He is Scourged

 

When we read the three passages in the Gospel accounts that mention it (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, and John 19:1) the scriptural account is just a sentence. And yet the term scourging to the early Christians, many of whom either were scourged and lived, or saw many scourged and killed shortly after, did not need more than just the sentence. 

The scourging was an event with a few different points to it. First, we have the physical brutality of the event. This was an event designed to hasten the death to come on the cross. If the Romans were anything, they were skilled in brutal deaths, and the process of carrying out those brutal executions. A medical examiner (forensic pathologist) and an orthopedic surgeon go into great depth about the tortures that Christ endured (for us) and they were a great many. 

This act of enduring the scourging (scene from Passion of the Christ, WARNING: Very graphic scene!!) is demonstrative of how the martyrs will suffer for Him. This scourging of Christ is a point of knowing that we too will suffer; some as much as Christ did, others not as much. The whipping that Christ received, the shedding of His Most Precious Blood, poured out for us, is the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Isaiah "By His bruises we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). This type of endurance as St. Augustine talked about in his homily on the Gospel of St. John is that "He commended to us the prior imitation of His patience; thus the kingdom which was not of this world overcame that proud world, not by the ferocity of fighting, but by the humility of suffering".

This physical torture is an extreme form of mortification. Mortification is the Catholic practice of asceticism, or a way of living to train the mind/body and soul in a virtuous life. Mortification is how we die to self, and grow in Christ. Current forms of mortification include fasting and/or abstaining from meat on all Fridays in accordance with canon law, as that was the day Jesus Christ died for us. Other forms include the typical "giving up coffee/tea/chocolate for Lent" in addition to the other days of fasting and abstaining days in the liturgical calendar. 

The fruit of this mystery is mortification. Mortification is a good. Mortification of the body is the way for us to focus on our soul and how we are living in Christ. We die to our self, we die to the sinful life we live, and rise again in Christ. In the mortification of our desires we can then see not what our body wanted, as these are our desires, but we can then see what our soul needs. We can see how we can grow in the virtues, and grow closer to Christ who is all virtuous. 

The Scriptural Rosary is:

1. The Second Sorrowful Mystery is: Scourging at the Pillar
1. Pater Noster …
2. Now all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving him, fled. But they holding Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. (Matthew 26:56-57)
1. Ave Maria ...
3. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death (Matthew 26:59)
1. Ave Maria …
4. And they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses: And they said: This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it. (Matthew 26:60-61)
1. Ave Maria …
5. What think you? But they answering, said: He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him: and others struck his face with the palms of their hands, (Matthew 26:66-67)
1. Ave Maria …
6. And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to death. And they brought him bound, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:1-2)
1. Ave Maria …
7. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. (Matthew 27:11-12)
1. Ave Maria …
8. And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? (Matthew 27:16-17)
1. Ave Maria …
9. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? (Matthew 27:21-22a)
1. Ave Maria …
10. They say all: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified. (Matthew 27:22b-23)
1. Ave Maria …
11. Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26)
1. Ave Maria …
12. O My Jesus …
13. Gloria Patri …