Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent (Or anytime)

Here is a very profitable way to meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries. This way incorporates into this meditative prayer the Stations of the Cross and Christ’s Last Words with the Sorrowful Mysteries. Essentially you meditate on the first three sorrowful mysteries in the normal way.

After meditating on the fourth sorrowful mystery, you meditate on the first 10 Stations of the Cross on each of the ten small beads. The 11th station is meditated together with the 5th Sorrowful Mystery on the large bead. Then meditate on the 7 Last Words of Christ on the first 7 small beads, followed by stations 12, 13 and 14 on the last 3 small beads.

It all fits together so beautifully and brings outs additional images of our Lord's suffering.

Here is how it goes:
1st Sorrowful Mystery – The Agony in the Garden
2nd Sorrowful Mystery – The Scourging at the Pillar
3rd Sorrowful Mystery – The Crowning with Thorns
4th Sorrowful Mystery – Christ Carrying the Cross

On the ten small beads meditate on the first 10 Stations of the Cross

1. Jesus Condemned to Death
2. Jesus Made to bear His Cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets His afflicted Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene helps carry the Cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time.
8. Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls for the 3rd time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments

5th Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion (The 11th Station – Jesus is nailed to the Cross)

On the ten small beads meditate on the Last 7 Words of Christ and the Last 3 Stations of the Cross.

1. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
2. “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
3. “Behold your son, behold your Mother.”
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
5. “I thirst.”
6. “It is finished.”
7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
8. Station 12 – Jesus Dies on the Cross
9. Station 13 – Jesus is taken down from the Cross and put into His Mother’s arms
10. Station 14 – The body of Jesus is placed into the tomb.

PP Letter from Fr. Philip Bloom

July 9, 2004
Ms. Stacey Denis
Planned Parenthood – West Seattle Health Center
9641 28th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98126

Dear Ms. Denis,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Respect Life Committee of Holy Family Parish. Beginning this month we will be conducting peaceful, non-violent prayer vigils on the sidewalk in front of your facility. In doing so, we are exercising our freedom as citizens to engage in lawful protest. We make no judgment on the intentions of those who work at Planned Parenthood, but we are concerned about certain aspects of the organization:

· It is the largest abortion provider in the United States – and throughout the world.
· It vigorously promotes the contraceptive life-style to those married and unmarried, to adults and to youth. An example of this is the coupon you sent to local residents offering one year of free contraception to certain categories of people.
· It uses deceptive advertising, such as calling the “Morning After Pill” emergency contraception when in fact it can take effect after conception, thus destroying a newly conceived human.
· Historically Planned Parenthood has tended to target minorities, opening clinics in neighborhoods like ours which have significant minority populations.
· It provides abortion and birth control to minors without informing their parents, thus creating an additional division between parent and child.
· It has covered up cases of statutory rape.

These claims are well documented – and we would be most willing to discuss any of them with you. At the same time, we are ready to help young people recognize there are alternatives to abortion and the contraceptive lifestyle. We – and other Christian churches in the area - would do our utmost to assist them so that they might have a genuine choice.

If you wish further information or desire to discuss any aspect of this letter, please feel free to call me at: 206-767-6220.

Sincerely,



Fr. Phillip Bloom
Pastor