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Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
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 again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Credo in Deum Patrem Omnipoténtem, Creatórem caeli et terræ. Et in Iesum Christum, Fílium eius únicum, Dóminum nóstrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínfernos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad caelos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris Omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam Cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Our Father in heaven, may Your name be held holy, Your kingdom come, Your 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.
Give us this day our heavenly bread; and forgive us our sins; as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificétur nomen tuum. Advéniat regnum tuum. Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hodie, et dimítte nobis débita nostra sicut et nos dímittimus debitóribus nostris. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem, sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.
Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedícta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui,
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Spread the effect of grace of Thy Flame of Love over all humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Spread the effect of grace of Thy Flame of Love over all humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Spread the effect of grace of your Flame of Love over all humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, expandit effectus gratiae a tua flamma amoris super omnes homines; nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sáecula sæculórum. Amen.
Oh my Jesus,
forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.
Dómine Iesu,
dimitte nobis débita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferni, perduc in caelum omnes ánimas, praesertim eas, quae misericórdiae tuae máxime indigent.
Come Holy Spirit.
Come by means of the power of the flame of love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Veni per de pŏtentĭa flamma de ămōris de Immaculati cordis María.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope, to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears; turn, then most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus. Oh Clement, Oh Loving, Oh Sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, Oh holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Salve Regina, Mater misericórdiæ. Vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamámus éxsules filii Hevæ Ad te Suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle. Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Iesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsílium osténde. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Génetrix.
Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi. Amen
Let us pray, Oh God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the Divine Assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God. Rest in peace. Amen.
Oremus: Deus, cujus Unigénitus, per vitam, mortem et resurrectiónem suam nobis salútis ætérnæ præmia comparávit; concéde, quæsumus; ut, hæc mystéria sanctíssimo Benedicta Maríæ Vírginis Rosário recoléntes; et imitémur quod cóntinent, et quod promíttunt, assequámur. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Ut Divinum Auxilium maneat semper nobiscum, et ut in animabus Fidelibus Defunctis, per misericordiam Dei. Requiescant in pace. Amen.
Unity Prayer:
My adorable Jesus, may our feet journey together. May our hands gather in unity. May our hearts beat in unison. May our souls be in harmony. May our thoughts be as one. May our ears listen to the silence together. May our glances profoundly penetrate each other. May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father. Amen
Unitas Oratio:
Mi Jesu venerande, pedes nostri simul iter faciant. Manus nostrae in unum colligant. Sit corda nostra beat simul. Sit animabus nostris in concordia. Cogitationes nostrae sint sicut unum. Auribus nostris simul audiat silentium. Utinam oculi nostri se mutuo penitus perfundant. Oremus pariter labia nostra, ut ab aeterno Patre misericordiam consequamur. Amen
We offer ourselves to the Heavenly Father through all the wounds of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
We kiss the wounds of Your Sacred Head, with sorrow deep and true. τ
We kiss the wound of your Sacred Shoulder with sorrow deep and true. τ
We kiss the wounds of your Sacred Hands with sorrow deep and true. τ
We kiss the wounds of Your Sacred Feet, with sorrow deep and true. τ
We kiss the wound of your Sacred Side with sorrow deep and true. τ
Nosmet Patri caelesti offerimus per omnia vulnera Salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi.
Sanctissimi Capitis tui vulnera cum moerore profunde et vera osculamur.
τ
Sanctissimi Humeri tui vulnera cum moerore profunde et vera osculamur. τ
Sanctissimi Manus tui vulnera cum moerore profunde et vera osculamur. τ
Sanctissimi Pedes tui vulnera cum moerore profunde et vera osculamur.
τ
Sanctissimi Latus tui vulnera cum moerore profunde et vera osculamur. τ
Dominican Rosary
Flame of Love Rosary
Brazen Rosary
Holy Souls Rosary
Patriotic Rosary
Reparation Rosary
Traditional Rosary
Amici di Giuseppe Rosary
Franciscan Crown
(Seraphic Rosary)
L.L. Bouchard’s Focused Rosary
Quaeso auge = Please increase
objectum nostram fidem.
fons nostram spei.
esempi di nostram caritatis.
focus of our faith.
source of our hope.
model of our charity.
Reflection:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin whose name was Mary. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word."
(Lk 1:26-38)
+
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Perryville, Missouri 63775-1598
www.amm.org
Reflection:
Mary set out and traveled to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"
(Lk 1:39-43)
Reflection:
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her first-born Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Lk 2:6-7)
Reflection:
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His Mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
(Lk 2:22-35)
Reflection:
When Jesus was twelve years old, His parents went up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. As they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind. On the third day, they found Him in the temple. Jesus went down with them to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
(Lk 2:41-52)
Reflection:
The disciple John saw Jesus coming toward him, and proclaimed: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
(Jn 1:29)
Reflection:
Jesus did this (miraculously transformed water into wine) as the beginning of His signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed His glory, and His disciples began to believe in Him."
(Jn 2:11)
Reflection:
Jesus breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
(Jn 20:22-23)
Reflection:
"And Jesus was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
(Mt 17:2)
Reflection:
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day."
(Jn 6:54)
Reflection:
They came to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray. My soul is sorrowful even to death." He prayed to His Father: "Take this cup away from Me, but not what I will but what You will."
(Mk 14:32-36)
Reflection:
They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed Him over to be crucified.
(Mk 15:1-15)
Reflection:
The soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed Jesus in purple and , weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on Him. They began to salute Him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and kept striking His head with a reed and spitting on Him.
(Mk 15:16-19)
Reflection:
Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. So they took Jesus and, carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
(Jn 19:16-17)
Reflection:
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus. Darkness came over the whole land untill three in the afternoon. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father into Your hands I commend my spirit." And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
(Lk 23:33-46)
Reflection:
The angel said to the women: "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for He has been raised as He said."
(Mt 28:5-6)
Reflection:
As the apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight. This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way you have seen Him going into heaven."
(Acts 1:9-11)
Reflection:
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all on one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:1-4)
Reflection:
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God through Jesus, bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
(1Thes 4:14-17)
Reflection:
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
(Rev 12:1)
In this mystery we contemplate the Virgin Mary being greeted by the angel, who announces that she is to conceive and give birth to Christ, our Redeemer.
Let us ask the Virgin of virgins, by the holy joy that filled her Immaculate Heart, to drive from our souls the discouragement and harmful sadness caused by the difficulties of daily life in this our neopagan world.
Our Father Reflections
God's immense charity.
In this mystery we contemplate the Mother of the Creator going to visit her cousin Saint Elizabeth, whose son, John the Baptist, trembled with joy in the womb upon hearing the voice of Mary.
Let us ask the Mother of Good Counsel that we too may tremble with joy and devotion when the call of grace makes itself heard in the interior of our souls.
God's adorable majesty.
In this mystery we contemplate Our God, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn.
Let us ask Jesus, Mary and Joseph to give us the piety, serenity and fortitude that emanate from the holy stable of Bethlehem.
God's inexhaustible riches.
In this mystery we contemplate the Virgin Mary carrying her Son to Jerusalem to introduce Him to the Lord, His Father. In the Temple, she meets the old Simeon, who takes the Christ Child in his arms and prophesies that He will be the light to the gentiles, the glory of Israel, the rock of scandal for the perdition and salvation of many.
Let us ask the Most Holy Virgin for a fearless soul ablaze with love for Holy Mother Church, so that we also may be a light to our brethren and, if need be, a rock of scandal to our social circles.
God's eternal wisdom.
In this mystery we contemplate how the Virgin Mary, having lost her Son, found Him in the Temple after three days of wearisome search, listening to the teachers of the Law and asking them questions.
Let us ask Mary Most Holy, by the merits of the anguish she suffered during her searching, to grant us an ever-increasing fidelity to the Church amidst the multiple perplexities that a faithful Catholic must undergo in our days.
God's unfathomable sanctity.
In this mystery we contemplate that Jesus began His ministry by identifying Himself with sinful humanity.
Let us ask Mary to give us a true conscience to recognize our own sinfulness.
God's mercy.
In this mystery we contemplate the miracle that caused Jesus' desciples to begin to believe.
Let us ask Mary to show us God's will as she did for her Son.
God's concern for even our everyday needs.
In this mystery we contemplate the Kingdom we are working our way toward.
Let us ask Mary to help us to undestand how our lives help build the Kingdom.
God's desire for our love.
In this mystery we contemplate the manifestation of Jesus' glory.
Let us ask Mary to help us to understand that this life is our means to join in His glory.
God's providence.
In this mystery we contemplate the spiritual Manna available to us every day.
Let us ask Mary to help us to see and to believe in Jesus real presence in the Eucharist.
God's physical presence with us in the Eucharist.
In this mystery we contemplate our Divine Redeemer praying in the Garden of Olives and sweating blood as He foresees the Passion He is to suffer. His apostles sleep.
Let us ask our dauntless Mother to remove from our souls all the cowardly optimism that invites us to sleep when we should be watching and praying, and to give us the virtue of seriousness so that we will courageously embrace suffering every time it comes our way.
God's essential felicity.
In this mystery we contemplate Our Lord Jesus Christ bound to the pillars and mercilessly flogged at the order of Pilate, who wanted to please the crowd.
Let us ask the Mother of Divine Grace to give us, whenever we are beset by tribulation, the strength and perseverance shown by her Son as the blows of the lash tore into His undefiled flesh for our sins.
God's admirable patience.
In this mystery we contemplate the King of Kings despoiled of His garments and clothed in a scarlet cloak. He is crowned with thorns, crushed with blows, overwhelmed with affronts and outrages by the procurator's brutal soldiers.
Let us ask Mary Immaculate for an unshakable faith and at least a drop of the infinite dignity of Jesus when the wicked, with their laughter, mock our faithfulness to the morality of Holy Church.
God's ineffable beauty.
In this mystery we contemplate our Divine Master "the reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows" bearing the crushing burden of the Cross, which rips His flesh.
By the shoulder wound of Christ, let us ask the Mother of Sorrows for the grace to proceed with supernatural determination in our spiritual lives and in our apostolate even when we fall under the weight of the cross.
God's unlimited omnipotence.
In this mystery we contemplate our Divine Savior nailed to the Cross and raised aloft between two thieves. He is plunged in an ocean of bitterness; He felt abandoned by the Father Himself.
Let us ask the Blessed Mother, who stands at the foot of the Cross, to grant us the grace of taking our vocation to its last consequences and of loving the sacrifices it entails.
God's frightful justice.
In this mystery we contemplate our Divine Redeemer rising through His own power on the third day. His body is in a state of glory: His wounds are now tokens of His triumph over death.
Let us ask Our Lady of Fatima for a staunch hope in the triumph of her Immaculate Heart and a jubilant enthusiasm in the anticipation of her kingdom.
God's infinite eternity.
In this mystery we contemplate the Just One withdrawing from His disciples and ascending into heaven forty days after His resurrection: it is the concluding work of redemption.
By this final elevation of Our Lord's human nature into the condition of divine glory, let us ask the Most Holy Virgin for the ultimate exaltation of Holy Mother Church and Christian civilization. And behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."
(Mt 28:20)
God's boundless immensity.
In this mystery we contemplate Our Lord fulfilling His words to the Apostles: "I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete, that He may abide with you forever" (John 14:16). The Apostles, gathered around Our Lady in the Cenacle, are now so filled with the Holy Spirit that they seem drunk (Acts 2:13).
Let us ask the Spouse of the Holy Spirit to say but a word and thus transform our weak, lukewarm and sinful souls.
God's universal providence.
In this mystery we contemplate the Virgin Mary being taken body and soul into heaven by God amidst the rejoicing of the angels.
Let us ask our celestial Mother to fill us with faith and to make us pure and strong, so that we may fight worthily for her on earth and rejoice with her in heaven forever.
God's indescribable liberality.
In this mystery we contemplate the Daughter of God, the Mother of God, the Spouse of God, addressed in the words of the Canticle of Canticles "Come: thou shalt be crowned:' and made empress and mistress of all creation.
Let us ask our Queen that, from the height of glory on which she was placed, she will be for us a Mother of Mercy, raising us when we fall, loving us at every moment, so that, like the angels, we may faithfully serve her in all things.
God's inaccessible glory.
The Agony in the Garden:
Lord Jesus Christ, through Your bloody sweat of stress that You shed on the Mount of Olives, we ask You to have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Bring to completion their purification and console them with the Cup of heavenly comfort.
The Scourging at the Pillar:
Lord Jesus Christ, through Your painful Scourging which You tolerated so patiently for us sinners, we ask You to have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory! Bring them to live for ever with Christ and give them eternal relief.
The Crowning with Thorns:
Lord Jesus Christ, through Your painful Crowning which You suffered so patiently for us sinners, we ask You to have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory and give them the crown of eternal delight.
The Carrying of the Cross:
Lord Jesus Christ, through Your painful Carrying of the Cross, which You suffered so patiently for us sinners, we ask You to have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory! Bring them to the everlasting peace of perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity and lead them into eternal joy.
The Crucifixion of Jesus:
Lord Jesus Christ, through Your painful Crucifixion, which You suffered so patiently for us sinners, we ask You have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory! Turn Your Holy Face towards them and let them be in Paradise with You today.
THE FIRST SWORD OF SORROW:
The Prophecy of Simeon
(Lk 2:22-35)
"And when the time came for Mary's purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem with them to introduce him to the Lord, his Father. There, the old priest Simeon held the baby Jesus in his hands, and the Holy Spirit filled his heart. Simeon recognized Jesus as the promised Savior and held the Child high toward heaven, thanking God for granting his wish that he would live long enough to behold the Messiah. Saying: "Now Your servant may depart this life in peace, my Lord." Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
The Blessed Virgin knew that she had given birth to the Savior of humankind, so she immediately understood and accepted Simeon’s prophecy. Although her Heart was deeply touched by this favor of bearing the Baby Jesus, her Heart remained heavy and troubled, for she knew what had been written about the ordeals and subsequent death of the Savior. Whenever she saw her Son, she was constantly reminded of the suffering He would be subject to, and His suffering became her own.
Prayer: Beloved Mother Mary, whose Heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love, and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way. Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus. Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world. You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children. Join those sorrows to your own and to those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father. You are a Mother greater than all.
THE SECOND SWORD OF SORROW:
The Flight into Egypt
(Mt 2:13-15)
Mary’s Heart broke and her mind was greatly troubled when Joseph revealed to her the words of the angel: they were to wake up quickly and flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The Blessed Virgin hardly had time to decide what to take or leave behind; she took her Child and left everything else, rushing outside before Joseph so that they could hurry as God wished. Then she said, "Even though God has power over everything, He wants us to flee with Jesus, His Son. God will show us the way, and we shall arrive without being caught by the enemy."
