“The splendor of truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God. Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord. Hence the Psalmist prays: Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord (Ps 4:7)….”  –Saint John Paul II (+ 2005)

Intention:  Lord, please bless us with a President and Justice Department which are non-partisan in their actions. I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Tuesday: Invoke the Blood of Jesus
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat
became like drops of blood falling on the ground.
—Luke 22:44
Reflection:
Men of today shed each other’s blood in war to satisfy their
desire for reparation for sin—both real and imagined. When
someday they learn to invoke, instead, the Blood of Jesus Christ
for forgiveness, they will have no more need for war.
Prayer:
We all have a past that includes memories of things we did
that were less-than-godly. Heart of Jesus, Enriching All Who
Invoke Thee, I invoke Your peace and pardon on me, for what
You shed in Your Agony at Gethsemane. Please cleanse me with
Your Precious Blood. Amen.

Tuesday: Teach Me Silence
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more
afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,
“Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him.
—John 19:8–9
Reflection:
Pilate asked Jesus where He was from, rather than who He was.
Pilate seemed to perceive that Jesus was different from others
somehow. Jesus might have been silent because He could not
defend Himself, since He was atoning for the sins of mankind.
Prayer:
Sometimes explaining myself to someone would be the
equivalent of casting pearls before swine. Dear Lord, teach
me when silence is the best answer to the accusations of an
unbelieving and judgmental world. Amen.

Tuesday: Suffering Servant
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted/ and opened not
his mouth;/ Like a lamb led to the slaughter/ or a sheep before
the shearers,/ he was silent and opened not his mouth.
—Isaiah 53:7
Reflection:
Jesus was the Suffering Servant—as silent as a lamb being led
to the slaughter—as Isaiah had predicted. He came to His own
people, but they did not recognize Him. He will come again
at the end of days, in faithfulness to us.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Patient and Most Merciful, I praise You and
all Your suffering martyrs of the 20th century, who were
slaughtered during communism, socialism and fascism. I ask
all Your martyrs to pray for our world. Amen.

Tuesday: Sacrificial Sin-Offering
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate
the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the
camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. For here we have no
lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.
—Hebrews 13:12–14
Reflection:
In ancient times, the scapegoat was a goat that was driven out
of the city to die in the desert. Jesus was crucified outside the
city gates, like the epitome of a sacrificial sin-offering.
Prayer:
Give me encouragement, Lord, while carrying my cross during
this earthly life, and while keeping my eye upon Your everlasting
city above in heaven. Amen.

Tuesday: Ignorance
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what
they do.”] They divided his garments by casting lots.
—Luke 23:34
Reflection:
It was the ignorance of the ones who crucified Christ that
probably saved them, ultimately. For, if they had honestly
understood what they were doing, they might never have been
saved.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, inspire the leaders of all nations to fall to their
knees in sincere and humble prayer to You and ask You for Your
guidance in all their decisions. Help them to be aware of their
spiritual responsibilities as the heads of their countries. Amen.

“Who will help me to make all souls understand the power and excellence of love and how rich is the soul simply by being able to love? If all would appreciate this treasure, there would not be poverty or pain on this earth, because love would change everything into heaven.”  –Venerable Mary Magdalen of Jesus in the Eucharist, C.P. (+ 1960)

Intention:  Lord, please bless us with a Constitution that functions as it was intended to function. I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Monday: New Type of Humanity
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 1:32–33
Reflection:
Humanity was born of Adam and Eve. But God loved us so
much that in order to redeem us, He asked Mary to consent
to becoming the mother of Our Lord, creating a new type
of humanity—one freed from sin. But Mary had to freely
choose it.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all Virtues, You came to make us part
of Your new humanity, in which sin and death were vanquished
forever. Give parents the inspiration to instruct their children in
the ways of virtue, and so create more human flourishing and
peace in our world. Amen.

