The Sheepfold and the Voice of the Shepherd

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Stone sheepfold John 10:22-30 Recently my boys have been spending a great deal of time outside in the area that will soon be transformed into our garden. They spend endless hours digging in the dirt for worms. They then promptly take those worms and throw them to the chickens. It amazes me how even chickens can learn to recognize sounds or voices. My oldest makes this funny high-pitched sound when he comes out of the house and heads toward the coop. The chickens practically fall over themselves running toward the fence or out of the coop when they hear him making his sound. They know there is food to follow! In Sunday's Gospel Jesus tells us that, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." and "I am the gate for the sheep." Today, again, Jesus mentions that His sheep know His voice and follow Him.  In these few verses we learn that Jesus is both gate and shepherd for the sheep. In those days and even today in some places, a sheepfold w
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90 Day Rosary of Reparation - Day 3

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The Sorrowful Mysteries - The Conversion of Sinners


The Agony in the Garden - Jesus said, “My soul is sorrowful, even unto death.” In the Garden we can imagine that Jesus saw all of the sins of man from Adam and Eve until He returns. The vision of the suffering caused by these sins was so real He sweat blood.

Lord, by the graces won for the world from the sweating of blood in the Garden and the shedding of blood on the Cross, bring about the conversion of sinners. Pour forth your mercy on a world that calls light darkness and darkness, light. We pray for the conversion of sinners of which, echoing the words of St. Paul, “I am the foremost.”


The Scourging at the Pillar - The world is rolling in sins of the flesh and it was for these that Jesus so patiently endured His scourging. He saw our addictions to pornography, drugs, and how we would worship the body and neglect the Lord. With each lash of the whip He cried out, if only in His heart, “forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”

Heavenly Father, we pray for the conversion of sinners, most especially for those who commit sins of the flesh. We pray for the conversion of those trapped by lust and gluttony whether they be a child, husband, wife, or clergy. May the words of the prophet Isaiah give comfort during this mystery, “He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by His wounds we were healed.”


The Crowning with Thorns - “And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head..” During this mystery, let us pray for the conversion of sinners and sins of thought. Let us pray for those whose minds are guided by thoughts of anger, deceit, envy, lust, jealousy, and hatred. Let us pray that the miseries of a false crown on the true King may be a redemptive suffering for the sins of thought.

Lord Jesus, You endured the crowning of thorns and mockery of the soldiers out of love for us. Bring about the conversion of sinners through Your suffering. Bring about the conversion of those sins not only of the heart and body but also of the mind.


The Carrying of the Cross - How bruised and broken the shoulder of Our Lord must have been from His carrying of the Cross. He had told us often that in order to follow Him, we too must take up our cross and follow. During this mystery let us pray for the courage to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. Let us shoulder these crosses in reparation for our sins and the sins of others, especially for those in the Church.

Lord Jesus, give us the strength each day to carry our crosses. They seem so heavy to us and oftentimes unbearable, but we know that you are there beside us like Simon of Cyrene to help us. Give us the courage to carry our crosses and to be Simon for others in our family, Church, and the world.


The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus - True conversion is dying to self. It is giving up selfish desires, addictions, and even pleasures for our own good and the good of others. It is a turning away from sin, regardless of how painful that may be, and a turning toward God. Conversion is not easy nor is it instant. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for the conversion of all sinners. Let us turn away from sin and gaze upon the Cross and let us firmly resolve, with God’s grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Heavenly Father, look upon the sacrifice of Your Son and grant us a share in the graces won for us there. Help us to turn away from sins. Help us to avoid temptations. Brig about a renewal in our homes and the Church, a renewal that gives us the graces to say “no” to sin and “yes” to the Cross, to say “not my will but yours be done.”

If you like these meditations, you may also like Rosary Meditations for Real Life, Rosary Meditations for the Family, or download all of our free meditation pamphlets.  The audio version of the Holy Rosary is also available for free on our website and recited by James M. Hahn.

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