Because the Blessed Virgin was the Mother of Jesus, she loved Him more than anyone else. Her heart was deeply troubled at the sight of her Infant Son’s discomfort, and she suffered greatly because He was cold and shivering. While she and her husband were tired, sleepy, and hungry during this long travail, Mary’s only thought was about the safety and comfort of her Child. She feared coming face to face with the soldiers who had been ordered to kill Jesus because she was aware that the enemy was still in Bethlehem. Her heart remained constantly anguished during this flight. She also knew that where they were going, there would be no friendly faces to greet them.
Prayer: Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.
THE THIRD SWORD OF SORROW:
The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
(Lk 2:41-52)
Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, but He was also Mary’s child. The Blessed Virgin loved Jesus more than herself because He was her God. Compared to other children, He was most unique because He was already living as God. When Mary lost Jesus on their way back from Jerusalem, the world became so big and lonely that she believed she couldn't go on living without Him, so great was her Sorrow. (She felt the same pain her Son felt when He was later abandoned by His apostles during the Passion.)
As the Holy Mother looked anxiously for her beloved Boy, deep pain welled in her heart. She blamed herself, asking why she didn’t take greater care of Him. But it was not her fault; Jesus no longer needed her protection as before. What really hurt Mary was that her son had decided to stay behind without her knowledge. Jesus had pleased her in everything so far: He never annoyed her in any way, nor would He ever displease His parents. She knew that He always did what was necessary, however, so she never suspected Him of being disobedient.
Prayer: Beloved Mother, teach us to accept all our sufferings because of our sins and to atone for the sins of the whole world.
THE FOURTH SWORD OF SORROW:
Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary
(Lk 23:27-31)
Mary witnessed Jesus carrying the heavy cross alone—the cross on which He was to be crucified. This didn’t surprise the Blessed Virgin because she already knew about the approaching death of Our Lord. Noting how her son was already weakened by the scourging and the crowning with thorns, she was filled with anguish at His pain. He fell, exhausted, unable to raise Himself bound to the patibulum. After the mud covering his eyes was wiped away by Bernice, Mary’s eyes, so full of tender love and compassion, met her Son’s eyes. Their hearts seemed to be sharing the load; every pain He felt, she felt as well. They knew that nothing could be done except to believe and trust in God and dedicate their suffering to Him. All they could do was put everything in God’s hands.
Prayer: Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your Sorrowful Heart and that of Jesus. In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently. Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.
THE FIFTH SWORD OF SORROW:
Mary stands at the foot of the Cross
(Jn 19:25-27)
The Blessed Virgin Mary continued to climb the mount to Calvary, following behind Jesus painfully and sorrowfully, yet suffering silently. She could see Him staggering trying to carry the cross with Simon the Cyrene. Stumbling and falling so frequently that Simon just took the patibulum from him. Mary deeply felt her Son’s pain and humiliation, particularly when His tormentors striped off what was left of His clothing. The Blessed Virgin felt sick at heart seeing these tyrants crucifying her Son naked, shaming Him terribly merely to amuse the jeering crowd.
The Blessed Virgin Mary felt pain beyond bearing when Jesus was stretched out on the Cross. The soldiers approached Him with hammers and nails. They sat on Him heavily so that He could not move when they spiked Him to the wood. As they hammered the nails through His hands and feet, Mary felt the blows in her heart; the nails pierced her flesh as they tore into her Son’s body. She felt her life fading away.
As the soldiers lifted Jesus to the Stipes. The pain shot through His body like liquid fire.
Jesus endured three excruciating hours skewered on the Cross, yet the physical pain was nothing compared to the agonizing heartache that He was forced to bear seeing His mother suffering below Him. Mercifully, He finally died.
Prayer: Beloved Mother, Queen of the Martyrs, give us the courage you had in all your sufferings so that we may unite our sufferings with yours and give glory to God. Help us follow all His commandments and those of the Church so that Our Lord’s sacrifice will not be in vain, and all sinners in the world will be saved.
THE SIXTH SWORD OF SORROW:
Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms.
(Jn 19:38-40)
The friends of Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus, took down His Body from the Cross and placed It in the outstretched arms of the Blessed Virgin. Then Mary washed It with deep respect and love because she was His mother. She knew better than anyone else that He was God incarnate who had taken a human body to become the Savior of all people.
Mary could see the terrifying wounds from the flogging Jesus had received while at Pilate’s. His entire body had been so lacerated that the wounds crisscrossed Him from shoulders to ankles. Mary saw the circle of blood the Crown of Thorns had made on His forehead and, to her horror, realized that many of the thorns had dug so deeply into His skull they had penetrated His brain. Looking at her broken Boy, the Holy Mother knew that His agonizing death was far worse than the torture reserved for the wickedest of criminals.
As she cleaned His damaged Body she envisioned Him during each stage of His short life, remembering her first look at His beautiful new born face as he lay in the manger, and every day in between, until this heart rending moment as she gently bathed His lifeless Body. Her anguish was relentless as she prepared her Son and Lord for burial, but she remained brave and strong, becoming the true Queen of Martyrs. As she washed her Son she prayed that everybody would know the riches of Paradise and enter the Gates of Heaven. She prayed for every soul in the world to embrace God’s Love, so her Son’s torturous death would benefit all humankind and not have been in vain. Mary prayed for the world; she prayed for all of us.
Prayer: We thank you, Beloved Mother, for your courage as you stood beneath your dying Child to comfort Him on the Cross. As our Savior drew His last breath, you became a wonderful Mother to all of us; you became the Blessed Mother of the world. We know that you love us more than our own earthly parents do. We implore you to be our advocate before the Throne of Mercy and Grace so that we can truly become your children. We thank you for Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, and we thank Jesus for giving you to us. Please pray for us, Mother.
THE SEVENTH SWORD OF SORROW:
The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb.
(Jn 19:41-42)
The life of the Blessed Virgin Mary was so closely linked to that of Jesus she thought there was no reason for her to go on living any longer. Her only comfort was that His death had ended His unspeakable suffering. Our Sorrowful Mother, with the help of John and the Holy women, devoutly placed the Body in the sepulcher, and she left Him. She went home with great pain and tremendous Sorrow; for the first time she was without Him, and her loneliness was a new and bitter source of pain. Her heart had been dying since her Son’s heart had stopped beating, but she was certain that our Savior would soon be resurrected.
Prayer: Most Beloved Mother, whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Jesus, and Mother to us all, we are your children and we place all our trust in you. Teach us to see God in all things and all situations, even our sufferings. Help us to understand the importance of suffering, and also to know the purpose of our suffering as God had intended it.
You yourself were conceived and born without sin, were preserved from sin, yet you suffered more than anybody else. You accepted suffering and pain with love and with unsurpassed courage. You stood by your Son from the time He was arrested until He died. You suffered along with Him, felt His every pain and torment. You accomplished the Will of God the Father; and according to His will, you have become our Mother. We beg you, dear Mother, to teach us to do as Jesus did. Teach us to accept our cross courageously. We trust you, most Merciful Mother, so teach us to sacrifice for all the sinners in the world. Help us to follow in your Son’s footsteps, and even to be willing to lay down our lives for others.
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.
The First Sword of Sorrrow:
Simeon announces the suffering destiny of Jesus
(Lk 2:34-35)
O Mother of Sorrows, how deeply your heart was pierced with sorrow when Simeon announced that Jesus, your beloved Child, was to be a sign that would be rejected. Your heart knew that He was to be the suffering Messiah the prophets had foretold, the man of sorrows, who would carry all our sins and heal us by His wounds. Through this bitter sorrow obtain for us the grace never to reject Jesus or refuse Him anything. Help us to completely surrender our lives to Him and to live according to His most holy will in everything.
The Second Sword of Sorrow
Mary escapes into Egypt with Jesus and Joseph
(Mt 2:13-15)
O Mother of Sorrows, what pain filled your heart as you fled your home and country knowing that the tyrant Herod was intent on murdering your little Child whom you loved above all else. The hardships of travel, the long journey, and life as a refugee was nothing compared to the torment of such demonic malice directed toward Jesus. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace never to risk the life of Jesus in our souls through deliberate sin.
The Third Sword of Sorrow
Mary seeks Jesus lost in Jerusalem
(Lk 2:41-51)
O Mother of Sorrows, what grief filled your heart as you and Joseph searched desperately for Jesus when you could not find Him among your relatives and friends returning home from Jerusalem. When your Son replied that He must be in His Father's house, you accepted that He had begun the mission that would lead to His sacrificial death. The sorrow of those three days of separation prepared you for the three days of suffering you endured while His body lay lifeless in the tomb. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to accept the ways of Divine Providence even when we do not understand them.
The Fourth Sword of Sorrow
Mary meets Jesus as He carries His Cross to Calvary
(Lk 23:26-31)
O Mother of Sorrows, how it must have wounded your tender maternal heart to see your beloved Son Jesus carrying His Cross to Calvary, the place of execution! How it must have pained you to see Him so bloodied, beaten, and reviled as He strained to fulfill His deepest desire: to give His life as a ransom for us. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Jesus with perseverance and love.
The Fifth Sword of Sorrow
Mary stands near the Cross of her Son Jesus
(Jn 19:25-27)
O Mother of Sorrows, here the prophecy of Simeon comes to its ultimate fulfillment: the sword of sorrow impales your heart as you stand beneath the Cross of your Son. Crucified spiritually with your crucified Son, you offered Him to the Father and united yourself completely to His self-offering and sacrificial death. We simply cannot fathom the pain of your offering or the depth of love that inspired it. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to unite all our sufferings to our crucified Lord with unselfish generosity and love.
The Sixth Sword of Sorrow
Mary receives into her arms the body of Jesus taken down from the Cross
(Jn 19:38)
O Mother of Sorrows, your heart was drowned in grief as you embraced the lifeless corpse of your Son. He, who was your very life, was now dead. Your light in this life was extinguished. Yet you accepted this sorrow with love knowing that it was all part of the Father’s plan of salvation. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to accept with patience and love the sorrows that befall us in this vale of tears, firmly believing that God works all things to the good for those who love Him.
The Seventh Sword of Sorrow
Mary helps place the body of Jesus in the tomb
(Jn 19:39-42)
O Mother of Sorrows, who could express the cruel anguish of this moment? The same Child that you once wrapped in swaddling clothes amidst unspeakable joy, you now wrap silently in His burial shroud. Your tears mingle with the life blood that covers His broken body. But even in this moment your trust in His promise did not die. Your mourning was not without hope, for you knew that He would rise again from this grave just as He promised. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to believe with unshakable hope in the victory of our Lord even in the darkest moments of life.
Holy Mother hear my prayers, and renew in my heart each wound of Jesus my Savior.
1st Mystery: The Annunciation
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
(Lk 1:26-38)
2nd Mystery: The Visitation
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." ... Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
(Lk 1:39-45,56)
3rd Mystery: The Nativity
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Lk 2:1-7)
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
... And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Mt 2:1-2, 9)
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
On the third day they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding 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? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
(Lk 2:41-51)
But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.
They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words.
(Lk 24:1-8)
7th Mystery: Assumption and Coronation of Mary
Hence the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she might be taken up body and soul to the glory of heaven where, as Queen, she sits in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages.
And so we may hope that those who meditate upon the glorious example Mary offers us may be more and more convinced of the value of a human life entirely devoted to carrying out the heavenly Father's will and to bringing good to others. Thus, while the illusory teachings of materialism and the corruption of morals that follows from these teachings threaten to extinguish the light of virtue and to ruin the lives of men by exciting discord among them, in this magnificent way all may see clearly to what a lofty goal our bodies and souls are destined.
The Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus , 41. 42. Pope Pius XII
Reflection: (Lk 1:26-38)
...the angel Gabriel was sent from God...to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." ...and Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
Reflection: (Lk 1:39-56)
...[Mary] entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth...and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb..." And Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name..."
Reflection: (Lk 2:1-14)
And Joseph too went up...to the city of David that is called Bethlehem...to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child...and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reflection: (Lk 2:22-35)
...[Mary and Joseph] took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord...and to offer a sacrifice...Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon...It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord...Simeon blessed [Mary and Joseph] and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Reflection: (Lk 2:41-52)
...and when he was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it...On the third day they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers...his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
(Lk 2:49)
Reflection: (Lk 3:15-22)
The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I...will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Reflection: (Jn 2:5-7)
His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."...Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them up to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine...the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now. Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Reflection: (Mk 1:14-18)
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother
casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Then they left their nets and followed him.
Reflection: (Lk 9:28-35)
...he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem...Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
Reflection: (Mt 26:26-30)
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Reflection: (Lk 22:44-46)
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test."
Reflection: (Lk 23:13-25)
[Pilate] said to them, "You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him...Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." With loud shouts, however, [the crowd] persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed...and he handed Jesus over to them, to deal with as they wished."Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, could find no reason to put Jesus to death. In order to stop the Jews from demanding Jesus be crucified Pilate had Jesus scourged. The objective of the soldiers scourging Jesus was to mark His entire body from His ankles to His shoulders with bruises and torn skin.
Reflection: (Mk 15:16-20)
They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him."
Reflection: (Lk 23:26-32)
And as they led him away...they laid the cross on [Simon of Cyrene] to carry after Jesus...Women...bewailed and lamented him..."Weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days shall come, when they will say: Blessed are the barren...Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; ...Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?"
Reflection: (Lk 2:23-46)
Jesus was nailed to the cross from noon until 9th hour. While on the cross He forgave those crucifying Him, told the Good Thief, “This day you will be with me in Paradise”, took care of His Mother, pointed out the Psalm He was fulfilling, and finished the Last Supper. Finally, Jesus said, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” and he died. His disciples buried him in a new grave owned by a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. Everyone knew exactly where he was buried because they were eye-witnesses. They buried Jesus quickly because the Sabbath rest began at sundown.
Reflection: (Lk 24:36-48)
And [Jesus] said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
Reflection: (Acts 1:6-11)
When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
Reflection: (Acts 2:1-4)
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Reflection: (Jdt 15:9-10)
You are the glory of Jerusalem, the surpassing joy of Israel; you are the splendid boast of our people...God is pleased with what you have wrought. May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever!
Reflection: (Rev 12:1)
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Reflection: (Lk 1:26-38)
When Mary was a young woman, God sent the angel Gabriel, who told Mary that she was filled with God’s grace and that she would conceive a boy named Jesus, who would rule forever. The angel also explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and her son would be called the Son of God. Although Mary was frightened, she knew that God wanted this, so she said, “Let it be done to me according to God’s word.” Then the angel went back to heaven.