Monday: Magnified With Her Soul
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
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.”
—Luke 1:46–48
Reflection:
After Elizabeth greeted Mary, exclaiming that the babe inside
her womb leapt for joy, Mary’s response is called the Magnificat.
In it, she looked backward to the time of Abraham, and also,
she looked forward to the future when all generations would
call her blessed. She magnified the Lord with her human soul.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Tower of David, despite a life of poverty and
suffering, you described yourself as eternally blessed because
you gave birth to the Savior of the World. Please pray for me to
birth Christ in my heart, so that I too may be blessed beyond
my wildest dreams. Amen.

Monday: God Born as Outcast
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 2:7
Reflection:
There was no place for them in the inn, but there was just
barely a little room in the stable. The inn represents social
respectability; the stable represents the outcast. God Himself
was born as an outcast. Divinity is often found where we least
expect it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, provide the poorest of the poor in our world—
the faces of Christ – with their daily bread. Amen.

Monday: First Canticle
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 2:25
Reflection:
Simeon’s canticle was the first song to celebrate Christ’s being
born on the earth. He sang that Jesus was a light to reveal God
to the nations, and the glory of the people of Israel.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the Everlasting Hills, please heal all
divisions in the Holy Land so that Christians, Jews and Muslims
may live together in blessed accord, and demonstrate peace to
every corner of the world. May the Holy Land become a land
of healing and harmony. Amen.

Monday: What Must I Do?
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 2:43–44
Reflection:
At twelve years old, Jesus was using the word “must” with
regard to His duty to His Heavenly Father. He was already
steeling Himself in His human nature, to fulfill the “must” of
His divine nature.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, show me what I “must” do to fulfill Your
will, and steel me to do it through my human nature and
through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to endure to
the end. Amen.

“[God] seems to support me and assure the good results of everything that I do, so that nothing will be ­ineffective but everything will contribute to the increase of his love in souls. But I ask ever more, namely, that whatever I do should always continue to do good, to produce love, until the end of the world.”  –Venerable Mary Magdalen of Jesus in the Eucharist, C.P. (+ 1960)

Intention:  Lord, please bless us with a society that seeks Your face and prays to You earnestly. I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Sunday: Grasp the Significance
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our
preaching; empty, too, your faith.
—1 Corinthians 15:14
Reflection:
The Rosary proposes that we look past the death and burial of
Our Lord and into His resurrection, to see Him as The Risen
One. It is beneficial to look through the eyes of the apostles and
Mary when seeing Him risen, because then we will grasp the
significance of the resurrection more vividly.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Cause of our Joy, please let me feel a hint of the
joy that you felt when you found out that your Son had been
raised from the dead. It must have been a Hallelujah moment
of wonder! Amen.

Sunday: Right Hand
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he
had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking
about the kingdom of God.
—Acts 1:3
Reflection:
Jesus ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand
of the Father in glory. He lives to intercede for us to the Father
and to thwart the proud demons. He is on our side.
Prayer:
Jesus, I pray for all those who are down and out in the world,
the rejected and those who are alone. Comfort them, and send
loving people to let them feel how valuable and loved they truly
are. Amen.

Sunday: Closeness and Kindness
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
There were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying
in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but
they were confused because each one heard them speaking in
his own language.
—Acts 2:5–6
Reflection:
The apostles and Mary were gathered together to pray, like an
obedient family, in the upper room. Kindness and closeness
flourished in the group. The result was the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This should be a model for all of us in
our gatherings as a church.
Prayer:
Lord, raise up godly men and women to proclaim the love and
joy of the gospel with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and help
them to bring a new Pentecost to the church today. Amen.

Sunday: Most Wonderful
of Life’s Goals
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Quote:
“The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation
in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection
of other Christians.”
—Catechism, No. 966
Reflection:
Mary’s travel into heaven, in glory, was a privilege that all of us
can hope to enjoy, when we leave this earth.
Prayer:
Lord, please motivate me to keep my focus on the most
wonderful of life’s goals: heaven. May it be my guiding star
throughout my life. Amen.

