
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
Humiliation, in one form or another, is part of the package. It is only avoidable if we decide to deny Christ.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/7/2015 (1 decade ago)
Published in Lent / Easter
Keywords: rosary, sorrowful mysteries, crowning, thorns, humiliation, courage, Jennifer Hartline
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - 3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
"They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him." Mark 15:17-20
The fruit of the mystery is moral courage.
Humiliation, in one form or another, is part of the package. It is only avoidable if we decide to deny Christ. Every single day, we'll be presented with moments of choice: either choose Christ and risk mockery and scorn, or deny Him and remain safe, comfortable, hidden.
In a shallow culture that reveres only the self and demands tolerance of all things while it is bitterly intolerant of Christ and His Church, we can't play both sides.
If we're truly following Jesus, we are going to be mocked. We will be the object of scorn and ridicule. We are going to be attacked as closed-minded, oppressive, backward, intellectually-stunted, bigoted, and fanatical. We're going to be hated and persecuted. If we're not being treated as such, perhaps we'd better re-examine our lives and our faith. If we don't stand out from the world, then we could be in serious trouble.
It will cost us dearly sometimes to stand firm in our faith, to go against the current societal tide, to defend the unchanging truth that others dismiss as merely religious belief. But the Humble Savior listened to the vile mockery spewing from the soldiers' mouths and decided that your soul and my soul was worth the degradation. He could have silenced them in an instant if He'd wanted, but He loved us - He loved them - so much that He submitted to their abuse quietly. Like a lamb to the slaughter...
Discipleship will exact a price -- at the very least, humiliation and scorn for His sake. Someday it might even cost our lives. But what is the cost of the alternative?
-----
Jennifer Hartline is a grateful Catholic, a proud Army wife and homeschooling mother of four children. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit her online at Wake Up, Deborah!
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

St. Benedict: A Saint for Our Times

Watch: Boy Shares Tearful Encounter with Jesus in Viral Video

Flooded in Faith: The Tragedy at Camp Mystic and the Man Who Tried to Save It
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Saturday, July 12, 2025
St. John Gaulbert, Abbot: Saint of the Day for Saturday, July 12, 2025
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, Saint Francis Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, July 12, 2025
Daily Readings for Friday, July 11, 2025
St. Benedict of Nursia: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
- Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.