Midwest Mary

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By

Mary K. Doyle

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Agony in the Garden

If you didn’t know the significance of the 13,000 square foot space, you’d see it as a peaceful, little garden dotted with olive trees. However, it is so much more meaningful than that. Overlooking the Garden of Gethsemane last October, the site stirred intense emotions within me. I longed to cross the ornate iron fence that secured it and actually walk on that ground to ponder more fully.

The Garden of Gethsemane is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, just above the Kidron Valley, in Jerusalem. Gethsemane comes from the Aramaic word gath semanim meaning “oil press.” The site is considered sacred as it is where Jesus often met his disciples (John 18:2, Luke 22:39) and the area in which he prayed prior to his arrest and crucifixion (See Mark 14:32-50 and Matthew 26:36-56). The Eastern Orthodox Church also recognizes the garden as the location where the Virgin Mary was buried and assumed into heaven after her dormition on Mount Zion.

Gethsemane is adjacent to the Church of All Nations which enshrines what is said to be the exact section of the bedrock from the garden where Jesus prayed. The church was built on the site of two ancient churches, one which was destroyed by an earthquake in 746 and a 12th century chapel built by the Crusaders that was abandoned in 1345.

On his last night in the garden, Jesus admittedly was concerned. He told Peter, James, and John that he was deeply grieved even to death and asked them to stay awake while he prayed. In fact, Jesus asked them three times. Each time, Jesus returned to find his friends asleep.

We can condemn Peter, James, and John for their failure to oblige Jesus’ request, but hanging over that iron fence of the Garden of Gethsemane, I had to ask myself, “Am I awake with Jesus?”

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Pray the first Sorrowful Mystery, The Agony in the Garden, with my book, The Rosary Prayer by Prayer.

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Upcoming Presentations:

3/17/20 –”From Home to Managed Care,” Arden Courts of Avon, CT
3/18/20 –”From Home to Managed Care,” Arden Courts of Farmington, CT
3/26/20 –”Navigating Alzheimer’s,” Arden Courts of Geneva, IL
4/2/20  – “Navigating Alzheimer’s” Inter-Faith Chapel, Silver Springs,MD

4/8/20 –  “Navigating Alzheimer’s,” Aspired Living of Prospect Heights, IL

©2020, Mary K. Doyle

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Responses to “Agony in the Garden”

  1. Susan Heitsch

    Hauntingly beautiful.  I’d love to see more of your photos from Israel. I went there in 1985, and remember it all vividly.   S.

    Reply
    1. Mary K. Doyle

      Thank you, Sue. I plan on using these photos especially through Lent. I just finished writing a manuscript for another book so had little time to post the last few months.

      Reply
  2. A.Nicklaus

    My goodness, Mary! This was a beautiful post, just beautiful! The photo’s, the story! Just beautiful! Thank you!

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Reply
    1. Mary K. Doyle

      Thank you! Do you see my posts on https://marykdoylebooks.com/

      Reply
  3. kagould17

    What an amazing place to visit Mary and jut before the pandemic was declared. Thanks for sharing. Allan

    Reply
    1. Mary K. Doyle

      Our timing was incredible, Allan. Marshall had just passed away, and my daughter was newly divorced. She asked if I’d go on this pilgrimage with her. We got home, fighting began in Israel and Venice flooded, which we visited on our way back from Israel. Yes, and then there was COVID.

      Israel was incredibly meaningful and stressful. The tension between every type of division, including Christian denominations, was tremendously disturbing for me. I’m glad I went but have no desire to return.

      Reply

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