She whispers “yes” knowing that her life is forever changed and possibly going to be mu… We pray for new parents, that they educate their children to actively practice their faith. In response, Mary proclaimed her “Magnificat,” a beautiful song of praise to God for the mercies He was showing to Israel and the whole world. Here are a few intentions I use for each mystery. How can you magnify the Lord?8. 488). Meditate on Mary's journey.2. We pray for guidance for those who are contemplating their life’s vocation. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Why didn't Jesus' parents understand Him?20. #tab_container_10927 .wpsm_nav-tabs { "The Beatitudes," writes Fr. "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why did Jesus stay behind? They knew about the birth of my Son: the angels had told them. Prayer, Prayer, and More PrayerBlessing and adoration – Dearest Jesus, we kneel before You in silent adoration, blessing You for Your wisdom and love. She is all beautiful, all holy, all pure, the pearl of creation. Sakeena’s mother, Turfa, says her daughter is bright and always looking out for her siblings. Trust Him, trust Him my children. Messengers of God, in daily circumstances and opportunities, come to me, too. } } I should present Christ in the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” my body. Those are just the trappings of this world, the ornamental decorations, while how well you followed Jesus’ path is the real substance. Once the blessing comes, we understand that the only way to understand God’s plan was to live it. They must know all too well the feelings Mary and Joseph experienced when they couldn’t find their son for 3 days. Did you not k now that I’d be about my Father’s business?”. God-made-Man submitted with great humility to His human parents. Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caesar Augustus. display:none !important; What does it feel like to find Him?5. Yet she obeyed it anyway. Do you look for deeper meanings in the events of your life? Anna, in the scene that follows this passage, “Talked about the child to all.” My encounters with Christ should lead to evangelization. What do you do when you don't understand?12. God has ordained specific ways for people to worship Him. It is clear here once again that Joseph and Mary lived in Poverty. Heaven was rejoicing at the birth of my Son.My children, look upon the greatness of your Lord Who has loved you so much as to come down to show the immensity of His Love for you. She gave birth outside in a barn. Blessed art thou among women." We looked for a place but there was no room in the inn: the town was so full. These are not optional, and they are meant for humankind's well-being. Joseph could abandon her. This phrase again is used in the Catholic Rosary Prayers, the Hail Mary Prayer. If Mary can give up all worldly reputation to bear His Son, and His Son can empty Himself and, though sinless, die the death of sin on our behalf, how can we refuse to take up our cross and follow Him? The Angel Gabriel said to Mary:  “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Lead all men and women who have committed the sin of abortion to repentance and back to your loving embrace. http://www.guardianangel.in/ga/96-A-GuardianAngel-Rosary.html, https://www.learnreligions.com/meditations-joyful-mysteries-of-the-rosary-542784, https://www.regnumchristi.org/en/mini-meditations-joyful-mysteries/, https://www.thegregorian.org/2016/rosary-meditations-the-joyful-mysteries, https://www.crs.org/get-involved/learn/resource-center/joyful-mysteries-rosary, https://www.rosarycenter.org/homepage-2/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary/joyful-mysteries-without-distractions/, https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/rosaries/a-rosary-for-life-the-joyful-mysteries, https://www.cathedralofmary.org/faith-formation/resources/pray-the-rosary-online/the-joyful-mysteries, http://thecatholicscholar.blogspot.com/2011/08/rosary-meditations-second-joyful.html, http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/visitation.html, http://www.catholic365.com/article/8241/the-mysteries-of-the-rosary-the-third-joyful-mystery.html, https://www.rosarymeds.com/rosary-meditation-the-third-joyful-mystery/, http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/presentation-of-jesus-in-the-temple.html, http://www.totus2us.com/prayer/the-rosary/4th-joyful-mystery, http://thecatholicscholar.blogspot.com/2011/09/rosary-meditations-fifth-joyful-mystery.html, https://www.fullycatholic.com/praying-rosary-fifth-joyful-mystery/, Boost Your Spiritual Defenses this Advent. A while later, Joseph came in, he saw me with the Child and he was also filled with wondrous joy. When Simeon saw the child Jesus, he immediately recognized he was God. This is a powerful way to cover many things in the Holy Rosary recitation altogether. Mary set out almost immediately for the hill county of Judea where Elizabeth lived with her husband, Zechariah. If He is who the Angel Gabriel and Elizabeth have proclaimed Him to be, why not have an incarnation that is more grand and splendorous? Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - The Carrying of the CrossI would be your disciple, Lord. Sometimes we hope for this in our own faith lives: that Christ will appear before us and we will have no doubt it’s him. Catechism of the Catholic Church: #495-497, 717. Malak, a young Syrian woman who fled her home in Aleppo several years ago (shown right), is a modern-day example of someone who is present to and sharing joy with her neighbors, despite all she holds in her own heart. Therefore, the way we see, hear, or in any other way experience His existence when He comes, will be grand and splendorous. Second Joyful Mysteries - Your Intentions. How blessed we would be if we, like they, could unite our lives so fully to Christ that we could see the fallen world around us in the light of Heaven! I will ask the Father to give you the grace to be generous with those less fortunate. Perhaps Mary also reflected on these questions, wondering at the sweetness and respect with which God introduces himself into our lives, as a fellow pilgrim who lives our lives with us, whose questions make us reflect and grow, who listens to us with kindness and interest, and who perhaps has obeyed us—answering our prayers, forgiving our sins in confession, coming into our hearts in holy Communion— far more than we have obeyed him. We also lift up to You all travelers, Lord. Where was the Child, this most precious Gift of God? You can always find him in the tabernacle. . How wonderful is this poverty! “The Magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the King of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel the … King of the nations” (Catechism, 528). This passage provides a strong argument against abortion as we see the presence and action of two unborn children. .wpsm_nav-tabs li:before{ (Luke 2:49). How did you respond?3. Khaled Basheer, the father, says, “We were also very frightened of an attack by [ISIS]. We pray that God lovingly nudges those who have swayed from God’s path back to His truth. At that instance, I remembered the prophesy of Isaiah. When we entered the temple, there was a holy priest by the name of Simeon. Your bead-by-bead guide to praying the Rosary. [http://www.guardianangel.in/ga/96-A-GuardianAngel-Rosary.html In obedience to the Law of Moses, forty days after my Son was born, Joseph and I went to Jerusalem to present my Son before the Lord and to redeem Him with two turtle doves. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth after learning Elizabeth, thought to be past childbearing age, was pregnant. What did they do and talk about?18. Was His motivation something else entirely or a combination of many things?9. What amazing power and love You have poured out upon Your people over the centuries and still lavish on us today!Thanksgiving – We thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your mother, who is our mother, too. You also can find Jesus through the arms of Mary. Ashaa (shown right with 2 of her children) knows what this is like. Knowing that, I said, "Behold the handmaid, the servant of the Lord: be it done to me according to Your word. Ponder this.21. Would like to forward these great petitions and suggested list of intentions from the Rosary led by Pope Francis this afternoon, which can be used as we continue to pray the Rosaty in the coming days: 1st Decade: For the protection of the first responders, doctors, and nurses who care for those made critically ill by coronavirus. 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. Second Luminous Mystery - Wedding at CanaThat I may show my love for the Lord by doing as Our Lady instructed the servants to, "Do whatever He tells you.". After the days of Passover were done, Joseph and I went back to Nazareth in the caravan of family members and friends that we came in. 1st joyful mystery - The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary. In this case, we can see the error of this thought process if we take a step back and look at what is right in front of us. Points to Ponder1. text-decoration: none !important; -Luke 1:79. They lived in a tent outside Aleppo after their home was bombed, but unlike many other refugee families, every member survived and they remain together. We pour out our hearts to You in worship, Jesus, our God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.Praise – Jesus, You are amazing! There are answers to these questions that are revealed to us, such as Solomon also having been wrapped in swaddling clothes (Wisdom 7: 4-6), making Solomon a type of Jesus while solidifying the identification of Jesus as a son of David. Coronavirus has entered our world putting a halt to the usual rhythm of daily life. Here among the sights and sounds and stench of the stable, their souls are one in perfect happiness, because they are poor in spirit. We pray that we make an effort to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. “The first man was from earth, a man of the dust; the second man is from heaven” (Catechism, 504). Instead, He showed us the living a humble and meek life was His way and the only path to His Heavenly kingdom. Eventually Mary and Joseph entered the temple where they found their beloved son Jesus. Blessed are you among women…You shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus… Mary answered, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”, Catechism of the Catholic Church: #461-463, 491. As Jesus says later in his public ministry, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:5)We think especially of the little ones who are from the same part of the world as Jesus, and who, like the child Jesus, have had to flee their homes. We pray that God guides parents everywhere to lead their children closer to God's grace through prayer, education, and as a living example of living the faith. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. The Eucharist gives me many glimpses. In this mystery, ask Mary to help you see and touch this goodness of Jesus in your own life. They even went beyond the letter of the Law because the whole family traveled to Jerusalem to observe the feast of Passover. Like Mary, who took Jesus in her arms to present Him to God, it is now the moment for us to entrust our lives, our families and our friends to Jesus through Mary. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This mystery shows that it is important not to neglect the duty of teaching children about God and His laws. Reflect on Mary and Elizabeth's time together and their spiritual friendship. Jesus looked at me with Love and yet with conviction and He said to me, "But why were you looking for Me? Yet in announcing this to her, the angel Gabriel also revealed that Mary's cousin Elizabeth is six months' pregnant. We thank You for dialoguing with us. As I visited Elizabeth out of love, I wish to visit you out of love. Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity. To put it another way, God’s ways are not our ways. She was only 13 or 14; betrothed, but not yet married; and God was asking her to become the Mother of His Son. But for more than 4 years, Sakeena, her parents and 8 brothers and sisters have lived in a makeshift shelter made of a few wood beams and an assortment of tarps in Lebanon’s remote Bekaa Valley. I am praying with you and for you. We pray for increased faith in God’s plan for me even when confronted with difficulties and disappointments. Then they went back to Jerusalem and finally to the Temple. Second Joyful Mystery - The VisitationJesus, Mary and Joseph protect all pre-born children from 3 to 6 months of age from abortion. Mary recognized her role in salvation history and proclaimed that a prophecy had been fulfilled. We thank You for showing us, Lord, that if we seek You, we will always find You, and when we do find You, we will be with You in Your Father's house and about Your Father's business.Intercession – Lord, we lift up to You all children who are separated from their parents and loved ones. It can be difficult for us to voluntarily go outside of ourselves and be present to the needs of our neighbors, especially given all we carry in our own lives. We pray that our Church leaders follow and faithfully exercise the teachings of Jesus Christ. Now it had become a life, a beautiful baby. Though we may not see Jesus in this life in the way that Simeon did, his story reminds us that children can lead us to Christ. } The Annunciation; The Visitation And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Reflect on Mary and Joseph's fear. [https://www.thegregorian.org/2016/rosary-meditations-the-joyful-mysteries]. Jesus is the King of Kings and Mary you are the great Queen, pray for us now, especially for this special favor for which I now ask…, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 1985 Miller St, Lakewood, CO 80215. [http://www.totus2us.com/prayer/the-rosary/4th-joyful-mystery]. There are three sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. In addition, one may offer an intention for each of the mysteries. What was Jesus teaching? } Nine months ago, she had given that first “yes” in the garden. This reminds me very much of an old saying that said ‘It takes a village to rise a child.’ This must have been true back then since neither Mother Mary nor Joseph were irresponsible parents; both thinking that Jesus was in the other’s company. Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation. In light of God's promise to Abraham, it can be deduced that God would grant to Mary a similar promise in the fact that she would have a multitude of spiritual children who would be counted among the elect. Mary had to have known what others would think, how people would look at her; for most people pride would prevent them from accepting God's Will. She cried out, blessing Mary and the infant in Mary's womb. Help us to see the deep meanings in the events of our lives. We pray that we are advocates for all life at all stages. …Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Meditation: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ask for the grace to hear You calling me. But it seems like the heart of such questions stems from a far bigger issue: whenever we, human beings, expect more from God than what we receive or perceive, it is usually based on faults we have in our own expectations. Try to place yourself "into" the scene of the particular mystery as you pray, imagining the sights, smells, sounds, and emotions that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other participants experienced during the actual events. 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