Reflection: (Lk 1:39-56)
Because the angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, was also going to have a child, (John the Baptist), Mary visited Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the little baby in her womb leaped up because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she understood that Mary was to be God’s mother. She said, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the Fruit of your womb. Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? You are blessed, Mary, because you believed God’s word.”
Reflection: (Lk 2:1-20 and
Mt 2:1-12)
The Roman Emperor demanded a census. So, Joseph and Mary had to travel 90 miles to Bethlehem, to enroll their names. When they arrived, there was no room at the inn where travelers usually stay. Therefore, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. Also, angels appeared to shepherds telling them to go to Bethlehem. There, they would find the child who was their Lord and Savior.
When they came to the stable they told Joseph and Mary what happened. Mary always remembered their words. Later, three wise men came from the east. A star guided them to Jerusalem and to Bethlehem. They gave Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Reflection: (Lk 2:22-35)
Forty days after giving birth, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to the temple to fulfill the Jewish law, regarding the purification of Mary after giving birth to a son and to introduce Jesus to His Father. A man named Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to prophesy that Jesus would be a light to the nations and the glory of Israel.
He also told Mary that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction and that her own heart would be pierced with suffering. A woman prophet, Anna, told everyone that the child would bring about the deliverance of Jerusalem.
Reflection: (Lk 2:41-52)
Every year, the Holy Family went to Jerusalem (90 miles from Nazareth) for the Passover feast. When Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed behind in the temple.
Soon, Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was lost, and they returned to Jerusalem. On the third day they found him in the temple, speaking and asking questions. All were amazed at his learning. However, Mary was confused. “Why did you do this to us?” she asked. Jesus replied, “Did you not realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Jesus returned with them to Nazareth. For the next 18 years, Jesus studied to become a rabbi helping to support hmself and His family as a carpenter. At 30, he was baptized and began his preaching mission.
Reflection: (Mt 3:1-17)
John the Baptist preached at the Jordan River, where large crowds came and were baptized. One day, Jesus came and was baptized by John. At that moment, the clouds opened up. The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, came upon Jesus and God the Father said, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he was tempted for forty days.
Reflection: (Jn 2:1-12)
Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding at Cana, in Galilee at which Mary was also present. However, a problem arose. They had no more wine. Mary told Jesus about the lack of wine and, then instructed the waiters, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus had them fill six large jars with water and take it to the headwaiter. After tasting the miraculous wine, the headwaiter wondered why the groom had kept the best wine until last. This miracle was Jesus’ first sign and his disciples began to believe in him.
Reflection: (Mk 1:35-39)
Jesus gathered his twelve apostles and his disciples (men and women) and visited all the towns of Galilee. He told everyone to believe in God because the Kingdom of Heaven was coming soon. To prove that the Kingdom was at hand, Jesus healed many people and even raised some from the dead. He drove out demons and told them to be quiet. The crowds grew larger and the disciples believed more and more.
Reflection: (Mt 17:1-8)
One day, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. When they were alone, Jesus clothes became extremely white and his whole body was transfigured and his face shone like the sun. When Moses and Elijah began speaking to Jesus, Peter wanted to build three tents, one for each of them. A cloud came and God the Father said, “This is my Beloved Son, listen to him.” Jesus told the three apostles not to tell the vision to anyone until he rose from the dead.
Reflection: (Mt 26:26-30)
On the night before He began His passion, Jesus gathered his apostles in Jerusalem for the Last Supper. During the meal, Jesus took bread, broke it and gave it to his apostles saying, “Take and eat. This is my body.” Then he took the chalice filled with wine and said, “Take and drink. This is the chalice of the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be shed for the remission of sins. Do this in memory of me.” This Last Supper was the first mass. The apostles became priests and received their First Communion.
Reflection: (Mt 26:36-46)
After the Last Supper, Jesus went with his Apostles to his favorite place of prayer, the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas had left the Last Supper to betray Jesus and to lead the soldiers to the Garden. As Jesus arrived, he told his apostles to pray, but they fell asleep. Jesus began to sweat blood and said, “Oh Father, if it is possible, let this suffering pass from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” After three hours, Judas and the soldiers came to capture Jesus.
Reflection: (Mk 15:11-15)
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, could find no reason to put Jesus to death. In order to stop the Jews from demanding Jesus be crucified Pilate had Jesus scourged. The objective of the soldiers scourging Jesus was to mark His entire body from His ankles to His shoulders with bruises and torn skin.
Reflection: (Mk 15:1-20)
These soldiers took Jesus and put a military cloak on him and placed on his head a crown of thorns. They made fun of him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews”, striking Jesus on the head and spitting on him. Finally, they again clothed Jesus in his own robe.
Reflection: (Mk 15:21-22)
When the crowd chose Barabbas, Pilate handed Jesus to the soldiers to lead him to Calvary. The soldiers made Jesus carry his cross. When Jesus grew too weak, they made Simon, the Cyrenean help him. Many women from Galilee and Jerusalem followed Jesus and wept for him.
Reflection: (Mt 27:45-61)
Jesus was nailed to the cross from noon until the 9th hour. While on the cross He forgave those crucifying Him, told the Good Thief, “This day you will be with me in Paradise”, took care of His Mother, pointed out the Psalm that He was fulfilling, and finished the Last Supper. Finally, Jesus said, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” and he died. His disciples buried him in a new grave owned by a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. Everyone knew exactly where he was buried because there were eye-witnesses. They buried Jesus quickly because the Sabbath rest began at sundown.
Reflection: (Mt 28:1-10)
After the Sabbath rest, early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalen and other women went to Jesus’ tomb. However, the stone was rolled away and an angel greeted them. “You are seeking the living among the dead. He is not here.” The women were frightened but filled with joy. As they returned home, Jesus came to them and said,
“Go and tell my disciples to meet me in Galilee.” After this, Jesus appeared many times to his disciples, to prove that he was alive and to instruct them about their future work.
Reflection: (Lk 24:50-53)
For the next 40 days, Jesus frequently appeared to his disciples. On one occasion, he came to 500 of them gathered together. He also came to Peter, to the two disciples, to the 11 apostles in the Upper Room, to Thomas (who doubted at first) and to many others. His final appearance came on the Mount of Olives. As they looked on, Jesus was taken up to heaven. An angel appeared to the disciples saying, “Why are you still looking up to heaven? Jesus will return to earth the same way you saw him go up.” They returned to Jerusalem and waited for the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised to send.
Reflection: (Acts 2:1-4)
For 9 days, the 12 apostles gathered with Mary, Jesus’ mother, in the Upper Room. On the 10th day, (Pentecost – 50 days after Easter), there came a noise like a strong driving wind. A fire appeared and it separated into tongues of fire that settled upon the disciples’ heads. They all received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages. Soon a large crowd gathered. Peter explained to them that the people had made a mistake in crucifying Jesus. However, they could receive Jesus’ Spirit by being sorry for their sins and by being baptized. 3000 people were baptized. On this day, the Catholic Church was born.
Reflection:
At the cross, Jesus asked the Beloved Disciple to care for his mother. At the end of Mary’s time on earth, Jesus took her body and soul directly into heaven. What Jesus did for Mary, he will also do for you. At the end of the world, He will take you, body and soul, into heaven.
Reflection: (Rev 12:1)
Mary is God’s greatest creature. She is even above all the angels. When she got to heaven, she was made the queen. The Beloved Disciple wrote that she is the “Woman Clothed With the Sun with the moon under her feet and with a crown of twelve stars.” As Queen of Heaven and Earth, God gives her all power to help us. That is why we say the Hail Mary.
Reflection:
Grant us, Mary, by the graces of this mystery, a listening heart that responds to the call of the Lord with a loving yes joined to yours.
Mary tells us: “I place in your hands a ray of Light. It is the Flame of Love of My Immaculate Heart! I am your caring Mother who loves you, and united with you hand in hand I shall save you.
Reflection:
Open our hearts, Mary, to give joyfully and without counting and in a gratuitousness of love, as you did at the Visitation.
Mary tells us: "There is so much sinning in the world! Help Me save souls! I place in your hands a ray of light: the Flame of Love of My Immaculate Heart. Ignite your own heart with it and pass it on to others, at least to one more soul!"
Reflection:
Mary, tenderness of the poor, make us discover the true wealth of the Kingdom, You who lived the wealth of the Kingdom at the birth of Jesus.
Mary tells us: "This Flame of graces springing from My Immaculate Heart has to go from heart to heart. This will be the great miracle whose light will blind Satan."
Reflection:
Grant us, Mary, that we may recognize the Light of God in our lives, as Simeon recognized it at the Presentation of Jesus.
Mary tells us: "I will spread the flow of graces from My Flame of love over all peoples and nations. Not just those belonging to the Catholic Church but over all those marked with the sign of the Cross of My Divine Son."
Reflection:
Mary, who welcomed in faith the mystery of the mission of your Son in the Temple, make us obedient to God's plan.
Mary tells us: "I can no longer suppress My Flame of Love within Me, let it flow toward you! Those who grant shelter to My Flame of Love will be empowered by an infusion of graces, and will proclaim to the whole world that such an outpouring of graces has never been seen since the Word became Flesh ... "
Reflection:
Oh Mary, who kept everything in your Heart, make us attentive to God's presence and grateful for the privileged grace of our baptism.
Jesus tells us: “Let him who walks with Me look into My penetrating eyes and merge himself in them!”
Reflection:
Oh Mary, Virgin of Cana, ask Jesus to change our hearts so that we may live ever more in the great freedom of God's children.
Mary tells us: “The many graces that I give you, if you make good use of them –and you must always use them better and better, cause a great number of souls to become better.”
Reflection:
By your unceasing prayer, Mary, obtain for us to be authentic witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Jesus tells us: “Should you want to speak publicly or if you were asked to do so, I will then be there to comfort you. Each word should be like a seed which must bear many fruits among your listeners.”
Reflection:
May our lives be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and may Your Flame of Love, Mary, warm our hearts.
Jesus tells us: “The aim is to make known the value of the work of salvation! Ah! If only your aspirations for salvation could reach the Throne of the Heavenly Father! The success would then be greater! Burn! Like the bush in flames of fire that did not burn up! I need a sacrifice that does not consume itself and whose fire reaches Me!”
Reflection:
Oh Mary, Virgin of Contemplation, help us to increase our intimacy with Jesus in the Eucharist, the Bread of Life of every day.
Jesus tells us: “Participation in the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass increases to the highest degree the blindness of Satan.”
Reflection:
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by, nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it." With You, Mary, may it become our prayer in our trials.
Jesus tells us: "My table is always set, without interruption. I, the Master, have sacrificed everything! My Self, I give you."
Reflection:
May our suffering, united to the scourging of Jesus, become a prayer of offering to the world, with You, Mary.
Jesus tells us: "When receiving Holy Communion, look deeply into your soul and feel the effects My Precious Blood produces within you. Do not be insensitive to that! It is not by habit that you should come to My table, but rather propelled by a love that will be fueled as it touches Mine, and which through Me, and in union with you, will burn away the sins of your soul..."
Reflection:
May the thorns of our heart make the garden of our life blossom in faith with You, Mary.
Jesus tells us: “Without faith and trust, no virtue can take roots in you. They are the foundation of this holy project for which we are preparing."
Reflection:
May our daily cross be enlightened by the sorrowful Cross of Jesus, which has become glorious by His Resurrection.
Jesus tells us: "We give you the strength and courage to take the first steps, but you should not delay accomplishing My will, or simply dismiss it with the back of your hand."
Reflection:
May the loving words uttered by Jesus on the Cross become seeds of life, love and forgiveness in all the hearts.
Jesus tells us: "If you do not come to Me, how then can I bestow My graces upon you? The fullness of graces is stored up in My Heart. My Heart is an unending source of love."
Reflection:
Through the power of Your Resurrection, grant us Lord the taste of life, and reach out to those who have lost its meaning.
Mary tells us: "When the consecrated and the laity observe absolute fasting on Monday, they deliver also many poor souls from Purgatory at each Holy Communion during that week at the time they receive the Holy Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflection:
"Why are you standing here looking into the sky?” “Go out proclaim the Good News." May we become, oh Lord, authentic witnesses of Your Resurrection.
Jesus tells us: “The Church is in great danger and you cannot remedy the situation with earthly means or efforts. The Most Holy Trinity and the Holy Virgin alone, the Angels and all the Saints, and with the assistance of all the souls delivered by you from Purgatory, are still able to provide for the needs of the Militant Church.”
Reflection:
Send forth Your Spirit, Lord, and give us the audacity of Your true disciples.
Jesus tells us: “I could compare this torrential flood to the first Pentecost. It will submerge the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit. All mankind will take heed at the time of this great miracle. Here comes the torrential flow of the Flame of Love of My Most Holy Mother. The world, darkened already by the lack of faith, will undergo formidable tremors and then people will believe!"
Reflection:
"I am the Resurrection and the Life." May these words, Mary, maintain us in the hope and the certainty of an eternal tomorrow.
Mary tells us: “Only through speech can My Flame of Love become known. I am standing with sadness in My Heart by the side of the world. You have no right to remain silent, neither by cowardice nor pride, neither by negligence nor fear of sacrifice. The words you speak about Me must be impregnated with all the fervor of your soul so that mankind can be touched by the mystery of Heaven."
Reflection:
Oh Mary, crowned in glory, kindle us continually by the Flame of Love of Your Immaculate Heart.
Mary tells us: “I grant to all of you the grace to be able to see the success of your effort with regard to the diffusion of My Flame of Love, as well as in each heart taken individually, as well as in your country and the whole world. You who toil and make sacrifices, you will see that My Flame of Love will submerge very soon the whole humanity.”
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES(Misteria Gaudiosa)
Jesus speaking to the soul:
In your daily life you also experience the mysteries of spiritual joy and peace. All people on earth experience them, but fail to recognize it. It is a joy to do God’s Will: Ecce ancilla Domini, (Behold the handmaid of the Lord). It is a joy to practice charity for the love of God: Visitavit Elisabeth, (She visited Elizabeth). It is a joy to receive Me truly present, even in the poor stable of a simple heart. It is a joy to perform your religious devotions in Church, offering yourself to God and purifying yourself of the sins committed in your fallen human nature. It is a joy to recover Me after you have lost Me. See, my child, that among the five joys, there are two great sorrows: The prophecy of Simeon to Mary and the loss of Me in the Temple. In the joy of the Spirit there is also suffering and dryness in your life. But in the Divine Will you can find peace. I give you my blessing.
