A Writer’s Rosary: Fr. Ubald on “The Rosary of My Life”
May 7, 2021
When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
June 1, 2021
Jen Norton captures the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in a powerful way in Surrender All. If you do not already own a copy of this full-color devotional journal, please do yourself a favor and get one! Jen was kind enough to give me permission to use her artwork to illustrate the reflections here — if you would like to see more of her artwork, or purchase prints, be sure to check out her website at Jen Norton Art Studio.
Last week I introduced you to Fr. Ubald and his “Rosary of My Life.” I asked you to think of the five “mysteries” that have been milestones in your own story. (If you haven’t already, I’d love to have you share them in the “Life on the Road Less Traveled Facebook page.) Today I’d like to share with you the Sorrowful Mysteries as I’ve experienced them through my weekly “author Rosary” for my authors at Ave.
The Sorrowful Mysteries for Writers
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Agony in the garden: In such a beautiful place, the Lord kneels, resigned and utterly alone. His followers sleep. Evil looms. Isolation and misunderstanding increase the burden. Who helped Jesus, who understood? Not his disciples. Not his mother. Not even any of us, who caused his pain. Yet it did not negate the reality of his experience – or prevent him from giving voice to his pain as well as his conviction: “Let this cup pass from me, not as I will but as you will.” He was brought low, and would go lower still – but awakening his followers, he got up to face his accusers, bringing healing to one of them even as they sought to end his life.
A writer’s prayer: Lord Jesus, all around me I see the beauty of your world, yet I sometimes feel alone on this journey, with even my closest friends and family unaware of my struggle. Send your Spirit upon me, to strengthen me for the task ahead. You suffered so much for my sake; help me to follow you joyfully to accomplish the work you have entrusted to me.
Stripped and scourged at the pillar. This time the pain was inflicted from without. He was dressed resplendently, yet set up for mockery and abuse. He was beaten bloody and bruised, yet did not give in to despair. When he stood before Pilate, the governor’s conviction rang out, “I find no guilt in him.” And as the pressure built from the crowd, “Pilate became afraid” (Jn 19:8) and asked Jesus, “Where are you from”? This question of origin and identity was intended to justify his cowardly impulses, intended to underscore his own importance and Jesus’ relative unimportance, and was irrelevant to the truth Jesus had already shared with Pilate. So he is met with profound silence. Silence that allowed those seeds to dive deep and take root.
A writer’s prayer: Lord Jesus, as I focus on the work you have called me to do, let me not get distracted by things that do not matter. Let me make space within the silence for the truth to take root and grow, however painful that process may be.
jennortonstudio.com
Crowned with thorns. Taking away his clothes, the soldiers threw a “military cloak” on Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on his hed and a reed in his hand (Mt 27:29). Then they used the reed to beat him, stripped him of his cloak, and led him off to die. Through their actions, the cohort (600 men) unwittingly confirmed the authority of Jesus — though they reject it, the authority was no less real. It was centered not in his humanity, which was spilling out upon the ground, but was rooted in his divinity, which strengthened him to complete the task. The Spirit of Christ strengthens us in our pain and dejection as we are intent on surrendering ourselves to Christ. This is the spirit of the martyrs, the spirit of the apostles.
A writer’s prayer: Lord Jesus, as I am surrounded by your other “soldiers,” I so often feel like an imposter, inadequate and weak. Give me the strength and perseverance of the holy martyrs to complete my task.
jennortonstudio.com
Jesus Carried His Cross. John’s Gospel (19:17) says that Jesus carried the cross himself — whereas the other Gospels show that Simon of Cyrene was pressed into service for at least part of the way. Either way, the burden of what he was carrying weighed him down, making each step a crushing burden, full of horror over what was yet to come. As a man, Jesus would have felt sick with fear, even as he was compelled to walk forward; no doubt the soldiers took the crossbeam from his shoulders not to spare him, but to hurry the process along. Yet God sustained him, in part by these loving souls he met along the way: Simon and Veronica, the women of Jerusalem and his own mother.
A writer’s prayer: Lord Jesus, as the pressure to hurry increases, help me to see and be thankful for the sustaining friendships and other consolations you send to bear me up.
jennortonstudio.com
Jesus is Crucified. They headed to the “place of the skull” — Calvary (in Latin), Golgotha (in Aramaic). According to sacred legend, this was where the skull of Adam was buried by Noah’s son Shem after the flood, guided to that very spot by an angel. He was lifted up not “on a hill far away,” but on a place just outside the city gates, for the whole world to see the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, predicting the defeat of the evil one: “I will put enmity between you and the woman [Eve], and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head while you strike at their heel.”
A writer’s prayer: Lord Jesus, when I am subjected to criticism and even rejection for my faith, when I feel most naked and vulnerable, send your Spirit to give me the strength to declare your truth.”