Sorrowful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary Quiz

Answer: the Revelationist Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

The five Joyful Mysteries cover the time from the Annunciation to the the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus, to the finding of Jesus in the Temple by His parents when He was aged 12. The Sorrowful Mysteries cover the passion and death of Jesus.

The Glorious Mysteries cover the resurrection of Jesus, His ascension into Heaven and the eventual crowning of His Mother Mary as Queen of Heaven. There are no Revelationist Mysteries of the Rosary. There is a fourth optional set of "Luminous Mysteries" introduced by the late Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Answer: five

The Most Holy Rosary is comprised of five Sorrowful Mysteries, five Joyful Mysteries and five Glorious Mysteries (there is also a fourth optional set of "Luminous Mysteries" introduced by the late Pope John Paul II in 2002) Each Mystery is one decade of the prayer "The Hail Mary".

In the time of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes a sixth decade might be included in the Rosary and this was to enable contemplation on the "conversion of poor sinners". In a museum in Lourdes (in Southern France and a shrine to Our Lady) you can see this decade on rosary beads of the time.

Answer: The Blessed Virgin Mary

Prayer is always to God, but Catholics hope that the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother of Jesus will act like an advocate in Court to present their prayers through her Son to God the Father. Catholics know that nobody will have more influence with Jesus (as He presents our prayers to the Father) than His Mother.

Answer: the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus was betrayed by Judas into the hands of the authorities in the Garden of Gethsemane on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Answer: True

Please see Luke 22:44. Not only was this a horrific event for Jesus, but it was covered in vile insult from the authorities. The soldiers came for Jesus at night, with a show of great force and used a friend of Jesus (Judas) to betray Him. Remember Jesus had always taught (and lived) about peace and not force. Jesus always acted in the open and hid nothing in secrecy and darkness.

He was the "Light of the World" to His followers. Also, He preached the doctrine of "Love Thy Neighbour" and now they used a close friend in such a way. Jesus was at the zenith of His greatness in what He represented and the evil around Him was now boiling over in those who opposed Him.

Answer: more than twelve legions of angels

Please see Matthew 26:53. By entreating His Father all the events to follow might have been stopped. However, Saint Matthew says Jesus refused escape by saying " How then are the Scriptures to be fulfilled, that thus it must take place" (Matthew 26:54). Jesus prior to His arrest was on a collision course with the authorities.

The authorities were raging at His teachings and Jesus did not waver from His teachings in order to pacify them. At any time prior to His arrest Jesus was able to walk away into the desert and hide Himself from the authorities who were openly keen to kill Him. Jesus showed that no force (human or otherwise) was going to stop Him preaching His message to mankind and in His way and where He wanted.

Answer: the scourging

Please see Matthew 27:26. Jesus was scourged (flogged) at the pillar in a barbaric way. Jesus's teaching had been slashing at the rich, the powerful and those in authority (remember that He had said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven - Please see Matthew 19:24.

Other statements are in the Gospels concerning Jesus's view of the so called elite of the time). Now they were lashing back at Jesus physically and showing how much His honest preaching was hurting their feelings.

Answer: Pilate

Pontius Pilate notoriously tried to wash his hands of the responsibility for Jesus's suffering and death. He left the decision to the people who answered "His blood be on us and on our children" (Please see Matthew 27:25). The Catholic Church have always seen Pilate's avoidance of responsibility as a grave offence against Jesus. Even today if it is said that you "washed your hands of something" it can be the most serious of insults to you.

Answer: Barabbas

Please see Matthew 27:15-23. Pilate was a coward and used the fact that it was festival time to follow a tradition and allow the crowd to release one of the two prisoners (Jesus or Barabbas). Pilate was clearly ignorant of the politics at the time and the chief priests and elders whipped up the crowd to have Barabbus (a brigand and a thief) released and Jesus condemned.

At this point Pilate washed his hands.

Answer: the crowning with thorns

The soldiers made thorns into a crown and placed it on Jesus's head (Please see Matthew 27{ 26-30). They stripped Him and put Him in a scarlet cloak and mocked Him. They spat at Him and struck Him. This vicious crowning of Jesus with thorns clearly reflected and copied the way their own minds and those of the authorities were burning with moral fear.

Many must have thought that they could force Him to show by Divine intervention who He really was. How little they knew of Him or God.

Answer: the Praetorium

The Praetorium was where the guard resided and courts were heard. Here Jesus was crowned with thorns and grievously assaulted and mocked.

Answer: No

Jesus never physically resisted His fate. Please see Matthew 26:54 and Jesus accepted that the will of His Father in Heaven was to die in this way. The mental anguish on Him knowing all this must happen must have been extreme (Please see Matthew Luke 22:44 and question 5 above).

Answer: the carrying of the cross

Jesus was led away to die on the hill at Calvary and the soldiers laid a heavy cross on him to carry. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus was carrying the weight of our sins in His cross. He was to die for love of us. The extreme barbarity of the crucifixion was immense, particularly bearing mind the Person of peace and love that it was being done to and for no just reason. Evil had erupted out of control in Jerusalem.

Answer: Yes

The soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross. They clearly wished Jesus to die the disgraceful death of a criminal on the cross rather than die of exhaustion on the way. Simon was a man in from the country. Please see Luke 23:26. He was probably a tourist and/or pilgrim and as he travelled he was drawn in to see the appalling display of brutality that was erupting in Jerusalem that day. Surely in seeing, meeting Jesus and carrying His cross he then realised that this was no ordinary execution.

Answer: wine (or vinegar) mixed with gall

Please see Matthew 27:34. Saint Matthew records that when Jesus had tasted it, He would not drink.

Answer: crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross

Jesus died nailed to the cross after hours of agony. Two convicted thieves also died, one either side of Him.

Answer: the sixth hour

Please see Matthew 27:45. This happened from the sixth until the ninth hour.

Answer: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

Please see Matthew 27:46.

Answer: Yes

Our Lady of the Rosary is a great devotion for Catholics. When she appeared in visions particularly at Fatima, she indicated the great need of people to say the Rosary.

Answer: No

The rosary and all its mysteries are said all the year round. The sorrowful mysteries are associated particularly with Tuesdays and Fridays of every week.