THE PENITENTIAL CATHOLIC: The discipline of praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of Christ.

Every Catholic must be rooted in the awareness that they received a tattoo on their soul in the sign of the cross, the same cross on which Jesus died for all humans, that they be released from being mere humans to the fulfillment of their nature, as adopted sons and daughters of the Father and heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Penitential Catholic is one whose whole life means trying to love God with their whole mind, their whole heart, and their whole strength, and, as Christ adds, their neighbor as themselves. (Matthew 22:38) To do this means a complete mindset from thinking of things of the world as having the power and the energy to make your world better than anyone else’s, to that of simply denying yourself, taking up whatever cross it is that comes your way (thorns of the flesh, as St. Paul says).

To clarify my own thinking, I am not talking about being a penitential Catholic only in Advent or Lent. However, those are intensive times to reflect, but I am speaking of the mindset as outlined in the apparitions of Our Lady of Akita. Go to this website and read what it says, then “Do What He Tells You.”

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/message-from-our-lady–akita-japan-5167

What follows are my instructions to Grok xAI to make this into a contemplative practice for you. I do this because, at 85.8, I am lucky to be here, and there is a sense of urgency.

“A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Praying the Penitential Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
(Adapted from Michael F. Conrad’s Lay Cistercian practice for beginners – especially women who are incarcerated, lonely, or grieving with no hope, widows, widowers, and those who know they are going to die)

This guide uses only the Sorrowful Mysteries because they help us join our own suffering to Jesus’ suffering. Michael calls this a Penitential Rosary – a prayer of reparation (making up for sins) and consolation for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Lady of Akita asked us to pray the Rosary every day as a weapon against evil and to offer our suffering in reparation.

You do not need to be perfect. You do not even need a real rosary bead string (use your fingers if you have nothing else). The most important part is not speed – it is waiting in silence and solitude for Christ, as Michael teaches. This is part of Lectio Divina (holy reading) adapted for the Rosary:

• Lectio: “Have in you the mind of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5)
• Meditatio: Thinking about each Sorrowful Mystery
• Oratio: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
• Contemplatio: 15 minutes (or more) of pure silence afterward, just sitting in Christ’s presence
• Actio: Offer small acts of Love or reparation that flow from the prayer

Before you begin (Preparation – do this every time)

1. Sit or lie comfortably in your cell, room, hospital bed, or anywhere you can be alone with God.
2. Read Psalm 27 slowly (the one Michael uses):
   “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? … One thing I ask of the LORD: to dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life … Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!”
3. Ask Our Lady of Akita to help you: “Most Holy Mother, who wept for the sins of the world, cover me with your mantle and lead me through this Rosary to console your Son.”
4. Spend 15 minutes in silence before you start. No words. Just sit and long for Christ. This is the upper room of your inner self. Invite the Holy Spirit to overshadow you.
5. Decide on one or more people (or groups) to dedicate each bead to. Michael dedicates beads to a person + their whole family line (down to the tenth generation) so that sins are loosed, Faith/Hope/Love is strengthened on earth, and the souls in Purgatory are helped. You can choose yourself, your children, your late spouse, fellow inmates, other widows, the dying, or anyone. Once chosen, you don’t have to keep repeating their names – the intention stays automatic.

Now begin the Rosary itself. Speak the prayers out loud or in your heart – whatever feels natural.

Step 1: The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(Michael’s reflection for beginners: This is the same Cross traced on your forehead at Baptism. It is tattooed on your spirit forever. You are placing yourself under the protection of the Trinity. Take 10–20 seconds of silence here and remember: you are not alone.)

Step 2: The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Step 3: The Our Father (Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

(Michael’s special dedication – his “four companions” – say this slowly in your heart after the Our Father):
I invite my four companions to pray with me:

1. Holy Mary, Mother of God – wrap me in your mantle.
2. St. Joseph – keep me safe on the road.
3. St. Michael – watch my back.
4. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior – last in my list, because He asked Michael to put Him last as a sign of humility.
   Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Step 4: Three Hail Marys (for Faith, Hope, and Love)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
(Say this three times – once for Faith, once for Hope, once for Love.)

