27
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
Monday & Saturday
- (1) The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary – For the Virtue of Humility
- 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.
- (2) The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth – For the Virtue of Charity
- 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.
- (3) The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ – For the Spirit of Poverty
- 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 say: “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.
- (4) The Presentation of our Lord – For the Virtue of Obedience
- 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.