Virgo Potens

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 22nd 22nd DAY And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:33 THE CRUCIFIXION During this decade let us picture to our minds Christ, dead upon the cross! As if the indignities and brutalities to which He had been subjected were not enough to satisfy the brutish instincts of His savage foes the added obloquy of execution between two public malefactors was accorded Him! "The sword of grief" has at last been driven in, up to the very hilt, in Mary's soul. Has its penetration opened the way to resentment? No, but to gratitude, because finally the mercy of death has been accorded! His sufferings have ended—and from Mary's lips there comes only petitions pleading for pardon for His executioners! Let us gaze earnestly and long at that picture of Mary at the foot of the cross, and learn to ''forgive those who trespass against us." ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 22nd DAY And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:33

HYMN With Mary now we follow Christ, He mounts the hill of woe, And bears His heavy cross along With fainting steps and slow. Can we relieve His weary limbs, Or ease His racking pain? O yes, if we will show Him now He did not die in vain. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 21st 21st DAY And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha. John 19:17 THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS To compel one condemned to death to bear the instrument of his execution upon his own shoulders was a most cruel and unusual punishment. And yet such was the fiendish hatred of the enemies of Christ that this irregular method of punishment was inflicted upon Him. Let us try to bring before our mind's eye the picture of Christ struggling under the weight of the cross, as he totters, stumbles, falls in the road, along that first and real “way of the cross.” How the dull thud of the dragging beam beats upon and bruises the ears of Mary as she hears and sees that progress! How she longs to be allowed to lend her strength to aid Him! But no! Hers is the duty to witness, to sympathize, to pray and to endure; to be the “Mother most Sorrowful.” ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 21st DAY And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha. John 19:17

HYMN Behold how Jews and soldiers weave For Christ a thorny crow’n, And bending on one knee in jest, Before His face bow down! My Jesus, for each piercing thorn, For every jest and smart, We still will make fresh acts of love To soothe Thy Sacred Heart. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 20th 20th DAY And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand, and bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him saying: Hail, King of the Jews. Matt. 27:29 THE CROWNING WITH THORNS What a picture this scene related by St. Matthew places before us as we recite this third decade of the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary! He Who is really our King, is thrust upon a jagged pedestal, crowned with a wreath of thorns, furnished with a reed as a sceptre, and subjected to the scorn and mockery and ribaldry of a group of soldiers who were crude and rough and pitiless! Keeping that picture before our minds, let us reflect for a moment on the sorrow and affliction that settled upon the heart of Mary as she realized the tortures to which her Divine Son was being abased! With a supreme act of self-surrender to the holy will of God she steels herself to acquiescence with the sublime submission of Her Divine Son in His obedience to the will of His heavenly Father. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 20th DAY And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand, and bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him saying: Hail, King of the Jews. Matt. 27:29

St. Jude Thaddeus, pray for us, and for all who invoke thine aid. Novena to St. Jude, the Apostle Helper of Despaired of Cases October 19th - 27th Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

HYMN Now watch with tearful eyes the stripes, The cruel blows which fall On Jesus, as He stands fast bound In Pilate's judgment hall. Those stripes that shame my sins deserve, Why fall they, Lord, on Thee? Thy love, my God, thy too great love Would bear them all for me. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 19th 19th DAY I find no cause of death in Him; I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. Luke 23:22 THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR In this second of the sorrowful mysteries we see our Blessed Lord fettered to the pillar, His sacred body stripped of its clothing, and the rude soldiers with cruel thongs, lashing His tender flesh and bruising it until the blood flows. The raucous ribaldry of the reckless and unfeeling soldiers falls upon the sacred ears of Christ as a hideous accompaniment to the stinging blows that fall upon His gentle body. With our attention riveted upon this scene, and with the knowledge that our Blessed Lady was keenly aware of all that was transpiring let us recite this decade in unison with her, striving as best we may to alleviate her pain, and solace her affliction, so far as in our power lies. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 19th DAY I find no cause of death in Him; I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. Luke 23:22

Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands! Novena to Christ the King October 18th - 26th Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King Last Sunday in October Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

HYMN O come unto the Olive Grove And see where Jesus kneels: The anguish of His Sacred Heart, A sweat of blood reveals. To comfort Christ an angel came, And brought his God relief; We, too, by love and pray'r may try To soothe His bitter grief. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 18th 18th DAY And kneeling down He prayed.—And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Luke 22:41,43 THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN As we devoutly recite the first decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, let us strive to conjure up in our minds the picture of Jesus praying! Try to see Him kneeling on the cold ground, His elbows resting on the hard dew-damped rock, His sacred hands folded in supplication, His upturned eyes gazing piteously towards heaven, His fevered lips moving in fervent prayer. It is night. He is praying alone. The pale beams of the moon pierce the foliage and fall upon His wan face, and disclose to us the agony He is enduring. His disciples are asleep; His friends have deserted Him; one, and only one true and loyal heart is beating in love and sympathy and suffering with His—the heart of His blessed Mother! Will not that picture aid us in our effort to recite with more than ordinary devotion this first decade of the sorrowful mysteries? ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 18th DAY And kneeling down He prayed.—And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Luke 22:41,43

HYMN By the cross her station keeping Stood the mournful mother weeping Close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing All His bitter anguish bearing Now at length the sword has passed. O that blessed one, grief laden Blessed mother, blessed maiden, Mother of the All-blest One. How she stood in desolation Upward gazing on the passion Of that deathless, dying Son. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 17th 17th DAY How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about the things that are My Father's? Luke 2:49 THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES Mary's keeping of ''all these words in her heart" had not been in vain. Her years of meditation and daily experience with her Divine Son had taught her that the great purpose of His earthly sojourn was to make atonement to His heavenly Father for the sins of mankind; and in that atonement she was to be Co-Redemptrix. Pain and suffering and rejection and death were to be the portion of Jesus; and Mary's, the immolation of her heart, and the ''sword of grief" foretold by the aged Simeon, was to be driven to the very hilt into her spotless soul. With the death of St. Joseph and the desolate void in her heart created by the loss of his kindly companionship the realization sank deeper and deeper into her mind that soon she was to be deprived also of that other more intimate companionship, that, namely, of Jesus, who has now in reality to give himself up entirely to "the things of His Father." He was to be the victim she, the constant, sympathetic, super-suffering witness of His trials and death. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 17th DAY How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about the things that are My Father's? Luke 2:49

HYMN Now are the days of humblest pray'r When consciences to God lie bare, And mercy most delights to spare. Chorus:— O hearken when we cry, Chastise us with Thy fear Yet, Father, in the multitude Of Thy compassions hear. Now is the season, wisely long, Of sadder thought and graver song When ailing hearts grow well and strong. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)