"I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I straitened until it be accomplished." (St. Luke XII, 50.)

How strange that the Saviour should sigh for the culmination of His agony—seek in death His triumph! Our human nature shrinks from pain. Yet if our lives are to be Christ-like, we must rather seek to suffer as Christ has taught us by His life of sorrow.

Trials must surely enter into our lives. 'Tis well we accept them as coming from the chastening hand of God to purify our lives and bring us nearer to Himself. Our night of crucifixion will pass, and then will dawn the glorious morning of our resurrection in God.

O Mary, who stood beneath the Cross of thy Son and sorrowed in union with Him, teach us to love the Cross!

The Five Glorious Mysteries

(For Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year, and the Sundays from Easter till Advent.)

The Sorrows of Christ are over. Step by step we have followed Him, mourning over our sins, and weeping for the agony they have caused Him. We have entered the Garden of Gethsemane, heard His three-times repeated prayer, watched the drops of bloody sweat bedewing the ground on which He lay prostrate. The cruel lashes that fell upon His Sacred Body have in a manner cut our souls with bitter pangs for our wrong-doing. Each thorn that pierced His adorable brow has pierced us too and stirred us to thoughts of penance. Sorrowing we have moved towards Calvary mingling our tears with those of Mary, and repenting of the many times when tempted to sin, we have cried: "Away with Jesus of Nazareth; crucify Him, crucify Him." In agony have we stood beneath the Cross, lifting our tear-stained eyes towards Him and hearing Him murmur: "It is consummated." Yes, the work of Redemption is done. The gloom is lifted, the agony has passed. Our day of resurrection is at hand.

First Glorious Mystery:

The Resurrection