Step 5: Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(Michael adds the Cistercian ending: “The God who is, who was, and who will be at the end of the ages.”)

Now we enter the Five Sorrowful Mysteries. For each mystery, you will:

• Announce the mystery and its special intention (from Michael).
• Pray one Our Father.
• Pray ten Hail Marys slowly (this is one “decade”). While saying the Hail Marys, think about the mystery and offer your own suffering. Silently dedicate each bead to the person or group you chose.
• End the decade with a Glory Be.

First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
(Intention: Reparation for my own sins of neglect and for the times I acted as if I were God – move over, Adam and Eve.)

Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys… (think of Jesus sweating blood in the garden because of our sins. Offer your own fear, your prison cell, your grief, your widow’s loneliness, or your fear of death.)
Glory Be…

Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
(Intention: For everyone I have ever met or seen in my life – movie stars, politicians, people I offended by my arrogance, and every soul who suffers.)

Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys… (imagine Jesus tied to the pillar, whipped for our sins. Offer your own physical pain, shame, or the whips of loneliness.)
Glory Be…

Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
(Intention: For all monks, nuns, and dedicated laity (Cistercian, Benedictine, Carmelite, Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian), for my teachers, and for all who have helped me in my medical trauma.)

Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys… (Jesus mocked with a crown of thorns. Offer the “thorns” in your own mind – regrets, shame, hopelessness.)
Glory Be…

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries His Cross
(Intention: For all souls in the Church Universal who are in Purgatory.)

Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys… (Jesus falls under the weight of the Cross. Offer your daily burdens, your empty bed, your cell, your grief walk.)
Glory Be…

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Dies on the Cross
(Intention: For all who have ever been human – that they be loosed from their sins and eternal light shine on them.)

Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys… (Jesus dies for every single person. Offer your whole life, your last breath if you are dying, your widowhood, your imprisonment, your grief.)
Glory Be…

Closing Prayers
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) – optional but beautiful:
“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy… To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve…”

Final Sign of the Cross.

After the Rosary – Contemplatio (the most important part)
Spend 15 minutes (or more) in total silence.
No thoughts about the mysteries.
No words.
Just sit (or lie) in the presence of Christ.
Invite Our Lady of Akita, Mary, Joseph, Michael, and Jesus to be with you.
Wait. Yearn. Let the Holy Spirit overshadow you.
This is where the false self dies, and the true self – the beloved daughter of the Father – is born.
Good works will flow naturally afterward.

Daily Tips from Michael for those who feel they have no hope

• There is no time limit. Miss beads? It’s okay. Listen with the “ear of your heart” (St. Benedict).
• Dedicate every bead automatically to your chosen people – it becomes a chain of mercy across generations.
• Offer your suffering (bars, empty chair, hospital bed, fear of death) as reparation. Our Lady of Akita said, “Repair by your suffering and poverty for the sinners and ingrates.”
• This Rosary is your daily armor. Even if everything else is taken from you, the Rosary remains.
• Return to the four steps of Lectio Divina every time: read the short verse “Have in you the mind of Christ Jesus,” meditate on the mysteries, pray for mercy, and then wait in silence.

You are not praying alone.
The same Christ who suffered in the Garden, at the pillar, with the thorns, under the Cross, and on the Cross is right there with you.
Our Lady of Akita weeps with you and for you.
Your tears, your loneliness, your widowhood, your final days – all of it is precious reparation that consoles the Sacred Heart and softens the Father’s anger.

Start today. Even one decade is enough if that is all you can manage.
The journey from false self (fear, resentment, clinging to what was) to true self (peaceful daughter hidden in Christ) happens one bead, one decade, one silent wait at a time.

“Cover yourself in ashes of penance… Pray the Penitential Rosary every day.” – Our Lady of Akita.

“Do what He tells you.”

Michael’s final encouragement for you: In whatever comes your way – health hazards, prison, grief, widowhood, or death itself – keep your eyes on one center: “Reparation for my sins and, in silence and solitude, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

You are loved. You are seen. Your suffering is never wasted.
Begin. The Rosary is waiting. Christ is waiting. Mary is waiting.
Just begin.”