The Annunciation
Jesus: You become too anxious in the way you live and too impulsive in the way you act. Always perform your tasks without hurrying. Look first for the Divine Will in everything you do, offering yourself to God, in Mary’s words: “Behold your handmaid, Oh Lord. Be it done to me according to Your Word.”
The soul: Oh my Jesus, allow me to understand the mysteries of Your love for me, so that I may do only Your will. I have not been grateful for Your love for me and often I am doubtful. Now I do believe in Your love and I offer myself to You: Ecce Ancilla Domini, Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
The Visitation to St. Elisabeth
Jesus: You make many sacrifices for others, but you do not always make them for God. Never work for human convenience, but only for the virtue of charity. Call on the Most Holy Mary, that she may come to sanctify your soul for the glory of God: Magnificat anima mea Dominum, My soul magnifies the Lord.
The soul: Deign, oh my Jesus, to turn Your Face toward this insignificant one of Yours. You give Yourself to me, real and alive in the Holy Eucharist, with Your infinite love. May I never be ungrateful for this gift. I beg You, and may I glorify You with all my love: Magnificat anima mea Dominum, My soul magnifies the Lord.
The Birth of Jesus
Jesus: Everyday I come to you in the Holy Eucharist and everyday I rest in you as in the stable of Bethlehem. I was born in the silence of the night and in the silence of love. I want to work in your soul. Do not waste My gift with anxiety of soul. Trust in Me because I am faithful and will not permit in you the evil of deceit and illusion.
The soul: Come, oh my Jesus, I believe in You. I adore You. Come into my poor heart and let me warm You with my love. I believe it is You who comes to me and I want to be faithful to You till death.
The Presentation of The Child Jesus in the Temple
Jesus: The most Holy Mary presented Me in the Temple and you present Me to God in the Eucharistic offering, through the hands of Mary. When I sacrifice Myself in you, you accept the sorrows of your life just as Mary accepted the sorrows prophesied to Her by the saintly old Simeon. Be faithful to Me in all the discomfort and sorrows of your day. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Eternal Father, I offer Jesus to You in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world. I offer Him up especially for all sins of impurity and that all souls, consecrated to You, may not offend You. I offer You all the sorrows of my life. Jesus I trust in You.
The Finding of Young Jesus disputing with the teachers in the Temple
Jesus: How many times I gave Myself to you with great love! And without trusting in Me, you lost Me. When You lose Me, my child, you think I am not yours anymore. Come to the Church and you will find My Tabernacle. Do not become lost in My ways of love. Come to me regularly in the Eucharist. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Oh my Jesus, my love is for You alone and I want to love You always above all things. Never allow the love of others to prevail in me. I only want to love You who are above all things. In this way I shall never lose You and You will be with me always.
The Baptism of Jesus
Thou are my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.
(Lk 3:21-22)
The life of John the Baptist represented for the Hebrew people a marvel, and even though he did not perform any miracles, many thought that he was the Christ, the awaited Savior. This suspicion, instead of being an honor for John, was a burden for him. Immediately, he tried to clear up this mistake as much as he possibly could, explaining openly the truth: He was baptizing with water, which was a symbol of penance and humiliation. The Savior, being God, infinitely more powerful than he, for Whom he was not worthy to unloosen the latchet of His sandals, would baptize pouring out the graces of the Holy Spirit and the fire of love. Hence His Baptism would be a true rebirth. John threatened the punishments of God but he had no power over souls. The Savior, instead, would have the ‘candelabra’ in His Hand, that is, He would be the Judge of souls. He would save the righteous and condemn the reprobates as useless straws for the eternal fire of hell. It would be wrong to exchange the symbol for the reality or the servant for the Master. God Himself took care to confirm the witness of John. Even Jesus Christ, in fact, went to be baptized. When he received the water and was covered by all our sins, the sky opened up, and appeared a strong light, almost as if the sky had been turned asunder, showing the eternal light. In that splendor the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus as a halo of light, in the shape of a dove with dazzling light and the voice of the Father could be heard, Who said: “Thou are my beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.” The white Dove of Light and the voice of the Father revealed the sanctity of Jesus Christ and His Divinity. The Holy Spirit consecrated His Humanity in the fullness of grace that touched the infinite and the voice of the Father expressed clearly that He was his Eternal Son, the object of His satisfaction. In this way the testimony of John was sealed and his mission could be said to have come to an end with the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. (From: The Commentary on St. Luke’s Gospel by Fr. D. Ruotolo –2ndEd. 2002 pp. 108 & following)
The Wedding at Cana
“They have no more wine”
(Jn 2:1-11). “They have no more wine!” How many times Mary must have uttered this prayer, when in the house of Nazareth there was no more bread or what else She wanted to give to the poor? She was sure to receive what She wanted, as it was enough for Her to ask Her Divine Son. She knew by experience of the power of mediation that she had over the Heart of Jesus. It is nonsense to think that the Lord wanted to be independent of his Mother in his work of Redemption, when He entrusted all to Her from the beginning, and He wanted to have Her Co-Redemptrix at the foot of the Cross. It is even more nonsense to think that He wanted to reproach Her, when She was making a request out of charity. He then answered Her: “What there is between you and Me, Woman? My hour is not yet come”. And He wanted to say exactly this, as it is very clear in the context of what Jesus did thereafter: What difference is there between you and Me and what can I do that you cannot do? My hour is not yet come, the hour of my glorious manifestation, and that miracle that you want from Me, you can do it too. Mary with the words: “They have no more wine” claimed a miracle, either the multiplication of the last bit of wine remaining in some of the vessels or the transubstantiation of the water. “My hour is not yet come”. Was Jesus thinking already in that moment of the hour of the Eucharistic banquet of the Last Supper? When He spoke in the Cenacle of His hour, and of the desire he had desired it
(Lk 22:15) make us believe that He always was thinking about it because the very purpose of His love was that of giving of Himself. His love had almost an aversion to give wine... He wanted to give his Blood; since his hour had not yet come he would have preferred that Mary perform the miracle. The Most Holy Virgin did not want only to give wine, but She wanted to give His apostles a reason for faith in Jesus. She wanted to strengthen them with a miracle and for this reason She persisted with Jesus for an action, saying to the servants: “Do whatever He tells you.” By quick insight, She immediately understood the allusion of Her Son to transubstantiation and engaged the servants to provide the water for the miracle. As we can see, instead of being apart or almost stranger to each other, Jesus and Mary understood each other at once. Mary, as Mistress and Queen, entered into the intimacy of that Divine Heart and Jesus entered the delicate desires of the Immaculate Heart of his Mother.
... In the courtyard or in the vestibule of the house, there were six stone vessels called idrie. These were vessels for the water, each to contain two barrels of it, in Greek three metrete, some smaller, some bigger. The metreta, which means measure, was the biggest measure of capacity for liquids. It equaled 40 liters. Every vessel, then, had about 80 to 120 liters and all together between 480 to 720 liters.Jesus gave order to the servants to fill them. With an interior act of omnipotent will, He ordered the water for those people who took care of the wine for the banquet; He
ordered it like He did when in the beginning, when He created things from nothing and ordered harmony. The chief of the banquet in that moment was to distribute wine and not water and Jesus bidding him draw it, changed it into excellent wine. His hour to give his own Blood had not yet come, but He desired, with that miracle, to withhold that greatest miracle of His love. Interiorly He said to that water: “This is the wine for the chief of the banquet”, like one day He would say on that wine: “This is my Blood that shall be shed for you.” The water immediately became wine.
“And His disciples believed in Him”. (From: The Commentary on the Gospel of St. John by Father Dolindo Ruotolo 2nd Ed. Napoli, Italy 1989 pp. 62-65)
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me”
(Lk 4:16-22). In the Synagogue of Nazareth was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah to Jesus. He unrolled the scroll and found a passage that spoke of Himself. The Prophet was talking about the Messiah to come, saying: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, hence he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, he has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and restore sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God.
(Is 61:1ff). This was the mission of the labor of Jesus till the end of time, the synthesis of His spiritual mission and the marvelous work that would accompany it.
... He, then anointed of the Holy Spirit was to evangelize the eternal truth to the poor, that is to the people, the sinners, the ignorant, all those deprived of light and supernatural grace; He was to heal the brokenhearted, that is, the afflicted, the timid and those who being humiliated by their own sins wished to be healed. While redeeming the people, He would announce to them their freedom. With the words of truth He would give light to the blind; with the spreading of the Gospel over all the earth He would give freedom to captives filling their heart with the joy of the grace of God; with the propagation of the Divine Mercies He would announce the year of favor, that is, the time of great grace for souls, and the final Judgment. However these benefits represented greater things that He would propagate for his Church through the centuries.
He made seven great annunciations that can be regarded as prophesies of the seven periods of the History of the Church:
- The evangelization to the poor.
- The renewal of human society, brought low by paganism.
- The triumph of the Church, reduced to bloody servitude by the Caesars of Rome.
- The illumination of the truth throughout the world through the Doctors of the Church.
- Freedom from persecutions at the time of the apostasy of nations and the triumph of the Church oppressed by tyranny.
- The Year of Favor, that is, a period of great graces and the triumph of the Church of God, the Church in the Kingdom of God.
- Finally the last deception and the Final Judgment. Jesus, rolling up the scroll again, handed it back to the attendant of the Synagogue and sat down. He looked around to gather all in his Heart and said to them: “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(From: The Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke by Father Dolindo Ruotolo –2nd Ed. Napoli, Italy 2002 pp. 129-131)
The Transfiguration of Jesus
“And while Jesus was praying his Face changed in appearance...”
(Lk 9:29).
Jesus wanted to show himself to three witnesses on earth and two witnesses from Heaven: Peter, James and John representing mankind and Moses and Elijah representing the many who longed for the Redemption in the Old Testament. Hence Jesus took with him Peter, James and John and went up the mountain to pray.
... Since he often prayed during the night, we are right to believe that it was already dark when he began to go up with the apostles. This is clear also because the apostles were overcome with sleep: after a day busy with activities, in the calm solitude of the mountain, in the humidity of the night, it is understandable that they fell asleep. However they had gone with Jesus to pray and they were trying to stay awake, as it can be understood from the Greek Text which says that “they were awake in spite of their drowsiness”, and that they became aware of the grandiose scene that took place on the mountain. Jesus prayed and His Transfiguration makes it possible for us to understand what His prayer was. He was inflamed by infinite love in front of the Father and all rapt by His glory. His face changed in appearance and became dazzling white by divine light and this intense light made his clothing also white. It was the most sublime ecstasy. It was the Word coming forth, we could say: His assumed humanity becoming completely diaphanous by the divine light and being enlightened. The sight was sublime, immense, and so great that it is not possible to imagine it. The true God was visible in it, just as in His concealment He was perceived as the true man. The Word glorified the Father knowing and appreciating Him and the assumed humanity shined in Jesus and through Him like a flame of holocaust.
Jesus prayed in that mysterious splendor. His prayer raised up so far above the poor earthly atmosphere, just as his divine splendor had to reach far beside and well past the immensity of the firmament. Jesus prayed and the splendor of his Soul and Body was proportioned to the humiliation that he was going to be subject to, during His Passion. It was, in fact, conforming to the divine Glory, that the Man-God was sacrificed, but it was a demand of His glory that He was recognized for what He was.
Jesus prayed as He spoke of His departure with Moses and Elijah; it was a sublime canticle rising to the One and Triune God, like a grandiose Psalm going through a dazzling parallel because Moses and Elijah exalted God for His promises, and Jesus exalted Him accepting in Himself the accomplishment of them, showing the perfect harmony in his life. The two Testaments were side by side, the shadow became the light of reality and the reality enlightened the truth of the symbols and of the figures. In this canticle was the entire ancient story of infinite harmony, answered in the Man-God with a triumphant harmony of love. The great light did not yet completely awake the apostles, and Peter spoke without knowing what he was saying. When they saw the light wrapped around Jesus, Moses and Elijah, because of the sudden contrast between the intense light and the shadow of the cloud, they woke up completely and they became frightened because in that cloud appeared the Father solemnly pointing to His Son as Master of humanity. From the cloud indeed came forth a voice that said: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him!” Tabor was truly the Sinai of the New Covenant from which the Son revealed Himself, just as the Cenacle was the mountain where the Holy Spirit was revealed. On Tabor the cloud represented also the Holy Spirit which unites the Father with the Son, and the Son to the Father in Infinite Love; but in the Cenacle the manifestation was special as that of the Son on Tabor and that of the Father in heaven on Sinai. (From: The Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke by Father Dolindo Ruotolo –2nd Ed. Napoli, Italy 2002 pp. 254 & following)
The Institution of the Eucharist
“With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you”
(Lk 22:14).
Jesus was at the center of the table; His appearance was spiritualized and divine.
... His most beautiful face had an air of majesty, of love, goodness, and peace and of a sweet inner sorrow like the shadow of a most beautiful painting that made Him even more beautiful. The Divinity hidden by the most holy Humanity surfaced from his features,
mysteriously incisive and most beautiful; His eyes were sparkling and Heaven was mirrored in them. He was the Bridegroom of the Canticles, who in that moment was offering himself, opening the door of his Mercy and love. He embraced the souls of all ages; embraced His Church and offered His life to her; He gazed around at His disciples and his sight embraced all of them with love, like a bare and wet rock in the rising sun. They were needy and poor of heart and did not even understand what He was going to do, but they were His and He loved them immensely. He had come to earth to make right the human failure and he was offering Himself as He gave them His life. The very misery of his Apostles increased his tenderness and He said: “With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer”. The moment was solemn, and the Angels came down from Heaven to see it. In that moment the greatest miracle of God was accomplished, and it was accomplished in one moment with a single utterance of the Incarnate Word. He was already transfigured, but became even more transfigured. His face was like the face of God: Power, Wisdom and Love. He had the assurance of one who can do everything, the vigor of one who knows everything and accomplishes all with wisdom, the gentleness of one who gives with a most pure love.The Angels were in sublime awe and the Heavens stopped their music.
