Prayers of the Rosary
The First Joyful Mystery
The Annunciation of Our Lord
(Luke 1:26-33, 38)
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women." She was deeply troubled by his words, and wondered what his greeting meant. The angel went on to say to her: "Do not fear, Mary. You have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end." Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say." With that, the angel left her.
Meditation:
Consider the initial fear of Mary at the approach of the Angel; but as soon as She was certain that Her visitor was from Heaven, She opened Her heart to the plan laid before Her, submitting Herself entirely to what was being asked of her. Am I as prudent and as open to God's will as was the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Second Joyful Mystery
The Visitation
(Luke 1:39-45)
Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy. Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."
Meditation:
Consider how Mary thought nothing of Herself in this mystery; Her needs were secondary to those of Her cousin, to whom She went 'with great haste'. Am I as charitable toward others? Does my own charity ask for something in return, or is it as truly selfless and immediate as that displayed by the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Third Joyful Mystery
The Nativity of Jesus
(Luke 2: 6-12)
While they were there, the days of her confinement were completed. She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged. There were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, as the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very much afraid. The angel said to them: "You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in David's city a savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord. Let this be a sign to you: In a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes."
Meditation:
Consider how the Holy Family were truly poor, having not even a place to stay where Mary could give birth to Her son; and yet despite this, Mary and Joseph remained entirely serene and joyful. Does my happiness depend on material satisfaction, or do I possess the try joy and serenity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Fourth Joyful Mystery
The Presentation in the Temple
(Luke 2:25-32)
There lived in Jerusalem at the time a certain man named Simeon. He was just and pious, and awaited consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not experience death until he had seen the Anointed of the Lord. He came to the temple now, inspired by the Spirit; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him the customary ritual of the law, he took him in his arms and blessed God in these words: "Now Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: A revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory of your people Israel."
Meditation:
Consider the purity and perpetual virginity of Mary, the virtue by which Her Heart can rightly be called Immaculate; am I attached to worldly pleasures or is my own heart as truly pure and centered on God as is Her own Immaculate Heart?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
The Fifth Joyful Mystery
The Finding in the Temple
(Luke 2:41-50)
The parents of Jesus used to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, and when he was twelve they went up for the celebration as was their custom. As they were returning at the end of the feast, the child Jesus remained behind unknown to his parents. Thinking he was in the party, they continued on their journey for a day, looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him. On the third day, they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him: "Son, why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow." He said to them: "Why did you search for me? Did you not know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not grasp what he said to them.
Meditation:
Consider how Mary sought God every day of Her earthly life, in the mundane activities as well as in the great events related in Scripture; do I complain about my earthly duties and responsibilities, or do I use them as opportunities to seek and to find God, following the example of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
Our Father, Ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, Hail Holy Queen
Pope John Paul II recommends that the Joyful Mysteries be used on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Glorious Mysteries of Sundays and Wednesdays, and the New Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays.
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