Vocation Rosary

These meditations on each of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary were written by Seminarian David C. Deston.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Looking at the mysteries of the Rosary through the prism of vocation, we learn about the economy, that is, God's plan of salvation, and about finding one's place within the economy. Regardless of one's specific vocation, however, there are certain constants that mark the vocation of every Christian. The primary one is, of course, proclamation of the Word. Yet, merely to proclaim the Word isn't enough. What we need to do is to unite ourselves with the suffering and death of Jesus. In doing so, we make our work in the world more efficacious and fruitful. Let us turn, then, to the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, which deal with the suffering and death of Our Lord, and see how to unite our vocation to that of the Master.

First Sorrowful Mystery - The Agony in the Garden

After the Last Supper, where he gave the Church the gift of his very self, Jesus retired to the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James, and John. Our Lord was troubled and aware that challenges were on the way, and he wanted to spend a quiet moment with his Father. Prayer. It is an essential element to all vocations. Whatever our personal path might be, we are sure to meet challenges on the way. We must not allow whatever difficulties we face to tear our gaze from God. We have to be like Jesus and make the time to talk to God, to express to him our doubts, but also to ultimately accept His will and take comfort from His presence, strengthened for whatever lay ahead. As we pray this mystery, let us ask God to strengthen our brothers and sisters about to face a challenge as they carry out His will.

Second Sorrowful Mystery - The Scourging at the Pillar

In a stunningly craven political move, Pilate orders Jesus scourged, in the hope of placating a crowd who wanted nothing more than to see the legions march out of Judea, preferably at the point of Israelite swords. From time to time, as we go on about our lives, as we live out our vocations, we get the short end of the stick, or in the case of Our Lord, the hook end of the whip. When we meet setbacks or roadblocks on our vocational journey, we musn't be like Jonah, cursing the dead plant, but like Jesus, who didn't open his mouth once. As we pray this mystery, let us ask God to give us the patience to deal with obstacles to our work with grace. But let us also unite our sufferings to his and remember that "by his stripes, we are healed."

Third Sorrowful Mystery - The Crowning with Thorns

Before he comes into his kingdom, the King of the Jews is made fun of, spat upon, slapped, and crowned with thorns by soldiers of Caesar's legions. Upon the pains of the garden and at the pillar, a new torment is cast. At the Sermon on the Mount, Our Lord tells us that we are blessed when we are made fun of or persecuted, or even killed, on account of him. When our work in the Lord is derided or made fun of, or belittled, it is Our Lord himself, through us, who is crowned with a new garland. So, as this decade progresses let us remember that Jesus suffered humiliation and derision as he worked out his vocation. Are we greater than he, that we should be spared humiliation on his account?

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus Carries His Cross

Living out our vocations is not always easy. Consider Our Lord, bruised, whipped, beaten, and humiliated as he lugged the impossibly heavy cross out of Jerusalem, and up Calvary Hill. The cross is a torment, but it is also a necessary tool for salvation. Jesus tells us that we must take up our crosses and follow him. What are we waiting for? After all, in another passage, he tells us that his yoke is easy, his burden light. As we pray this mystery, let us resolve to once more take up our crosses, embracing them, and follow Jesus up Calvary to our salvation. The yoke is easy and the burden light because in his love, Jesus has already done the work.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion

Jesus loved the world so much, that he gave his very life for us. He saw through, to the end of his life, his vocational journey. He put up with all the setbacks, the stumbles, the beatings, the insults, all of it, so that he might restore man's relationship with God. And we, after we have carried our cross, and united all our sufferings with those of Christ, then we must take those parts of ourselves which impede our relationship with God and nail them to the cross, no matter how painful it may be, and so crucify ourselves, so that like Jesus, we too may rise to new life in God.