invincible power. But it was inopportune it was inopportune to exalt them in this manner, in order that men might not to exalt them in this manner, in order that men might not be led into the error of thinking that greatness consists in be led into the error of thinking that greatness consists in what is visible and happiness in earthly goods; lest, being what is visible and happiness in earthly goods; lest, being induced to forsake and obscure the glory of the Lord, they induced to forsake and obscure the glory of the Lord, they fail to experience the efficacy of divine grace and cease to fail to experience the efficacy of divine grace and cease to aspire toward spiritual and eternal thingsaspire toward spiritual and eternal things. . This is the This is the science I wish thee to study continually and in which thou science I wish thee to study continually and in which thou must advance day by day, putting into practice all that must advance day by day, putting into practice all that thou learnest to understand and know.”thou learnest to understand and know.” Mystical City of God.Mystical City of God.

The ( National ) RosaryThe ( National ) Rosary For the Evangelization of For the Evangelization of (Nations)(Nations)

1.1. Fatima Prayer:Fatima Prayer: To Eucharistic Jesus, source of all To Eucharistic Jesus, source of all evangelization.evangelization.

““O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.”mercy.”

2.2. Invocation of the Holy Spirit:Invocation of the Holy Spirit: Principal agent of Principal agent of evangelization.evangelization.

““Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of the (National) people and Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of the (National) people and enkindle in them the fire of your love! Come by means of the enkindle in them the fire of your love! Come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved Spouse.”beloved Spouse.”

3. 3. Prayer to Our Lady of ( Nation ):Prayer to Our Lady of ( Nation ): Star of the new Star of the new evangelization.evangelization.

““Hail Holy Queen, Mother of (Nation), come and present the Hail Holy Queen, Mother of (Nation), come and present the (National) people to Jesus, the fruit of thy womb.(National) people to Jesus, the fruit of thy womb.

Look upon them continually with mercy and through your Look upon them continually with mercy and through your intercession with the divine Redeemer, heal themintercession with the divine Redeemer, heal them of their sufferings, of their sufferings, deliver them from all evil, and fill them with your love.”deliver them from all evil, and fill them with your love.”

We pray in Communion with all the Angels and Saints in We pray in Communion with all the Angels and Saints in Heaven ! Heaven !