Over the past several weeks, we have walked with Jesus through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. We have meditated on His agony in Gethsemane, His scourging, the crown of thorns, the weight of the cross, and His ultimate sacrifice on Calvary. Each mystery has drawn us deeper into the heart of Christ, revealing not only His suffering but His boundless love. As we conclude this reflection series, we turn to the Blessed Mother. In the Hail, Holy Queen prayer, we acknowledge that we live in a world of suffering—“mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.” Yet, we do not walk alone. Mary, our Mother, stands with us, just as she stood at the foot of the Cross. She reminds us that suffering is not the end of the story; beyond the Passion lies the glory of the Resurrection.

The Crucifixion is the culmination of Jesus’ earthly mission, the moment when He gives everything out of love. After enduring betrayal, false accusations, and brutal torture, Jesus is led to Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull," where He is nailed to the cross. The weight of His body hangs from the nails driven through His hands and feet. Every breath is agonizing, yet even in this suffering, His words are filled with mercy: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

After being scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, Jesus is forced to carry His cross through the streets of Jerusalem toward the place of His crucifixion. The journey from Pilate’s court to Golgotha, known as the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrow), is long and agonizing. His body, already weakened by torture, struggles under the heavy weight of the wood. The crowds jeer, the soldiers press Him forward, and with each painful step, He inches closer to His death.

After Jesus was scourged, He was handed over to the Roman soldiers, who took Him into the praetorium and unleashed a new form of cruelty upon Him. They mocked His claim to kingship by dressing Him in a scarlet robe, placing a reed in His hand as a scepter, and pressing a twisted crown of thorns onto His head. Then, with jeering voices, they knelt before Him in mockery, striking Him and spitting upon Him.

The Scourging at the Pillar is a brutal episode in Christ’s Passion. After being falsely accused and unjustly condemned, Jesus is handed over by Pontius Pilate to be scourged—a cruel Roman punishment meant to weaken prisoners before execution. The Gospel of John describes this moment succinctly: "Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged." (John 19:1). Yet, within these few words lies a depth of suffering beyond comprehension.

The Agony in the Garden marks the beginning of Jesus' Passion. After celebrating the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus leads Peter, James, and John to Gethsemane, a secluded olive grove just outside Jerusalem. He urges them to stay awake and pray while He withdraws a short distance to commune with the Father.

Contemplating Christ with Mary The Rosary is a profound and transformative prayer that allows us to journey through the life, Passion, and glory of Jesus Christ. St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, describes the Rosary as a deeply Christocentric prayer. Though it is often thought of as a Marian devotion, at its heart, it is a means of encountering Christ. In its simplicity, the Rosary presents the depth of the Gospel message, offering a way to meditate on Christ’s life through the eyes of His mother, Mary.