He took the bread, looked up to Heaven, and gave thanks, that is, He prayed fervently and thanked the Father for this great gift He was giving to mankind, broke the bread, hand[ed] it to the Apostles and spoke with a calm and loving tone. Before that the law of creation stopped in adoration and obeyed, as if vanishing before Him: “This is my Body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me”. The substance of the bread was as if struck by the Omnipotent Word and disappeared, giving place to the substance of the Body of the Redeemer; and because He did not pronounced His Omnipotent Word on the quantity of the bread it remained, together with the accidents, suspended like a veil over that divine substance. But He was not satisfied. He had given Himself as food, He wanted to give Himself also as drink; He had given His whole Body, now he wanted to give His Blood as well, in a sacrifice of love. He wanted to separate it, at all cost, from his Body, to anticipate its outpouring and perpetuation in all ages until the end of time. And He took the cup full of wine and giving it to His dear apostles, spoke with the same Omnipotent and Transubstantiating Word: “This chalice is the New Testament of My Blood, which shall be shed for you.” He not only shed it, He gave it; and making it sacramental, separated from his Body, he gave it as a sacrifice of love. It was his real Blood, not just a symbol: it was the same Blood that would be shed, not just a figure. It was the Blood of the same sacrifice of the Cross which would shortly be consummated by the betrayal of Judas; and for this reason, Jesus, to eliminate all doubts, added: “But yet behold, here is the hand of him who betrays Me. He is here with Me at the table”.(From: The Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke by Father Dolindo Ruotolo – 2nd Ed. Napoli, Italy 2002 pp. 487-490)
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES(Misteria dolorosa)
Jesus: Unite yourself to Me in your suffering and the bitterness will become for you like incense, through the joy of offering them with Me for the salvation of souls. Suffer with patience. Do not lose your temper. Do not make others suffer for your impatience. Be at peace with everyone and forgive those that make you suffer, because forgiveness for others is a pledge of forgiveness for yourself, on the part of Divine Mercy. I bless your suffering and it will be highly regarded for your eternal life. Be at peace. I give you my blessing.
Jesus Prays in the Garden
Jesus: Fulfill the Divine Will in the sufferings of your life and especially in the agony of your sensitive heart. Do not become disheartened in your life. Keep your eyes on your final destination, which is Heaven. Do not grieve, but trust in God and confide entirely in Him. Do not become despondent but bear all things with patience and spread peace around you.
The soul: Oh Jesus, I am so weak. Teach me to follow Your Divine Will and strengthen me in my suffering. Soothe my nerves and tame my lively nature. May You be blessed, my God, in each of my sufferings. Amen.
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus: As I was scourged for love of you, so you must bear your physical pains for love of Me. Offer your tiredness for those who are weary in the ways of God; offer your suffering for those who seek pleasures of the flesh. Be holy in your suffering and give the example of your peace and your union with the Divine Will.
The soul: Oh my Jesus, I offer You all my suffering in union with Yours for the conversion of sinners and the sanctification of souls. Grant me consolation. Give me strength.
Jesus is crowned with thorns
Jesus: I was crowned with thorns to expiate the faults of leaders and to restore to health poor lost minds. Pray to the wounds of My Head to keep in sound health your mind and the ones who are dear to you, because every disorder of the conscience has its roots in the disorder of the mind. Do not indulge in daydreams but ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you, that you may know how to act with confidence and peace in all your deeds.
The soul: Oh my Jesus, I beg You that I may I never, either stray from your truths or dishonor Your Name with strange and unholy ideas. Make me wise and prudent in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus carries His Cross to Calvary
Jesus: I go on carrying My Cross for love of you and you follow Me for love of Me. You hesitate to carry the cross because your nature seeks joy. But how can you have joy if you don’t carry the cross? So many souls would like to create their own cross and they want to make them light. When they do this by themselves, the Cross instead becomes much heavier, causing great distress and discouragement. Unite yourself to the Divine Will and bear your daily crosses with patience, with courage and submission. Trust in Me, for I am your Simon of Cyrene. I will help you. What good are impatience and rebellion? Why must you seek your will in everything, which can only cause you problems? Live with patience and you shall live in peace. I give you my blessing.
Jesus dies on the Cross
Jesus: Gaze on Me crucified and all your pains will become sweeter. Don’t be afraid. From My Cross I open My arms of Mercy to you and I save you. Trust in Me. Trust in Me. You are not on the wrong path because it is I who am leading you on your way with special love. Be at peace and join Me at the foot of the Cross, sacrificing yourself for Me. I give you My blessing.
The soul: My Jesus, make me faithful to You until death. Let me be like the holy women who always followed You with a lively faith. Like them, keep me committed to your truth.
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES(Misteria gloriosa)
Jesus: Suffer in peace and hope in the happiness waiting for you. Life is a test and death itself is but sleep. Bear your suffering now and later you will be happy. You will rise from the tomb to be united to Me in body and soul. Bear your suffering. The sorrows of your life will be overcome, because every pain, suffered patiently, ends and it is transformed into glory. Lift high your aspirations; live in the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Love the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and follow Her, imploring Her protection and invoking Her as your Queen, the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. Do not lose yourself in dark thoughts, do not see everything black and beyond repair. Trust, trust because what is lost shall be found and what is dead in you shall be revived. I give you my blessing.
The Resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: I am the Resurrection and the Life. Trust in Me through every pain and be certain of the triumph of My glory in your life. Be strong and live by My love and charity. Rise to a new life after you have crucified all your miseries on the cross of penance and mortification. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Oh my Jesus, restore me in Your grace, because I remain the same, in spite of all the many graces you bestow upon me. Put in my heart a new grace of contrition, that I may change my life and do Your Holy Will
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven
Jesus: Rise up and detach yourself from earthly things. You cannot rise if you do not first become small, humble and full of charity. Submit yourself because you are still full of yourself and you know that if a balloon is not filled with air, it cannot ascend. You need to empty your nature and be filled with the Holy Spirit. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Oh my Jesus, I am mortified by the very little progress I made since You called me to a more perfect life! Have mercy on me. Stretch out Your Hand to me that I may follow You, with all my heart, to the heights of a holy life.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Jesus: As you are bound by your physical nature, you allow yourself to be guided more by impulses and enthusiasm, rather then by Grace. When you sense a bit of fervor, you believe that all is well, yet you do not know to be faithful to Me, in the darkness and the anguish of the spirit. Invoke the Holy Spirit that He may lead you. Place your whole being in His Hands that He may lead you to God in the ways of Love. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Come, Oh God the Holy Spirit, come and fill my heart completely. Oh Mary, Mother dear, pray for me that the Holy Spirit will inspire me that, like the Apostles, I may be transformed and renewed.
The Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
Jesus: You contemplate the Most Holy Virgin Mary assumed into Heaven with Her body and Her soul, yet you do not consider that the way, which brought Her to this great triumph, was the way to Calvary. If Mary suffered so much for Me, should you not also? It seems to you that you only have pains in your life here, and yet if you suffer for love of God, every bitter disappointment becomes a seed of Eternal Life. Accept your cross if you want to reach the glory of eternal triumph. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Draw me near to You, Oh Immaculate Virgin, and give me a great spirit of patience and peace. Draw my family and my children to God and pray for our salvation.
Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth
Jesus: The Most Holy Mary is your dearest Queen. Give Her the homage of your soul and love Her with all your heart. Devotion to Mary is the last hope of salvation for this troubled world and for your soul. Cultivate in your soul this devotion, contemplating the glory of your Mother and reciting the Holy Rosary with devotion. The Rosary is your special love for Her, I know. The Rosary saves you from despair and opens to you the luminous ways of charity and
holiness. The Rosary is your comfort in your life and the sweet chain that unites you to God. I give you my blessing.
The soul: Thank You, Oh Jesus, for all the graces You bestow upon me. I beg you for perseverance in charity. In Your goodness, give me the crown in Heaven!
Reflection: The Annunciation – Fruit of Humility
Reflection Credit
Mary said yes. God was asking a great amount of her. She could face disapproval. Joseph could abandon her. She might not be believed. Mary risked a lot because she had faith in God’s goodness. I imagine her kneeling in wonderment at the angel Gabriel, his hands encompassing hers, his forehead pressed against hers as he tells her of God’s great plan. She whispers “yes” knowing that her life is forever changed and possibly going to be much harder. She allows God’s will to be done and with that fiat the salvation of the world is set in motion. I pray that I can put God’s will before my own.
Reflection: The Visitation – Love of Neighbor
Newly pregnant, Mary walks several days to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She is greeted with great joy and exclaims her Magnificat. She spends several months serving Elizabeth. I imagine her performing the tasks of life so that Elizabeth, in her third trimester when the physical burden of pregnancy is greatest, can rest. Despite her own possible exhaustion and morning sickness, she serves her cousin. I imagine them at the end of the day sitting together and sharing their feelings about these two miraculous babies. I pray that I can serve as Mary did.
Reflection: The Nativity – Poverty of Spirit
Mary and Joseph are far from home and she is about to give birth. They find nowhere to stay. Rather than panicking, they rely on God who leads them to a safe, warm place for his son’s birth. I imagine their worry but also their sense of calm. They know God cares for them and he will not abandon them on this holy journey. As the angels announce Jesus’ birth and the shepherds come to pay him homage, Mary and Joseph are surrounded by God’s love. I pray for the grace to depend on God completely.
Reflection: Presentation in the Temple – Obedience
Mary and Joseph obey the law and bring their newborn son to the temple and offer a sacrifice. There they meet Simeon who has waited many years to meet the Messiah. I imagine Simeon gazing at Jesus. The Christ for whom he has waited has arrived just as God promised. He raises his eyes to heaven in thanks. He also warns Mary that her own heart will be pierced. She continues to trust God, not knowing what lies ahead. I pray for trust in God’s plan and patience in waiting for it to unfold.
Reflection: Finding Jesus in the Temple – Piety
After not knowing where he was for three days, Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the temple. I imagine the fear they felt when they realized Jesus was not with them as they returned from Jerusalem. I imagine how scared they felt as they looked for him and the increasing anxiety they experience as time passed. At last they find him in his father’s home. What relief and joy. We look for Jesus too and we can always find him in church. He is there waiting for us. I pray that I will not find reasons to avoid visiting Jesus regularly.
Reflection: Baptism of Jesus – Openness to the Holy Spirit
Though Jesus is without original sin, John baptizes him and God announces that Jesus is his son and He is pleased. I imagine standing in that cool river, feeling the water rush past me. The sounds of the crowd are muffled as my head goes below the surface. I imagine hearing God’s great voice proclaiming He is pleased with his son. I desire God to be pleased with me too, and pray that I can accept the movement of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Reflection: Wedding at Cana – Jesus Through Mary
It is here Jesus’ public life is put into motion. I imagine Mary noticing that the wine is running out and hearing her ask Jesus for help, confident in his assistance. His respect for Mary is so high, he performs his first miracle at her request. Her command, “Do whatever he tells you” is for us too. The wine stewards listen and water is turned into wine. When we pray the Rosary she intercedes with her Son on our behalf. I pray to grow closer to Jesus with Mary’s help.
Reflection: Proclamation of the Kingdom – Repentance
Jesus went about the land preaching the coming of the kingdom of heaven. He healed the sick and cast out demons. I imagine the awe of the people watching this man proclaim the importance of repenting of our sins as he healed people of their paralysis or leprosy. He preached about love and forgiveness. We too need healing and repentance. I pray for the ability to be humbly and genuinely sorry for my sins against others and against the God who loves me and made me.
Reflection: The Transfiguration – Desire for Holiness
Peter, James and John accompany Jesus up Mount Tabor where Jesus is transformed before them in glorious light and Moses and Elijah appear. Peter desires to build tents for them so they may stay. God again proclaims pleasure in Jesus, his beloved Son and tells them to listen to him. I imagine the disciples seeing Jesus with the prophets of the past and hearing God’s voice. They received a beautiful gift from God and comforting words from Jesus to not be afraid. I pray for the desire to spend time with Christ thinking about his message and striving for holiness.
Reflection: Institution of the Eucharist – Eucharistic Adoration
Jesus gives us the greatest of gifts in his presence in the Eucharist—body, blood, soul and divinity. I imagine the disciples hearing these words of the New Covenant and the directive to do this in his remembrance. We reflect on this at every Mass as we genuflect before the tabernacle. We are also invited to visit Jesus in adoration. It takes great faith to believe in the Real Presence. I pray for the grace to have that faith, to seek him in adoration and surrender myself humbly to his service.
Reflection: The Agony in the Garden – conformity to God’s will
Jesus knows torture and death lie ahead and he prays that the cup will pass. He also prays God’s will be done. In his agony, he carries the weight of our sins so that we may be saved. I imagine the courage it took to give himself to God’s plan. We too suffer and while we may pray the suffering will end, we are given support from Our Lord to endure, as Jesus received strength from the angel in the garden. I pray for the courage to conform to God’s will especially when it may be difficult.
Reflection: The Scourging – Mortification
Jesus is brutally tortured to near death. Scourging was more than mere beating; it involved using instruments to inflict the most pain and blood loss possible without actually killing. Jesus was beaten for our sins. His mother watched as her son’s blood spilled on the ground. I imagine the horror she felt watching her precious child be brutalized, and how hard it must have been to not run to his rescue. I pray for forgiveness for my sins, the sins that contributed to the torture of my Lord.
Reflection: The Crowning with Thorns – Moral Courage
Jesus is clothed with a scarlet robe and crowned with thorns. He is mocked and spit upon by the soldiers. The people demand his crucifixion. Despite his innocence, he does not defend himself. He is strong in the face of hatred. I imagine his sadness at the people’s ignorance, his sorrow at their contempt. I pray for courage to defend God’s truth and strength to withstand the criticism and hatred of others.
Reflection: The Carrying of the Cross – Patience
Jesus’ humiliation continues, as he carries the Cross that he will be crucified on, through the town and people continue to mock him. I imagine the pain of the heavy wood against his back, rubbing against the open wounds from the scourging, the hot sun on him, the thirst, and hunger. I imagine his grief at seeing Mary, knowing she is watching her son die. Jesus is patient in enduring this suffering for us. I pray for more forgiveness, knowing my sins add to the weight of that Cross. I pray for patience in my own times of difficulty.
Reflection: The Crucifixion – Salvation
Jesus arrives and is nailed to the cross. As he hangs, slowly dying, he is comforted by the presence of his mother, Mary, her sister[-in-law], John, and Mary Magdalene. Mary [His Mother] is strong. She has watched him suffer and now die and she never leaves him. I imagine her heartache. In his words to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son” all of us are entrusted to her love. I pray in thanksgiving for Christ’s suffering and sacrifice so that I may be saved.
Reflection: The Resurrection – Faith
Jesus did as he foretold, he rose from the dead, thus securing for us everlasting life in heaven with him and his father. The women who went to visit his grave are greeted by an angel who gives them this good news and he tells them to tell the disciples of his resurrection. I imagine the joy they feel when they see the one they love living again, the celebration of the disciples and Mary when they are able to touch him and talk to him. I pray for faith that I too may one day be with Jesus in heaven.
