"Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears..." 

A Journey Through the Passion of Christ

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 Cross and the Hope of Resurrection

The Sorrowful Mysteries prepare us for the joy of Easter. Jesus' suffering was not in vain—it was the means by which He conquered sin and death. St. John Paul II reminds us that the Rosary is a pathway of hope: “The contemplation of Christ's face cannot stop at the image of the Crucified One. He is the Risen One!”. 

Each time we take up the Rosary, we do so with this perspective. Yes, we meditate on the Passion, but we do so knowing that Christ has triumphed. This should change the way we face suffering in our own lives. When we encounter trials, we do not despair; we remember that suffering, when united with Christ, leads to new life. 

St. Paul of the Cross, the great preacher of Christ’s Passion, beautifully expressed this mystery: “The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. The greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love.” He spent his life meditating on the Passion, not as an exercise in sorrow but as an encounter with the depths of God's love. His life reminds us that the Cross is not a defeat—it is a victory of love. 

Practical Application

How do we carry the fruits of this reflection into our daily lives? 

1. Trust in God’s Plan – Jesus surrendered completely to the Father’s will. We are called to do the same, trusting that God is working in all things, even in suffering.
2. Embrace the Cross with Love – The difficulties we face—whether in family, work, or health—are opportunities to unite ourselves with Christ. We can say with Him, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
3. Live in the Hope of the Resurrection – Our faith does not end at the Cross. When we face hardship, we should remember that God’s love always leads to new life.
4. Stay Close to Mary – Just as she stood by Jesus, Mary stands by us. We can turn to her, especially in moments of trial, knowing that she always leads us to her Son.

Testimony: St. Paul of the Cross 

St. Paul of the Cross (1694–1775) dedicated his life to preaching the Passion of Christ, believing that meditating on Jesus’ suffering was the key to a deeper love of God. He founded the Passionist Congregation, a religious order devoted to spreading devotion to the Passion, helping people see in Christ’s suffering the greatest expression of divine love. His mission was not to focus on suffering for its own sake but to show how the Cross leads to resurrection and renewal. 

Paul himself endured great trials, facing opposition, rejection, and spiritual darkness. Yet, he never lost faith. In his writings, he encouraged others to turn to the crucifix for strength, saying, “When you are alone in your room, take your crucifix, kiss its five wounds reverently, tell it to preach to you a little sermon, and then listen to the words of eternal life that it speaks to your heart.” 

Like Mary at the foot of the Cross, Paul did not avoid suffering but embraced it as a path to union with Christ. His life teaches us that when we carry our crosses with faith and love, they become sources of grace, leading us to the hope of the Resurrection. 

Final Encouragement 

As we conclude this series, we stand on the threshold of Holy Week. This is the time when we, like Mary, follow Jesus step by step through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Let us enter fully into this sacred time. Let us walk with Jesus from Gethsemane to Golgotha, not as spectators but as disciples. And let us remember that, just as the Cross was not the end for Christ, neither is it the end for us. May this journey deepen our faith, strengthen our hope, and lead us ever closer to the heart of Christ. Let us embrace the Cross, for in it, we find the promise of the Resurrection. 

"Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus..."