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The Joyful Mysteries
With illustrations from the booklet
Praying the Rosary Without Distractions.
|
The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION
- The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
- Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception to be the
Mother of the Incarnate Word.
- The Angel Gabriel announces: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is
with thee."
- Mary wonders at this salutation.
- The Angel assures her: "Fear not . . . you shall conceive in
your womb, and give birth to a Son."
- Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity.
- The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the
Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
- The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent.
- Mary answers: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto
me according to your word."
- The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Spiritual Fruit: Humility |
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The Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATION
- Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age . . . for
nothing is impossible with God.
- Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of
her need.
- The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty miles requiring
four or five days.
- Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears
with her the Incarnate Word.
- At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his
mother's womb.
- Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb."
- "How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?"
- "Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to her would
be fulfilled."
- Mary replies: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and
my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."
- Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until
the birth of John the Baptist.
Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor |
|
The Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITY
- Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of
Caesar Augustus.
- The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in
the inn.
- In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a cave,
Mary remaining a Virgin.
- She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.
- In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her
virginity.
- Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of
detachment from earthly things.
- The angel announces to the shepherds: "Today there is born to
you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord."
- The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace
to His people on earth."
- The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant
Jesus.
- The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.
Spiritual Fruit: Poverty of Spirit |
|
The Fourth Joyful Mystery
THE PRESENTATION
- Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple to
present Him to the Lord.
- According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family
should be consecrated to the Lord.
- Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the
price paid by the poor.
- Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach
obediance, submits to it.
- Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility
she submits to it.
- God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he
had seen the Messiah.
- Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you can dismiss your
servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word."
- "This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in
Israel, a sign that will be opposed."
- And to Mary Simeon reveals: "And your own soul a sword shall
pierce."
- After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth.
Spiritual Fruit: Purity of mind and body |
|
The Fifth Joyful Mystery
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
- When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to
Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
- After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set
out for Nazareth without Jesus.
- At the end of the first day's journey they discover Jesus is
missing.
- His parents return immediately looking for Him.
- This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to
the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
- On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors
who were astonished at His wisdom.
- Mary: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have
been searching for you in sorrow."
- Jesus: "Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I must
be about my Father's business?"
- Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them.
- Mary keeps all these things in her heart.
Spiritual Fruit: Obedience |
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