Reflection: The Ascension – Hope
As Jesus ascends to heaven he tells his followers to go and make disciples. He sends them to the world to share his story and he promises he will always be with them. I imagine their surprise at seeing him lifted up into the clouds, and their wonderment at all that occurred. I imagine them considering what will happen next and how they will accomplish what he told them to do. They are filled with hope and maybe fear. I pray for hope when I don’t know the way forward or when times seem dark.
Reflection: The Coming of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom
The apostles and Mary are praying in the upper room in fear of the future. When the Holy Spirit, the Advocate Jesus said he would send, comes to them they are filled with the gifts they need to go out into the world: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,
modesty, generosity, and chastity
(Gal 5:22-23).
... The fruits in purple type are omitted in several of the Greek and Latin manuscripts.
We receive these same gifts at our baptism and confirmation. I pray that I can use these gifts to share the love of Jesus and the story of his good news.
Reflection: The Assumption of Mary – Devotion to Mary
Mary is taken to heaven to her rightful place with Jesus where she intercedes for us in prayer. I imagine her excitement at being with her son again, and her pleasure at being in heaven with God. I pray for Mary's intercession and help in growing closer to Jesus, while asking her to help me love him more. She will keep pointing the way toward her son.
Reflection: The Coronation of Mary – Eternal Happiness
Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth. She listened to God’s will and stayed true to his plan for her life. Mary was not spared suffering but her reward in heaven is great. She is our queen too, and if asked she will help us in all facets of our life. I imagine her lovingly looking down at us and her happiness at our requests for help. I pray for her humility, patience, and trust.
Reflection: The Annuciation
IN THE ANNUNCIATION, the birth of the Son of God in the flesh is made to hinge on the consent of a woman, as the fall of man in the garden of Paradise hinged on the consent of a man.
God in His power might have assumed a human nature by force, as the hand of a man lays hold of a rose. But He willed not to invade His great gift of freedom without a creature’s free response. Through the angel who salutes Mary in words that have become the first part of the Hail Mary, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” Mary is asked if she will give God a man!
Mary learning that she will conceive without human love, but with the overshadowing of divine Love, consents, and a new humanity begins, with Mary as the new Eve, and Christ the new Adam.
The Annunciation is the Mystery of the joy of freedom. Our free will is the only thing in the world that is our own. God can take away anything else, our health, wealth, power, but God will never force us to love Him or to obey Him. The charm of Yes lies in the possibility that one might have said No.
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Mary has taught us to say Fiat to God. “Be it done to me according to Thy word.” But God Himself has taught us that, since He would not invade the freedom of a woman, then a man should never do so.
Reflection: The Visitation
THE GOSPEL tells us, “In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a city of Judea, in the hill country, where Zachary dwelt; and there entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting. No sooner had Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit; so that she cried out with a loud voice, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke :39-42).
Reflection: The Visitation
The first miracle worked by our Lord on earth was performed while He was still in His Mother’s womb. He stirred the unborn John and brought consciousness of His presence to Elizabeth, the cousin, of His Mother. Thus, long before Cana, our Lord shows that it is through His Mother that He works His unseen wonders in the heart and through her that He is brought into the souls of men.
The joy of the second Joyful Mystery is that of the Old Testament meeting the New, and of the young maiden greeting the old woman, as Mary burst into the most revolutionary song that was ever sung, the Magnificat, foretelling the day when the mighty would be unseated from their thrones, and the poor would be exalted.
Yet at that moment, when Elizabeth is the first to call her the Mother of God, even before our Lord is born, Mary answers in her song that her greatness is due to Him, and that she was chosen because she was lowly. It may very well be that Mary was chosen to be the Mother of God after she had in her vow renounced the honour. Though greater than Elizabeth, she visits her in her hour of need. Only as we become little do we ever become great in the eyes of God.
Reflection: The Nativity
ALL LOVE TENDS to become like that which it loves. God loved man; therefore, He became man. Thanks to His human nature, He could take on our woes and our sorrows, and feel the effects of sin as if they were His very own.
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But all this was conditioned upon Mary’s giving Him a human nature. Without her He would never have had eyes to see the multitude hungry in the desert, or ears to hear the pleading of the lame man of Jericho, or hands to caress children, or feet to seek the lost sheep.
For nine months, her own body was the natural Eucharist, in which God shared communion with human life, thus preparing for that greater Eucharist, when human life would commune with the Divine.
Mary’s joy was to form Christ in her own body; her joy now is to form Christ in our souls. In this Mystery, we pray to become pregnant with the Christ spirit, giving Him new lips with which He may speak of His Father, new hands with which He may feed the poor, and a new heart with which He may love everyone, even enemies.
Reflection: The Presentation
EVERY CHILD is an arrow shot out of the bow of its mother, but its target is God. Children have come through mothers, but they do not belong to them. Mary acknowledges this claim of divinity on her Child by presenting Him back again to God, as she offers the temple of His Body in the temple made by hands.
Mary here anticipated the joy of every mother who brings her child to the baptismal font, where God may claim His own. But in the case of Mary, the Child was claimed for sacrifice, as the aged Simeon said that He was a sign to be contradicted, for the cross is the contradiction.
Mary was even told that a sword her own soul would pierce. That would happen when her Son would have His heart pierced with a lance. Through His Body and her soul would go that one stroke of the sword.
She was the only mother who ever brought a life into the world to die.
Reflection: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
THERE ARE two kinds of souls in the world; those who hide from God and those from whom God hides. But when God hides, He hides in order that He might be sought the more, as if to draw out a deeper love.
During the three days when the divine Child was lost, the Blessed Mother became the mother of sinners. The essence of sin is the loss of God, and Mary lost God, not spiritually, but physically. During those three days, she came to know something of the solitariness of the sinner, the loneliness of the guilty, and the aloneness of the frustrated. Her divine Son, 21 years later, would feel it for Himself on the cross, when He would ask why God had abandoned Him.
Let no sinner ever despair of Divine Mercy, because Mary understands the tortures of the heart, but above all, because she knows where to find Christ. She also knows how to bring the sinner to her Divine Son. As the Madonna of the Empty Arms, she awaits your embrace.
Reflection: The Baptism of Jesus
THE OBJECT OF JESUS' BAPTISM was the same as the object of his birth, namely to identify Himself with sinful humanity. Had not Isaiah foretold that he would be "numbered with the transgressors?"
(Is 53:12)
In effect, Our Lord was saying, "Suffer this to be done; it does not seem fitting to you, but in reality, it is in complete harmony with my purpose in coming." Christ was not doing this as a private Person but as a representative of sinful humanity, though Himself without sin.
Reflection: The Wedding at Cana
THERE IS A COUNTERPOINT of joy and sorrow in the life of Christ that is found again in His first miracle which took place in the village of Cana. It is part of His pattern, that He Who came to preach a crucifixion of disordered flesh, should have begun His Public Life by assisting at a marriage feast.
Reflection: The Proclamation of the Kingdom
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT is so much at variance with all that our world holds dear that the world will crucify anyone who tries to live up to its values. Because Christ preached to them, He had to die. Calvary was the price He paid for the Sermon on the Mount.
Reflection: The Transfiguration
THREE IMPORTANT SCENES of Our Lord’s life took place on mountains. On one, He preached the Beatitudes, the practice of which would bring a Cross from the world; on the second, He showed the glory that lay beyond the Cross; and on the third, He offered Himself in death as a prelude to His glory and that of all who would believe in His name.
Reflection: The Establishment of the Eucharist
SINCE OUR DIVINE LORD came to die, it was fitting that there be a Memorial of His death! Since He was God, as well as man, and since He never spoke of His death without speaking of His Resurrection should He not Himself institute the precise Memorial of His own death and not leave it to the chance recollection of men? And that is exactly what He did the night of the last Supper.
Reflection: The Agony in the Garden
AS A KIND PERSON in the face of pain seeks to relieve the sufferings of his friend, so does moral kindness in the face of evil take on the punishment which evil deserves. Every mother would willingly, if she could, bear the aches of her child. A father will pay the debts of his wayward son as if they were his own. Our Lord, though guilty of no sin, nevertheless in His agony in the garden permitted Himself to feel the inner effects of sin, as on the cross He experienced also the external effects of sin. These internal effects were sadness, fear, and a sense of loneliness. “I looked for one that would grieve together with Me, and I found none.”
(Ps 69:20)
He permits His head to feel blasphemies as if His lips had pronounced them; His hands to feel the sins of theft, as if He had stolen; His body to sense the guilt of defilement, as if it were the cause. Innocence knows sin better than the guilty, because the guilty are already part of it.
Sin is in the blood. The drunkard, the libertine, the tyrant have registered sin not only in their souls, but in their brains, the cells of their body, and the very expressions of their faces. If, therefore, sin is in the blood, to atone for it, blood must be poured out. Our Lord never intended that any other blood than His own should be shed in expiation for sins. Because men have not invoked the blood of Christ for their sins, they are now at war shedding one another’s blood.
The agony in the garden is not a triumph of the plans and the schemes of betrayers and enemies, but is permitted by divine decree. “This is your hour,” our Lord said to His enemies. Evil has its hour, but God has His day!
Reflection: The Scourging
SEVEN CENTURIES BEFORE, it had been foretold that our Lord would be so wounded for our sins that we would have “thought Him, as it were, a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted.” The time has come for the fulfilment of that prophecy. Omnipotence is bound to a pillar in the hour of His death, as He was bound in swaddling clothes in the very hour of His birth.
The scourging at the pillar must have been terrible, because whenever our Lord foretold His passion, He always made particular reference to His scourging, as if to emphasise the outrage of His suffering. St. Peter, after the Resurrection, recalling how he stood in the outer court listening to the fall of thongs upon His flesh, and yet heard our Lord not complain, wrote: “Who when He was reviled, did not revile; when He suffered, did not threaten.”
The scourging is an act of reparation for the excessive cult of the body. “The body is for the Lord.” In expiation for self-indulgence, His body, as the second Ark of the Covenant, is disclosed to profane eyes, as the Spouse of souls now becomes the plaything of mockers. How many strokes He received, no one knows. The prophet foretold that He would be so scourged that the bones of His body would be numbered. We are saved by other stars and stripes than those on the flag; namely, by the stars and stripes of Christ, by whose stars we are illumined – by whose stripes we are healed.
Reflection: The Crowning with Thorns
AS THE SCOURGING was the reparation for the sins of the flesh, so the crowning with thorns was the atonement for the sins of the mind—for the atheists who wish there were no God, for the doubters whose evil lives becloud their thinking, for the egotists, centred on themselves.
The soldiers cursed as the thorns pricked their fingers. Then they cursed the Lord, as they drove the crown of thorns into His head, as a mockery of a royal diadem. Into His hands they placed a reed, the symbol of His kingdom, presumed to be false and unstable like the reed. He is now covered with a purple robe to ridicule His claim to kingship of hearts and nations. Blindfolding Him, they struck Him, asking Him to prophesy, or tell who it was that delivered the blow. They then bowed down before Him in mock reverence, spitting in His face, that all the subsequent Mindszentys, Stepinacs, and martyrs of the world might have courage in their hour of martyrdom.
In this Mystery is verified the truth of our Saviour’s warning: “If the world hates you, be sure that it hated Me before it learned to hate you. If you belonged to the world, the world would know you for its own and love you; it is because you do not belong to the world, because I have singled you out from the midst of the world, that the world hates you.” He who expects to preserve His faith without being mocked by the world is either weak in it, or else not so bold in goodness as to draw upon himself the mocking insults of another purple robe and a torturing circle of thorns.
Reflection: The Carrying of the Cross
ANY CROSS would be easy to bear if we could only tailor it to fit ourselves. Our Lord’s cross was not made by Him, but for Him. Crosses and burdens are thrust upon us. Our acceptance makes them personal. Our Lord even said that there would be at least seven crosses a week: “Take up your cross daily and follow Me.”
Crosses are of two kinds: pure ones, which come from the outside, such as pain, persecution, and ridicule; and inner, or impure crosses, which come as the result of our sins, such as sadness, despair, and unhappiness. These latter crosses can be avoided. They are made by contradicting the will of God. The vertical bar of the cross stands for God’s will; the horizontal bar stands for our wills. When one crosses the other, we have the cross.
Our Lord never promised that we would be without a cross; He only promised that we would never be overcome by one. St. Peter so loved the cross that when the time came for his execution he asked to be crucified upside down.
May He who was found guilty of no other crime than that of the excess of love make us hate the load of sin that made His cross. The whole cross borne in union with His will and following in His footsteps is easier to bear than the splinters against which we rebel.
Reflection: The Crucifixion
OUR LORD spent 30 years of His life obeying, three years teaching, three hours redeeming! But how did He redeem? Suppose a golden chalice is stolen from an altar and beaten into a large ash tray. Before that gold can be returned to the altar, it must be thrown into a fire, where the dross is burned away; then the chalice must be recast, and finally blessed and restored to its holy use.
Sinful man is like that chalice which was delivered over to profane uses. He lost his Godlike resemblance and his high destiny as a child of God. So our blessed Lord took unto Himself a human nature, making it stand for all of us, plunged it into the fires of Calvary to have the dross of sin burned and purged away. Then, by rising from the dead, He became the new head of the new humanity, according to which we are all to be patterned.
Reflection: The Crucifixion
THE CROSS reveals that unless there is a Good Friday in our lives, there will never be an Easter Sunday. Unless there is a crown of thorns, there will never be the halo of light. Unless there is the scourged body, there will never be a glorified one. Death to the lower self is the condition of resurrection to the higher self. The world says to us, as it said to Him on the cross: “Come down, and we will believe!” But if He had come down, He never would have saved us. It is human to come down; it is divine to hang there. A broken heart, O Saviour of the world, is love’s best cradle! Smite my own, as Moses did the rock, that Thy love may enter in!
Reflection: The Resurrection
OUR BLESSED LORD compared Himself to a seed, saying that unless the seed fell to the ground and died, it would not spring forth to life. He now by the power of God rises with the flowers of springtime in the newness of life, and gives to the earth the only serious wound it ever received the irreparable wound of an empty grave.
The birth of the Son of God in the form of man was announced to a Virgin; the first announcement of His Resurrection was made to a repentant sinner, Magdalen, that none of us would be without hope. Thomas the Apostle would not believe until he had put his hand into His side, and his fingers into our Lord’s hands. Thus do we know that our Lord kept not His wounds but His scars as proof of His love: “With these was I wounded in the house of those who love Me.”
