seasons of motherhood | pray the rosary | Behold Your Mother
Today we will pray the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion.
Being pregnant is an amazing gift because we are able to take part in our own Paschal Mystery and experience a small bit of Jesus’ words: “This is My Body, broken for you.” It’s been said a woman in labor is as close to Heaven as she’ll get earth-side.
From the moment of conception to the day we deliver, we experience many physical challenges in pregnancy and birth. Morning sickness (or all-day sickness), aching backs, Braxton-Hicks contractions, sore feet, swollen ankles, and a slowly growing and stretching belly. With each of these physical disruptions, we can turn those sufferings into an offering to Our Lord and whisper to our growing baby, “This is my body, broken for you.”
Jesus’ Body and Blood were given so that we may have eternal life. He showed us the ultimate sacrifice.
As pregnant mothers, our own bodies and blood are given so that our growing babies may also have life. It is a great sacrifice of ourselves and a beautiful offering to our Lord that we can lay at the foot of the Holy Cross.
May we enter into this mystery of the Rosary by meditating upon Christ’s gift of His Body and Blood and the salvation history in which we take part by bringing a child into the world.
The writers of Catholic Mom enthusiastically gathered to share meditations on each Mystery of the Rosary in a special way for pregnant mothers. We invite you to join us throughout the month of May as we pray together each day, and to share these reflections with other moms who will enjoy them.
Images: created by Ted Schluenderfritz for Holy Cross Family Ministries