DAILY CATHOLIC   WEDNESDAY, April 1, 1998   volume 9, no. 65

INTRODUCTION: These Meditative Lessons on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary which encompass the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ were imparted via both interior visions and interior locutions to Cyndi Cain, the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart from the Blessed Mother of God during Lent in 1993. Cyndi relates that, "while I saw many details in these interior visions, only certain details were to be written down. Therefore, these lessons are not meant to be a detailed geographical or historical account, nor are they meant to pinpoint all the intricate details one might wish to have knowledge of regarding the Passion of Our Lord...for the importance of each lesson lies not in the descriptive passage or dialogue, but in Our Lady's own meditations which follow each interior vision. These meditations are meant to strengthen us in our faith during this our exile - particularly in these end times when the Holy Catholic Church will be ripped apart by apostasy and schism...for Our Blessed Mother wants our faith to be as strong as an anchor. For our faith to be such, we must have the faith of a simple, little child." During Lent we bring these to you and ask the Holy Spirit to give all the enlightenment and discernment to learn and grow from these meditative lessons that all may persevere in the time of the Great Darkness which looms ever closer. For those who would like the complete works of "It is Consummated!, as well as the books on the Joyful Mysteries - "Come, Let us Adore Him", and the Glorious Mysteries - "My Lord and my God!", click on BOOKS.

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Meditative Lesson 10:

THE SCOURGING AND THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

part four

      Propelled still by Lucifer’s demons the two guards yank Jesus upright, and it is grotesque to see our Blessed Lord try to stand upright. It is His Will alone that permits Him to find His footing.

      The short tunic is pulled roughly over His head, then the longer tunic. I understand that the soldier regards this as another aspect of the process of torture.

      Jesus staggers, nearly falls and the guards drag him off to the side. They push him down upon a rough-hewn bench, not out of kindness but to prepare Him for yet more pain and humiliation. From the corner a soldier rushes forward with a thick bundle of branches covered with thick, long thorns. He gestures at Jesus. The soldiers laugh uproariously and nod agreement.

      One of them, who is older with graying hair, takes the tangle of thorny branches and hacks at it expertly with his sharp sword. He carves it into a crown-like cap and hands it back.

      The two guards, not wanting to be stung by the thorns, use the tips of their own swords to place this ca-like crown on top of Jesus’ head. Once it is there, they use the flat end of their swords and push with all their strength till the crown has sunk into place.

      Laughter, scorn, rebuffs of every kind fill the air while Jesus’ Head is pierced over and over by these thorns that are thick and tough. His forehead is pierced and blood seeps down into His eyes, and trickles along His nose and drips to the ground.

      Our Lady, truly sobbing, reminds me that where, in H is Holy Infancy, His head was possessed of silky curls, there is now a long, sharp thorn where each silken curl lay!

      Another soldier finds an old discarded military cloak, which is hastily thrown over His trembling shoulders, while yet another finds a reed and places it in His right hand.

      Throughout, Jesus has uttered no cry, no word. But His prayer has been ceaseless and filled with the Divine Will.

      How the demons laugh, their evil eyes glowing with hate. They move the soldiers to bend their knees and strike their breasts as one by one they come before this human wreck and proclaim: "Hail, King of the Jews!" while Jesus, His beautiful eyes no longer beautiful, accepts, endures, suffers and offers all to His Father in Perfect Love!

NEXT INSTALLMENT: Part Five of Lesson 10: Our Lady's Meditation on THE SCOURGING AND THE CROWNING WITH THORNS