The Resurrection begins to affect our lives the day of Baptism. When baptized, we are plunged into the waters as if “buried in the sepulchre to sin and death; emerging from the waters clothed with grace as the principle of Divine Love, we are like the Christ rising from the tomb in the glory of the Resurrection.”
Though we are risen in spirit with Christ, so that “our conversation is in heaven,” our bodies will not share that glory until our own final resurrection. In the meantime our body must be crucified with Christ’s that we may rise with Christ.
On the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday, our Lord said to His disciples, “Was it not to be expected that the Christ should undergo these sufferings, and enter so into His glory?”
But if that be the law of Innocence, then how shall we, the guilty, hope to escape from it?
Reflection: The Ascension
OUR BLESSED LORD did not ascend to heaven immediately after the Resurrection but remained on earth for 40 days, speaking to the Apostles about the Kingdom of God. It was during these days that He gave the details of His Church, which He said would have its visible manifestation on Pentecost.
“And so the Lord Jesus, when He had finished speaking to them, was taken up to heaven, and is seated now at the right hand of God.” “Seated” is a figurative expression of eternal repose, which He has merited by His victory over sin. “At the right hand” is a symbol of His power of eternal intercession before His heavenly Father on our behalf.
The Ascension of Christ is the assurance of our own ascension into heaven after the Last Judgment. Not yet ascended in body, we nevertheless enjoy the ascension of our minds in union with Him. We find our true home in heaven. It is to heaven that we look expectantly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to save us; He will form this humbled body of ours anew, modelling it into the image of His glorified body, so effective is His power to make all things obey Him.
O heavenly Magnet, in each Communion draw our body and blood to Thy own, that already following Thee in heart, we may later ascend with Thee in the flesh!
Reflection: The Descent of the Holy Spirit
MANY HAVE WISHED that Our Blessed Lord had remained on earth, that we might have heard His voice, seen His compassionate eyes, and brought our children to be blessed by His hands. But He said, “I can say truly that it is better for you I should go away; He who is to befriend you will not come to you unless I do go, but if only I make my way there, I will send Him to you.”
(John 16:7)
If our Lord had remained on earth, He would have been only a symbol to be copied – not a life to be lived. By returning to His heavenly Father, He could then send both from the Father and Himself the Holy Spirit that would make Him live on earth in His new Body, which is the Church.
The human body is made up of millions of cells, and yet is one because vivified by one soul, presided over by a visible head, and governed by an invisible mind. So on Pentecost, the Apostles, who were like the cells of a body, became Christ’s Mystical Body, because vivified by His Holy Spirit, governed by one visible head, Peter, and presided over by one invisible head, Christ in heaven. Our glorious Church is not an organisation, but an organism. As our Lord once thought, governed, and sanctified through a human body, which He took from the womb of His blessed Mother, so now He teaches, governs, and sanctifies through His Mystical Body, the Church, which He took from the womb of humanity overshadowed by His Holy Spirit.
Christ was infallible when He talked through a human body; He is still infallible when He teaches through a mystical Body. Christ sanctified when He forgave sins with human lips; He sanctifies still when He forgives sins through the power of His priests. Christ governed through His human Body, and He governs still. “He that heareth you, heareth Me.”
As a drop of blood can live in the body, but cannot live apart from the body, so neither can any of us live the fullness of the Christ Life except in His Mystical Body, the Church.
Reflection: The Assumption
WHAT THE ASCENSION WAS to our Lord, that the Assumption is to our Lady. Certainly she, the new Garden of Paradise, in which grew the Lily of divine sinlessness and the red Rose of the Church, should not be delivered over and forgotten by the heavenly Gardener. She, in whose womb was celebrated the nuptials of eternity and time is more of eternity than time. If husband and wife in marriage are made two in one flesh, then shall not she, who is the new Eve of the new Adam, be also made two in one spirit with Him?
As Christ ascended into heaven to the unity of the divine nature, so Mary is assumed into heaven in the unity of Christ’s human nature. Her mystical flight is the event to which our whole generation moves.
Our age of carnalities, which loves the “body beautiful,” is lifted out of its despair by the Assumption, to honour a body that is beautiful because it is a temple of God, a gate through which the Word of heaven passed to earth, a Tower of Ivory up which climbed divine Love to kiss upon the lips of His Mother a mystic rose. *
To this daughter of the new Eve goes up our prayer:
The celestial traitress play
And all mankind to bliss betray;
With sacrosanct cajoleries
And starry treachery of your eyes,
Tempt us back to Paradise.
[* See Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto)]
Reflection: The Coronation
Our Lady went into a strange country
And they crowned her for a queen,
For she needed never to be stayed or questioned
But only seen;
And they were broken down under unbearable beauty
As we have been.
But ever she walked till away in the last high places
One great light shone
From the pillared throne of the king of all that country
Who sat thereon;
And she cried aloud as she cried under the gibbet
For she saw her Son.
Our Lady wears a crown in a strange country,
The crown He gave
But she has not forgotten to call to her old companions,
To call and crave;
And to hear her calling a man might arise and thunder
On the doors of the grave.
—REGINA ANGELORUM by G. K. Chesterton
Reflection on the Annunciation
Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to thee with the tidings that thou wert to become the Mother of God; greeting thee with the sublime salutation, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee!” And thou didst humbly submit thyself to the will of the Father, responding; “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Visitation
Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Visitation, when, upon thy visit to thy holy cousin, Elizabeth, she greeted thee with prophetic utterance, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” And, thou didst answer her with that Canticle: the Magnificat.
Reflection on the Nativity
Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Nativity of our Lord, when, thy time being completed, thou didst bring forth, Oh Holy Virgin, the Redeemer of the World in a stable at Bethlehem; where upon choirs of angels filled the heavens with their exultant song of praise “Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace to men of goodwill,” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Presentation
Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Presentation, when, in obedience to the Law of Moses, thou didst purify thyself before introducing your Son to His Father in the Temple, where the holy prophet Simeon, taking the child in his arms, offered thanks to God for sparing him to look upon his Savior and foretold thy sufferings by the words: “Thy soul also a sword shall pierce…” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Sweet Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple, when having sought him for three days, sorrowing, thy heart was gladdened upon finding him in the Temple speaking to the teachers; and when, upon thy request, He obediently returned home with thee, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River
Oh courageous Mother Mary, meditating on the mystery of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, when your son, as an example to all, insisted on being baptized by his cousin John and the sky opened and the Holy Spirit came down to him like a dove and a voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear son in whom I am well pleased,” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Wedding at Cana, The First Miracle of Jesus
Oh courageous Mother Mary, meditating on the mystery of the First Miracle of Jesus at the Wedding Feast at Cana, when your urging your son to perform the first of his many miracles by helping a couple celebrate their marriage by changing water into wine of such quality that the chief steward upbraided the host by saying, “Usually people serve the best wine first and save the cheaper wine for last, but you have saved the choice wine for last.” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Oh courageous Mother Mary, meditating on the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, when your son revealed that the reign of God has already begun “within us” and we are called to conversion and forgiveness, praying “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Transfiguration
Oh courageous Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Transfiguration, when your son revealed his glory to his three disciples, appearing on a mountain with Moses and Elijah, his face shining like the sun and a voice from heaven proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son… Listen to him”, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Institution of the Eucharist
Oh courageous mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, when on the day your son celebrated the Passover with his disciples and took bread and gave it to them saying “Take and eat; this is my body.” And when dinner was finished took a cup of wine and shared it with them saying, “Take and drink; this is my blood, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me,” I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Agony
O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Agony of Our Lord in the
Garden, when, in the Garden of Olives, Jesus saw the sins of the world unfold before Him by Satan, who sought to dissuade Him from the sacrifice He was about to make: when, His soul shrinking from the sight, and His precious blood flowing from every pore at the vision of the torture and death He was about to undergo, thy own sufferings, dear Mother, the future sufferings of His Church, and His own sufferings in the Blessed Sacrament, He cried in anguish, "Abba! Father! if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me!"; but immediately resigning Himself to His Father's will, He prayed, Not as I will, but as Thou wilt!" I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Scourging
O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Scourging of Our Lord, when, at Pilate's command, thy divine Son, stripped of his garments was lacerated from head to foot with cruel scourges and His flesh torn away until His entire body was marked, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Crowning with Thorns
O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Crowning with Thorns, when, the soldiers binding about His head a crown of sharp thorns, showered blows upon it driving the thorns deeply into His head; then in mock adoration, knelt before Him, crying, "Hail King of the Jews!" I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Carrying of the Cross
O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Carrying of the Cross, when, with the heavy wood of the cross upon His shoulders, thy divine Son was dragged, weak and suffering, yet patient, through the streets, amidst the revilements of the people, to Calvary; I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Crucifixion
O most sorrowful Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Crucifixion, when, having been stripped of His garments, thy divine Son was nailed to the cross, upon which He died after three hours of indescribable agony, during which time He begged His Father forgiveness for His enemies, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Resurrection
O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead, when, on the morning of the third day after His death and burial, He arose from the dead and appeared to you, dear Mother, and filled your heart with unspeakable joy: then appeared to the holy women, and to His disciples, who adored Him as their risen God, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Ascension
O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Ascension, when, your divine Son, after forty days on earth, went to Mount Olivet accompanied by His disciples and you, where all adored Him, after which He promised to remain with them until the end of the world; then extending His pierced hands over all in a last blessing He ascended before their eyes into heaven, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Descent of the Holy Spirit
O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, when the apostles being assembled with you in a house in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, inflaming hearts with the fire of divine love, teaching them all truths, giving them the gifts of tongues, and filling you with the plentitude of His grace, inspired you to pray for the apostles and the first Christians, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven
O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of your Assumption into Heaven, when, consumed by the desire to be united with your divine Son in heaven, your soul united itself to Him, Who out of the excessive love He bore for you, His Mother, whose virginal body was His first tabernacle, took you body and soul into heaven and there, amidst the acclaims of the angels and saints glorified your body, I humbly pray:
Reflection on the Coronation of our Blessed Mother in Heaven as its Queen
O glorious Mother Mary, meditating on the Mystery of your Coronation in Heaven, when, upon being taken up to heaven, you were triply crowned as the Exalted Queen of Heaven by God the Father as His beloved daughter, by God the Son as His dearest Mother, and by God the Holy Spirit as His chaste Spouse; the most perfect adorer of the Blessed Trinity, pleading our cause as our most powerful and merciful Mother through you, I humbly pray:
Reflection:
In reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world we ask - while we contemplate
Jesus' agony in the garden - for pardon for sins of the mind and heart against the Will of God.
Reflection:
In reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world we ask - while we contemplate
the Scourging of Jesus - for pardon for the sins of torture.
Reflection:
In reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world we ask - while we contemplate
Jesus' crowning with thorns - for pardon for sins of mockery.
Reflection:
In reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world we ask - while we contemplate
Jesus carrying His cross - for pardon for sins committed every day in the world around us.
Reflection:
In reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world we ask - while we contemplate
the Crucifixion of Jesus - for pardon for sins of unjust death and cruelty.
THE FIRST MYSTERY:
The Brazen Serpent
From Mount Hor, they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient
on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the Lord sent fiery serpents
among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the
Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. and
the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the
bronze serpent and live."
(Numbers 21:4-9)
THE SECOND MYSTERY:
The Lord's Compassion on His Afflicted
"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
(Isaiah 49:13)
THE THIRD MYSTERY:
The Lord Heals the Woman Who Touched His Garment
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment: for she said
to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter;
your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
(Matthew 9:20-23)
THE FOURTH MYSTERY:
The Lord Heals the Man in the Synagogue on the Sabbath
And he went on from there, and entered their synagogue. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the
sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "What man of you if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much
more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was
restored, whole like the other.
(Matthew 12:9-13)
THE FIFTH MYSTERY:
The Lord Raises Lazarus Back to Life
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him,
"Lord by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would
believe you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee, that thou hast heard me.
I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they
may believe that thou didst send me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The dead man came out,
his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, unbind him, and let him go."
(John 11:38-44)
Reflection on the Annunciation to Mary
From the Gospel according to Luke:
The angel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob's house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
The Lord's words are also for each one of us: Give me your heart. Do not waste the encouragement of such a tender and caring Father. Open the door of your heart to Him with total trust and abandonment.
Reflection on the Visitation of Mary
From the Gospel according to Luke:
Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, "God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Reflect upon the great humility of the Mother of God, our Mother, and constantly keep it within your mental gaze. The more she was filled with heavenly gifts, the more deeply did she humble herself.
Let it be for you like for her: the more gifts you receive, the more you want to humble yourself.
Reflection on the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
From the Gospel according to Luke:
The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you - wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and laying in a manger". Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Our heart feels too small to contain the heavenly favours and our soul seems to almost disintegrate in the presence of this God who took human flesh for our own sake. How can we help loving Him more and more fervently? Oh, let us draw near to the Child Jesus with our hearts free from sin, that we may discover how sweet and delightful it is to love Him.
Reflection on the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
From the Gospel according to Luke:
Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said, "Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It's a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Holiness means loving our neighbour as ourselves, all for the love of God. In this connection holiness means loving those who curse us, who hate and persecute us, and even doing good to them. Holiness means living humbly, being disinterested, prudent, just, patient, kind, chaste, meek, diligent, carrying out one's duties for no other reason than that of pleasing God and receiving from Him alone the reward we deserve.
Reflection on the Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
From the Gospel according to Luke:
When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We've been looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father's house?".
(Lk 2:49)
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
You may be fearful, if you like, but let your fear be a holy fear, which is never separated from love. When fear and love are united, they help each other, like sisters, to remain on their feet and to walk securely in the Lord's paths.
Reflection on the Baptism in the Jordan
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him. When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying: “This is my beloved Son
(Ps 2:7) in whom I am well pleased”
(Is 42:1); (Mt 3:17, Mk 1:11, Lk 3:22).
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
We believe that Jesus will invariably sustain us by his grace. We shall fight as strong men, through the strength of our souls, and the prize will not be far off.
Reflection on the Wedding at Cana
From the Gospel according to John:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They don't have any wine".
Jesus replied, "Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn't come yet".
His mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you". Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water", and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter", and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn't know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
The headwaiter called the groom and said, "Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Be patient and persevere in the holy exercise of meditation and be content with taking small steps, until you have the legs to run, or better still, wings to fly. Be content with obedience, which is never an easy matter for a soul which has chosen God as its portion, and resign yourself for now, to being a little bee in a hive, that will soon become a big bee capable of making honey.
Reflection on the Proclamation of the Kingdom
From the Gospel according to Mark:
After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God's good news, saying, "Now is the time! Here comes God's kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!"
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Jesus said: Unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And before teaching this by his words, he had already put it into practice. He became a child and gave us the example of that simplicity he was to teach us later also by his words.
