Long before His Passion, Christ knew that the Church He established would follow in the footstops of His suffering. He must have faced haunting questions: “If I suffer these things, what good will it do? Will this fallen race turn its back on My gift? Is it worth the price?”

Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ... Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:4–5, 9–12

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

How startling it is to hear Christ's outcry in the Garden: “Remove this cup from Me!” Is any prayer of Our Lord more unsettling than this? Hearing it, we are tempted to think that in this terrible moment, Jesus lost His courage, faltered in His resolve, shrank from His mission. Yet Jesus was not stumbling spiritually...

Jesus withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. – Luke 22:41–45

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Satan, defeated by Our Lord in the wilderness before His public ministry began, had retreated until an opportunity arose to engage Him again. What better opportunity than the agonized hours in Gethsemane?

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the Devil. ... And when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. – Luke 4:1–2, 13

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Here we begin with the Stations of the Cross, in the Garden of Gethsemane. We must imagine the crushing grief Christ felt – even before His physical torture commenced – knowing what awaited Him, as the wretched gravity of the sin of a whole world weighed down on him.

Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be troubled and full of grief. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me.” Then going a little farther, He fell on His face and prayed. – Matthew 26:36–39

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Paul Thigpen sets the stage for a Lenten journey like no other. He reminds us of the value of meditating on Christ's Passion, not just during Lent, but year-round. And he introduces us to two mystics whose compelling visions of the Passion have inspired generations to saintlier living. Along the way, Paul considers the following questions:

• What do you contemplate when you look upon a crucifix?
• What do we stand to gain when we follow Christ in His Passion, examining each key scene from the Gospels?
• How do the private revelations of the mystics hold up a mirror to ourselves?

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

SUBSCRIBE FOR DAILY NOTIFICATIONS AT LENTPODCAST.COM

USE COUPON CODE PASSION25 AT TANBOOKS.COM FOR 25% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDER

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)