The Agony in the Garden

First Sorrowful Mystery

Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane and accepts his Father's will.

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

Meditation: Jesus experiences fear and anguish as he accepts the weight of our sins. He submits to the Father's will despite his human suffering.

Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin

Pray the decade

Our Father

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 Mary10×

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Glory Be

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.

Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

Amen.

Prayer for Vocations

God our Father, please send us holy priests and religious, all through the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, all through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with St. Joseph.¹

Amen.

A special prayer for vocations recited at St. Henry Catholic Church, after the Fatima Prayer at the end of each decade. ↩

Pray the decade

Footnotes