Reflection on the Transfiguration
From the Gospel according to Mark:
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, "Rabbi, it's good that we're here. Let's make three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah". He said this because he didn't know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, "This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
I am consumed by the love for God and the love for my neighbour. God is continually fixed in my mind and imprinted in my heart. I never lose sight of him.
Reflection on the Institution of the Eucharist
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take and eat. This is my body". He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. I tell you, I won't drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father's kingdom".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Let us approach to receive the bread of angels with great faith and with a great flame of love in our hearts. Let us await this most tender lover of our souls in order to be consoled in this life with the kiss of His mouth. Happy are we if we succeed in receiving from the Lord the consolation of this kiss in the present life! Then indeed will we feel our will inseparably bound to Jesus will at all times and nothing in the world will prevent us from willing what our divine Master wills.
Reflection on the Agony of Christ in the Garden
From the Gospel according to Mark:
Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, "Sit here while I pray". He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He began to feel despair and was anxious. He said to them, "I'm very sad. It's as if I'm dying. Stay here and keep alert". Then he went a short distance farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, he might be spared the time of suffering. He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible. Take this cup of suffering away from me. However - not what I want but what you want".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Hence it is, Father, that the bitterness of the trial is sweetened by the balm of God's goodness and mercy. Praise be to God who can so marvellously alternate joy and tears so as to lead the soul by unknown paths to the attainment of perfection.
Reflection on Scourging at the Pillar
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I'm innocent of this man's blood" he said. "It's your problem".
All the people replied, "Let his blood be on us and on our children". Then he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Never fall back on yourselves, but place all your trust in God and don't be too eager to be set free from your present state. Let the Holy Spirit act within you.
Reflection on the Crowning with Thorns
From the Gospel according to John:
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. Over and over they went up to him and said, "Greetings, king of the Jews!" And they slapped him in the face.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
May faith and the reassurance of the Christian hope always offer you continual support. If you act in this way the heavenly Father will ease your trials with the balm of His goodness and mercy.
Reflection on the Carrying of the Cross
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place, they gave Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink. But after tasting it, he didn't want to drink it. After they crucified him, they divided up his clothes among them by drawing lots. They sat there, guarding him. They placed above his head the charge against him. It read, "Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
What are you afraid of with regard to your own soul? Don't you know that Jesus is with you and is doing everything within you? Calm yourself and do not heed those vain and useless fears; fill up the empty places in our heart with a fervent love of God.
Reflection on the Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord on the Cross
From the Gospel according to Luke:
It was now about noon, and darkness covered the whole earth until the ninth hour,
(Am 8:9) while the sun stopped shining. Then the curtain in the sanctuary tore down the middle. Crying out in a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father,into your hands I commend my spirit." After he said this, he breathed for the last time.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
I am all aflame, although there is no fire. I feel myself bound to the Son by means of this Mother, without seeing the chains which bind me so tightly. A thousand flames consume me; I feel I am constantly dying, yet I am still alive.
Reflection on the Resurrection
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn't here, because he has risen from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, “He's been raised from the dead. He's going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.” I've given the message to you".
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Let yourself be guided by Jesus by means of authority as he pleases. Be assured that all is well with you and will always be well. Jesus is and will be yours; you are his and will always be his!
Reflection on the Ascension
From the Acts of the Apostles:
After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God's kingdom. "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth". After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Peace is simplicity and serenity of the mind, tranquillity of the soul, the bond of love. Peace means order, harmony in our whole being, it means continual contentment springing from the knowledge of a good conscience; it is the holy joy of a heart in which God reigns. Peace is the way to perfection, indeed perfection is to be found in peace.
Reflection on the descent of the Holy Spirit
From the Acts of the Apostles:
When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
Let us always trust in God and may our lively faith and the comfort of Christian hope assist us in this. We must pray continually, moreover, that peace may soon smile on the nations.
Reflection on the Assumption
From the Gospel according to Luke:
With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favoured
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
I wish I had a voice strong enough to invite the sinners of the whole world to love Our Lady. But since this is not within my power, I have prayed and will pray to my dear Angel to perform this task for me.
Reflection on the crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven
From the Book of Revelation:
Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
From the writings of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina:
The external doors open, and the mother of God enters. As soon as the blessed ranks see her, they are struck by the splendor of her beauty and so they all move to greet her joyfully and with rejoicing; they salute and honour her with the most exalted titles, prostrate themselves at her feet, present their compliments to her, and unanimously proclaim her Queen. The Holy Trinity joins the feast of angels. The Father welcomes His beloved one and invites Her to take part in his power.
The Annunciation - Humility
The Visitation - Love of Neighbor
The Navitity of the Lord - Poverty of Spirit
Finding of the Child Jesus in the
Temple - Piety
The Baptism of Jesus - Openness to the
Holy Spirit
The Miracle at Cana - To Jesus through Mary
Proclamation of the Kingdom of God -
Repentance, Trust in God
Transfiguration - Desire for Holiness
Institution of the Eucharist - Eucharistic Adoration, Active
Participation at Mass
Agony in the Garden - Contrition,
Conformity to the Will of God
Scourging at the Pillar - Purity, Mortification
Crowning with Thorns - Moral Courage
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Carrying of the Cross - Patience
Crucifixion - Salvation, Self Denial
The Ascension - Hope, Desire for Heaven
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Love of God
The Assumption of Mary - Devotion to
Mary
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary - Eternal Happiness
The First Mystery:
"No one can rejoice more than I do at every step the people of this great country take to preserve the Union, establish good order and government, and to render the nation happy at home and respectable abroad. No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means, and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us, so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass. The Great Governor of the Universe has led us too long and too far on the road to happiness and glory, to forsake us in the midst of it. By folly and improper conduct, proceeding from a variety of causes, we may now and then get bewildered; but I hope and trust that there is good sense and virtue enough left to recover the right path before we shall be entirely lost."
George Washington, June 29, 1788
The Second Mystery:
It may be the will of Heaven that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting and distresses yet more dreadful. If this is to be the case, it will have this good effect, at least: it will inspire us with many virtues, which we have not, and correct many errors, follies, and vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonor, and destroy us. The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals. And the new governments we are assuming, in every part, will require a purification from our vices, and an augmentation of our virtues or there will be no blessings... But I must submit all my hopes and fears to an overruling Providence; in which, unfashionable as the faith may be, I firmly believe."
John Adams, July 3, 1776
The Third Mystery:
"Review the great scenes of history: you will find mankind has always been obliged to pay dear for the blessings they enjoyed... The struggles of a great people have almost always ended in the establishment of liberty.... Such a people are spoken of with admiration by all future ages...." "Their souls glow with gratitude for the virtue and self-denial of their forefathers. They consider them as patterns for their own conduct on similar occasions and are continually pointing them out to the reverence and imitation of their children. These are the glorious effects of patriotism and virtue. These are the rewards annexed to the faithful discharge of that great and honorable duty, fidelity to our country.... I pray to God that the fair character I have described may be that of America to the latest ages."
James Iredell, May 1, 1778
The Fourth Mystery:
"To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its
doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom, and approximate the miseries of complete despotism."
"All efforts to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also of our political freedom and happiness."
"Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."
Jedediah Morse, 1799
The Fifth Mystery:
"Soldiers! Let us humble ourselves before the Lord, our God, asking through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defense of our homes and our liberties, thanking Him for His past blessings, and imploring their continuance upon our cause and our people."
"Knowing that intercessory prayer is our mightiest weapon and the supreme call for all Christians today, I pleadingly urge our people everywhere to pray. Believing that prayer is the greatest contribution that our people can make in this critical hour, I humbly urge that we take time to pray - to really pray."
"Let there be prayer at sunup, at noonday, at sundown, at midnight - all through the day. Let us pray for our children, our youth, our aged, our pastors, our homes. Let us pray for the churches."
"Let us pray for ourselves, that we may not lose the word 'concern' out of our Christian vocabulary. Let us pray for our nation. Let us pray for those who have never known Jesus Christ and His redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice."
General Robert E Lee, 1863
For the Presidency of the United States of America
For the Supreme Court of the United States of America
For the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America
For the office of the Governors of the United States of America
For all County and Municipal Offices of the United States of America
Intention: For parents facing an unexpected pregnancy, that they lovingly accept the precious life
God has entrusted to their care.
Reflection:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give
him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said, "Behold,
I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
(Lk 1:26-33, 38)
As an angel proclaimed the conception of Christ in Mary's virginal womb, so do mothers and fathers learn every day of the conception of their child.
Let us pray to the Mother of all the Living that every child be treasured and protected from the first moment of conception as an inestimable and wondrous
gift of God.
Intention: That the family and friends of expectant parents might reach out and support them as they
prepare to meet their child face to face.
Reflection:
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to
you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
(Lk 1:39-45)
As the child in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy when the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with the Son of God, came to meet her, so may our hearts leap with joy at
the wonders of new life promised in every expectant mother.
Intention: That the love of the Blessed Mother and the Christ Child may be a source of strength for
every expectant mother, especially mothers living in poverty, and that they both will be surrounded by joy and love.
Reflection:
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid
him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch
over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said
to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior
has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
(Lk 2:6-12)
In the birth of every child we see the birth of Christ Jesus in the Bethlehem stable. Let us commend all new mothers and fathers and every newborn child to
the protection and intercession of the Mother of God and Mother of all Christians.
Intention: That fathers of young children will model St. Joseph in devoutly practicing their faith, so that
they lead their children to God by their words and example.
Reflection:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the
temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God,
saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight
of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."
(Lk 2:25-32)
As Christ was consecrated to God at his presentation in the temple, so may we consecrate all children to that holiness, purity, and innocence by which
they lead us to God. "A little child shall lead them."
Intention: For all children who have been lost and forgotten, that they may be led to a place where
they are treasured, protected and loved.
Reflection:
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After
they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was
in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to
look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all
who heard him were astounded at his understanding 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? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them.
(Lk 24:41-50)
As the Christ Child was found in the temple by the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, so we pray for all children, especially those lost and forgotten.
May the Gospel of Life impel us to find them when they are most in need and to lead them home to a place where they are treasured, protected, and loved.
Intention: That all baptized Christians will be open to the Holy Spirit and bear witness to the sanctity
of life.
Reflection:
The Lord Jesus is Baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, as a voice cries to us from the heavens: "This is my beloved Son, hear him" Let us
listen to Christ and, with his grace, work for the protection of every person from conception to natural death.
Intention: For all husbands and wives, that they treasure the priceless gift of married love by generously
accepting children through procreation and adoption.
Reflection:
When they had run out of wine, Jesus blessed water and turned it into wine. May Jesus transform the darkness of sin and death in the proclamation of the
Gospel of Life.
Intention: That those who pray and work for greater respect for human life will be guided by the
Beatitudes and reveal the face of Christ to others.
Reflection:
Jesus called the crowds to conversion, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand. May this world choose life and turn from all that leads to darkness
and death.
Intention: That our world will be transfigured by the witness of faithful Christians so that all may
understand the priceless value of every human being.
Reflection:
The Lord Jesus led Peter, James and John with him to the top of the mountain where he was transfigured in light, and his garments shown whiter than snow.
May Christ's glorious light shine on all who dwell in the shadow of darkness and sin.
Intention: That through our worthy reception of the Eucharist and frequent Eucharistic Adoration, Jesus
will teach us to love sacrificially the least and neediest among us.
Reflection:
On the night before he suffered, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my body.
When supper was ended he took a cup filled with wine, gave it to them, and said, Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the cup of my blood.
Strengthened by the Holy Eucharist, may we work to proclaim the Gospel of life and defend all who are endangered by the culture of death.
Intention: For all who are suffering from abandonment or neglect, that compassionate individuals will come
forward to offer them comfort and aid.
Reflection:
Jesus comes with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane and prays to be delivered from his Passion, but most of all, to do the Father's will. Let us pray
that Christ might hear the prayers of all who suffer from the culture of death, and that he might deliver them from the hands of their persecutors.
Intention: That the victims of violence, torture and slavery will be delivered from their suffering, find
healing and know that God is close to them.
Reflection:
Falsely accused before Pilate, Jesus is cruelly tied to a pillar and scourged, then clothed in a cloak of purple and mocked. Let us pray for all innocent
victims, that by the merits of his most holy Passion, Christ might deliver them and grant them eternal life.
Intention: That the persecution of Christians will end in a new era of tolerance and respect for the
religious freedom and conscience rights of all.
Reflection:
Pilate mocks the Christ by asking him if he is the King of the Jews. He is the King of all the world, through whom all things were made. He is the one who
will judge the living and the dead at the end of time. Yet he is crowned with suffering out of love for us, in reparation for our sins.
Intention: For all who labor under burdens that seem too great to bear (due to illness, age, poverty,
cruelty or injustice) that our prayers and aid will lighten their crosses.
Reflection:
Three times Christ falls under the weight of the Cross as he carries our sins to Calvary. Let us pray for all who struggle to live the Gospel of Life, that
they might pick up their crosses and walk the way of sorrows with the Savior of the world.
Intention: For an end to the death penalty and for the release of all prisoners of conscience and all
who have been wrongfully convicted.
Reflection:
Innocent and without sin, Jesus opens his arms upon the cross out of love for us. Let us join our sufferings, and the sufferings of the whole world, to his
one perfect sacrifice of praise.
Intention: For all who have lost loved ones, and especially for parents of a child who was miscarried,
aborted or stillborn, that they will find peace in the promise of the Resurrection.
Reflection:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the third day after his passion and death, rose again in glory, victorious over death and never to die again.
Intention: For all who struggle with addictions, that through Christ's triumph and ascent into glory,
they may triumph over their temptations, and gain strength and peace.
Reflection:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his Resurrection, ascended into heaven with triumph and great glory, in the sight of his most holy mother and all his
disciples.
Intention: That the Holy Spirit will open the minds and hearts of those who now reject the Gospel of Life
and allow them to be convinced of the truth and goodness of all that the Church professes concerning human life.
Reflection:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, sitting at the right hand of the Father, sent the Holy Spirit into the upper chamber where the apostles were gathered together, with the
most Holy Virgin Mary.
Intention: For mothers who have died at the hands of abortion providers, that they
may experience reconciliation and together with their children know God's peace.
Reflection:
The Most Holy Virgin, twelve years after the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, passed from this life, and was assumed by the angels into heaven.
Intention: For all mothers, that they might come to know the wonder of their vocation.
Reflection:
The Most Holy Virgin was crowned in heaven by her divine Son as the saints rejoiced in glory around her throne.