Meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony in the Garden

While praying the Family Rosary, Lil' Wingnut likes to hold holy cards with artwork depicting each mystery. We recently discovered we were missing the first holy card for the Sorrowful Mysteries. Wingnut grabbed his grandfather's bible published in 1953, as he recalled this particular bible contained pictures for each of the 15 original mysteries of the Rosary, along with meditations for each one. The meditations are absolutely beautiful and so I've decided I will do a Friday series in which I will post these lovely meditations for the Sorrowful Mysteries. Later on, I may continue the series for the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries as well.

The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden

In the Garden of Gethsemane the weakness of the humanity which Christ shared with us stands out in terrifying warning. On the morrow Christ was to make a bloody atonement for all the sins of all men. Christ faced danger and He feared, and He feared mightily. Of that fact there can be no doubt because His fear was so intense that it forced blood through the pores of His skin. He feared, and He prayed, and at length there came "an angel from heaven to strengthen Him." Inevitably every man must encounter danger of one kind or another, and automatically he will experienced fear of one degree or another. Men may meet that danger lying down, or standing up, or kneeling. Not to the prone, nor the arrogant, but to the kneelers come angels from heaven.

Like Christ, men my pray that the chalice of suffering may pass away, if the Father wills. To him who prays comes an angel from Heaven, perhaps not to remove the chalice, but at least to steady the hands that must tilt it.