Sunday: Ultimate Glory Attainable
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Quote:
“After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny,
we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to
Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her
mystery on her own ‘pilgrimage of faith,’ and what she will be
in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, ‘in the glory
of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity,’ ‘in the communion
of all the saints,’ the Church is awaited by the one she venerates
as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.”
—Catechism No. 972
Reflection:
Mary is a symbol for the church of the ultimate glory attainable
for us creatures, and she is our example that we look toward for
the end of times.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Ark of the Covenant, you are my mother and
my model. Send holy angels to protect all those Christians who
are under attack by the forces of intolerance and hatred. Amen.

“Whatever belongs to the Son belongs to the Mother by relation and sympathy. The sword that pierced Christ’s heart went also through the heart of his Mother, and she suffered even as he did…. She knew his heart’s love for [sinners], she could see his heart: and she knew he was offering up the sacrifice step by step as he tracked in his own blood and carried his heavy cross for the conversion of sinners. She entered fully into his spirit.”  –Servant of God Mary Teresa Tallon (+ 1954)

Intention:   Lord, please help us to resist communism and totalitarianism. I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Saturday: In Favor of God’s Will
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 1:38
Reflection:
The Father’s plan of redemption all depended on Christ, and
Christ’s coming to earth all depended on Mary. It was a plan
for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in
heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:10). We can imagine how
all creation was somehow touched in some mysterious way by
Mary’s conceiving Jesus Christ in her womb on the day of the
annunciation.
Prayer:
Mary’s “yes” changed the whole course of humanity in favor of
God’s Will. Dear Mary, Queen of Peace, please keep praying
for peace on our earth, so that all mankind hungers and thirsts
for God’s presence within. Amen.

Saturday: Joy of His Presence
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
—Luke 1:44
Reflection:
Jubilation was the emblem of Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth,
when John in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy, because of the
presence of Our Lord in Mary’s womb.
Prayer:
Like John, the presence of Christ inside of me causes me to leap
for joy. Lord Jesus, please aid all those who are lonely to feel the
joy of Your presence today. Help them to know that they are
not alone, nor have they ever been alone! Amen.

Saturday: Good News
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
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.”
—Luke 2:10–11
Reflection:
Happiness and joy filled Bethlehem that night when Jesus was
born, while the angels proclaimed to the shepherds that there
was good news of unending joy.
Prayer:
Jesus was born in a lowly stable, and yet the angel proclaimed
that His birth was wonderful, joyful and desirable news. Lord
Jesus, Joy of the Angels, help me to remember that no matter
what is happening in my earthly life, there is always good news:
You are here with me. Amen.

Saturday: Jesus’s destiny
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation
of Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
(And you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.
—Luke 2:35
Reflection:
At the presentation in the temple, both joyful and sorrowful
events unfold. Simeon finally was able to see the Christ Child,
as had been foretold to him so long before. But also, he predicted
that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction and that His mother’s
heart would be pierced.
Prayer:
From the time Jesus was born, His destiny was to die for us
all. Heavenly Father, please make all Christians one, as Jesus
prayed for and dearly wanted so long ago. Help them to focus on
the commonalities between them rather than their differences.
Amen.

Saturday: Living the Virtues
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
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.
—Luke 2:49–50
Reflection:
Happiness and sorrow also mix in the events of the finding of
the Child Jesus in the temple. On the one hand, we see the
miracle of Jesus conversing with the scholars of the law, even
at such a young age. On the other hand, we see Mary’s and
St. Joseph’s worry and concern about their Child’s putting the
Father’s business before all other concerns—even them.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, assist me to follow You by living the virtues of
prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance—even when it is
unpopular to do so, or when others simply wouldn’t understand.
Amen.

“This may be a wicked age but your lives should ­redeem it (Eph 5:16). The word ‘redeem’ means to rescue, set free, ransom, and to pay the penalty incurred by another. We often lose sight of the definition to ‘set free,’ and we miss the power of our example as Christians to do exactly that—set our neighbor free.”  –Mother Angelica of the Annunciation, P.C.P.A. (+ 2016)

Intention:  In Jesus’ name, please bless America with a moral, law-abiding, and God-honoring society, so that we are worthy of self-governance.

