The Sorrowful Mysteries: The Scourging at the Pillar and the Protection of the Voiceless

Joe Paprocki Lent

Scourging at the Pillar - image by Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As we journey deeper into Lent, we pause to reflect on the Second Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary: the Scourging at the Pillar.

This violent scene is depicted in all four Gospels (Luke’s Gospel refers to Jesus being “beaten.”) with very little description, yet it is one of the most vivid images of the Passion, because it was such a barbarous act intended to humiliate the victim and instill fear in onlookers. It’s important to recall, however, that this barbarous act was not relegated to Roman history. It is a part of our own American history as a punishment inflicted upon enslaved Africans who attempted to run away.

The most crucial elements of the Gospel scene are the facts that Jesus is innocent and he is voiceless. As I mentioned in the first installment of this series, the Sorrowful Mysteries begin Jesus’ descent into hell, as he stands with those who face unjust punishment and who have no voice and feel separated from all that is good.

While it is gratifying that whipping posts are largely a thing of the past, we must remember that there continue to be far too many innocent people in our world who face unjust punishments and who have no voice. Jesus stands with them. As followers of Jesus, it is our duty to stand with and speak out on behalf of those who have no voice and who are being unjustly punished.

Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, we are called to protect the most vulnerable, to stand in solidarity with others, and to protect the rights and dignity of all people, especially those who suffer contemporary versions of scourging—attempts to unjustly punish, humiliate, and instill fear in others and to take away their voices.

Let us pray this Lent for the courage to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice and to call for an end to injustice wherever and whenever it occurs.

Deepen your understanding of the Rosary by reading The Rosary: A Path into Prayer by Elizabeth M. Kelly and The Complete Rosary: A Guide to Praying the Mysteries by William G. Storey.

Image by Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Related Articles

stained glass of the Coming of the Holy Spirit - detail of the Glorious Mysteries - image by Daniel VILLAFRUELA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Easter

The Glorious Mysteries: The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Darcy Osby Easter

We reflect this Easter season on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Imagine telling all your family and friends that the only thing you wanted for Christmas was a particular gift. You drop hints in every conversation to make sure that someone will get this perfect gift for you. When Christmas morning arrives, you race to the Christmas tree and dig through all the presents until you find that perfectly shaped box. You tear open […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan - sedmak/iStock/Getty Images - rosary icon by bortonia/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

The Luminous Mysteries: The Baptism of Jesus and How God Entered the Muck

Joe Paprocki Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

As we enter into the last months of Ordinary Time, let’s reflect on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary over the next few weeks. In 2002, St. Pope John Paul II proposed a fourth set of mysteries—the Mysteries of Light, or Luminous Mysteries, which cover events in the life of Jesus and Mary during the Lord’s public ministry. The First Luminous Mystery is the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, an event which was […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
No Picture
Mary and the Saints

How Do YOU Pray the Rosary?

Joe Paprocki Mary and the Saints

One of the most difficult things for a Catholic publisher to do (in terms of pleasing everyone) is to explain how to pray the Rosary! You would think this would be easy, however, there are so many variations in the ways people pray the Rosary that it can make your head spin! I was reminded of this last night when we took the kids to church to pray the Rosary. Two weeks earlier, I taught […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*