Praying the Joyful Mysteries

Hooray, hooray, it’s Saturday!

Today being Saturday, those of us who pray the Rosary today will be praying the Joyful Mysteries (and we will pray them again on Monday and Thursday). As I have mentioned before, I use a German method of praying the Holy Rosary and meditating on the Mysteries. During each of the ten Hail Mary’s in a decade, I pray a different short phrase related to the mystery in the middle of the prayer. (Example: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus…Whose coming was announced to you by an angel…Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”)

If you would like to join me, here are some ideas for meditating on the Joyful Mysteries while you are praying today:

I. First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

• …Who chose you, a poor and humble maiden, for His mother…
• …Whose coming was announced to you by an angel…
• …Who waited for your consent to become man…
• …Whose human life began when you said to the angel, “Let it be unto me according to thy word”…
• …Israel’s Savior, for Whom you had been waiting…
• …Who had been promised to Adam and Eve…
• …Who had been foretold by the prophets…
• …the Son of the Father, and now your Son as well…
• …Who made you into the first tabernacle by His hidden presence…
• …Whose birth you awaited for nine months…

II. Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation

• …because of Whom you were inspired to visit your cousin Elizabeth…
• …Whose presence inspired the words of your Magnificat…
• …because of Whom all generations call you “blessed”…
• …Whom Elizabeth, through the Holy Spirit, recognized as her Lord…
• …because of Whom Elizabeth said to you, “Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”…
• …Whose presence caused John the Baptist to leap in his mother’s womb…
• …Who freed John the Baptist from sin before his birth…
• …Who prepared His herald to call Israel to repentance…
• …Who was to be born in Bethlehem…
• …Who was to fulfill the prophecies handed down through the generations for hundreds of years…

III. Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity of Our Lord in Bethlehem

• …Who chose to be born in poverty…
• …Who was born into a family…
• …wrapped in swaddling clothes…
• …Whose family could find no shelter but a stable…
• …Who was announced by angels…
• …Who was adored by shepherds…
• …to Whom kings gave rich gifts…
• …Whose life was sought by King Herod…
• …the King of Kings…
• …a newborn baby…

IV. Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple

• …Who, as your firstborn son, was required by law to be dedicated to the Lord…
• …Who, after being given His Holy Name, was brought to the temple for His presentation…
• …for Whom you observed all the proper rites after His birth according to the custom of the law…
• …for Whom you and St. Joseph offered two doves as a sacrifice…
• …for Whom two servants of the Most High had been awaiting…
• …Who was glorified by Simeon in the temple…
• …Whom Simeon took into his arms, and then blessed God…
• …Whom Simeon told you would be the fall and resurrection of many in Israel…
• …Who was also recognized as the Savior of Israel by the holy widow Anna…
• …for Whose sake you left Jerusalem and spent some years in Egypt, because of the wicked designs of Herod…

V. Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple

• …Who went up with you and St. Joseph to Jerusalem each year for Passover…
• …Who, when He was twelve years old, stayed behind in Jerusalem after the feast…
• …Who astounded the teachers in the Temple with His Wisdom…
• …Who caused you and St. Joseph to search for Him…
• …Who allowed you to experience separation from Him …
• …for Whom you searched for three days…
• …Whom you asked, “Why have you done this to us? Behold, thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing”…
• …Who asked you in return, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”…
• …Who went down with you and St. Joseph and came to Nazareth, and was subject to you…
• …Who grew in wisdom, age, and grace (favor) with God and man…

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~Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!~