The Rosary with the Great Painters: the Sorrowful Mysteries

Portrait of  a Young Man with a Rosary, Hans Baldung Grien, 1509

Royal Collection, Windsor

'The contemplation of Christ has an incomparable model in Mary. In a unique way the face of the Son belongs to Mary. It was in her womb that Christ was formed, receiving from her a human resemblance which points to an even greater spiritual closeness. No one has ever devoted himself to the contemplation of the face of Christ as faithfully as Mary. The eyes of her heart already turned to him at the Annunciation, when she conceived him by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the months that followed she began to sense his presence and to picture his features. When at last she gave birth to him in Bethlehem, her eyes were able to gaze tenderly on the face of her Son, as she “wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger” (Lk2:7).' [St John Paul II, Rosario Virginis Mariae, No 10.]

The Rosary here is the formula prayed by members of the Legion of Mary, the way I prefer. There are various ways of beginning and ending the Rosary but the Five Mysteries are the heart of the prayer. The most common formula of the Rosary is here.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let the Spirit continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

v. You, O Lord, will open my lips.

R. And my tongue shall announce Your praise.

v. Incline unto my aid, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

First Mystery
The Agony in the Garden

The Agony in the Garden, El Greco, 1600-05
Diocesan Museum, Cuenca, Spain

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Second Mystery

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Scourging of Christ, Vecellio Tiziano, c.1590

Galleria Borghese, Rome

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Third Mystery

The Crowning with Thorns

Crowning with Thorns, Valentin de Boulogne

Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fourth Mystery

Jesus Carries the Cross

Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco, 1600-05

Museo del Prado, Madrid

Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Fifth Mystery

The Crucifixion

Christ on the Cross with the two Marys and St John, El Greco, c.1588

National Gallery, Athens
Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

v. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

v. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

R. Have mercy on us.

v. Immaculate Heart of Mary

R. Pray for us.

v. St Joseph

R. Pray for us.

v. St John the Evangelist

R. Pray for us.

v. St Louis-Marie deMontfort

R. Pray for us. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Caoineadh na dtrí Muire - The Lament of the Three Marys

This is part of a traditional hymn in Irish Gaelic

Verse 1
Nó an é sin an maicín a h-oileadh in ucht Mháire?
Óchón agus óchón-ó
An é sin an maicín a d'iompar mé trí raithe?
Óchón agus óchón-ó

Is that the son nourished at Mary's breast

'Alas and woe to me'
Or is that the son I carried three terms
'Alas and woe to me'

Verse 2
Nó an é sin an maicín a rugadh insan stábla?
Óchón agus óchón-ó
A mhicín a mhúirneach, tá do shrón 's do bhéailín gearrtha
Óchón agus óchón-ó

Or is that the son born in the stable

'Alas and woe to me'
My son my darling your nose and mouth are cut
'Alas and woe to me'

Verse 3
Cuireadh táirní maola trína cosa is trína lámha
Óchón agus óchón-ó
Cuireadh an tsleá trína bhrollach álainn
Óchón agus óchón-ó

Blunt nails were driven through his feet and hands

"Alas and woe to me"
The spear was put through his beautiful chest
'Alas and woe to me'

Thanks to the Irish Dominicans who posted this on YouTube.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,

The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit

of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Glory be to the Father

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

All paintings from Web Gallery of Art

The Joyful Mysteries.

The Mysteries of Light.

The Glorious Mysteries.