We should not be surprised that in Maria's vision, at the time the executioners prepared the Cross, Jesus was praying for you, for me, and for us all. He asked that we be granted mercy instead of condemnation. He prayed for our deliverance from Satan's slavery. He begged to save us and make a place for us in the family of God. And He revealed once more His passion to accomplish the salvation of man for the glory of God.

Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. ... I do not pray that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from the evil one. ... For their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. ... I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their word." - John 17:1-2, 15, 19-20

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Jesus' tormentors intended to wound both His body and His soul. The goal was humiliation when they stripped Him naked in public. Ever since the sin of our first parents in Eden, nakedness had been linked to shame. Instead, Jesus' nakedness revealed the blessed Body that was broken and given for our salvation. Maria's vision details the wounds that flowed as Jesus' tunic was torn away, and to the eyes of faith those wounds shine with a bloody beauty. The divine nakedness was exposed so that our shame might be taken away.

And they stripped [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe upon Him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand. ... And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. ... And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among them. - Matthew 27:28-29, 31, 35

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Consider Simon of Cyrene, the Everyman of the passion story. Like most of us, he was not prepared to be inconvenienced. In the Simon of Anne Catherine's vision, he resented helping a total stranger, especially when he had no choice. Yet with one look into Jesus' eyes, everything changed for Simon. His heart began to melt, and before long, he was carrying that Cross to a new eternal destiny. So it is with us: God honors even the most reluctant acts of charity with abundant grace.

When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. As they were marching out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry His cross. - Matthew 27:31-32

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)