Tuesday: Generous
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s
servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have
you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to
seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple
area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the scriptures may be
fulfilled.” And [the disciples] all left him and fled.
—Mark 14:47-50
Reflection:
Jesus had the opportunity to be crowned king during His
public ministry, such as after multiplying the loaves and fishes
and feeding the multitudes. But He resisted efforts to make
Him King, knowing that His Kingship was not here on earth.
However, in Gethsemane, realizing that it was the Father’s will
for Him to be sacrificed for our sins, He did let the crowd have
its ugly way with Him.
Prayer:
Jesus taught that success in this material world should not be our
ultimate goal in life. He taught us to go beyond any considerations
of materiality and comparison with others, and instead to become
generous and close to God, where our true fulfillment lies. Jesus,
please encourage me to offer kindheartedness to others, and
to seek the footprints of God, which I can only find with the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday: Protection from Satan
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you
like wheat.
—Luke 22:31
Reflection:
Peter denied Our Lord three times, and yet Jesus had told him,
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”
(Matthew 16:18). Peter might have been a conundrum to Jesus
and to himself. How could he be such a faithless man, with
such weak courage, and yet have the keys to the Kingdom of
Heaven?
Prayer:
Satan will try to cause me to deny Christ also. Jesus, I ask for
Your protection from his evil plans for me. Please send heavenly
angels to guard me and keep me safe from all harm. Amen.

Tuesday: Stand Firm
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
Scripture:
So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion
and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to
them to deal with as they wished.
—Luke 23:25
Reflection:
Jesus often warned the disciples that the same thing that would
happen to Him would happen to them also, as the price of being
His disciple. This world was not ready for what Jesus brought –
His heavenly Kingship. He was ridiculed as a mock king, spat
at and crowned with tortuous thorns.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Most Obedient, I know that I must stand firm when
I am ridiculed, just as You did, and ask for Your help to weather
the storm. Assist me in facing the future with confidence, and
in knowing that You are with me. Amen.

Tuesday: Turn the Tide
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not
weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children,
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed
are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that
never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are
done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”
—Luke 23:28–31
Reflection:
It seemed as though all the evil that could be done was done
to Jesus. But He warned the women on the Via Dolorosa that
a time would come when they and their offspring would suffer
even more from evil.
Prayer:
Sin abounds in our society as it never has before. But the Blessed
Mother said at Fatima that praying the Rosary could turn the
tide from evil to goodness and create peace on earth. Heavenly
Father, put an end to all the wars and bring peace to our world.
Amen.

Tuesday: Apparent Failure
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the
afternoon.
—Mark 15:33
Reflection:
Jesus was a failure by the world’s standards. He was crucified
as a criminal, mocked, scourged, beaten, spat at and even His
clothes were torn from Him. And yet, through this apparent
failure, He redeemed all of the people in the world.
Prayer:
Jesus, when I am going through a time of suffering alone, and
I feel abandoned by my friends, I believe that You are with me.
I am sure that You love me. Thank You for making blessings
come out of it all, in the end. Remind me that I don’t have to
be successful; I only need to be faithful. Amen.

“We are born to be a living offering, to die with Christ, and then to share in his glory. We should look forward to the day of our meeting with him as a bride looks forward to her bridegroom. That hour comes for everyone and, what is more, it comes like a thief, at a time in which we are not expecting it. It makes sense, therefore, to live each moment in view of that hour, and to act accordingly….”  –Servant of God Chiara Lubich (+ 2008)

Intention:  Lord, please bless all my loved ones on the other side with love and joy, and may they rest in peace, and come into heaven to be with You forever and ever, if they’re not already there.

Monday: We Have Help
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and
you shall name him Jesus.
—Luke 1:31
Reflection:
When Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, most of the established world was controlled by Rome,
including the Holy Land. It was a pagan culture, far from God.
However, in a little home in Nazareth, Mary and St. Joseph
were leading God-filled lives and preparing for the holiest birth
of all time.
Prayer:
We live in a world that is quite secularized in our times, too.
Fortunately, though, we have Mary’s example of how to live
a God-centered life, and we have Jesus, the Father, the Holy
Spirit, the angels, the saints and the Catholic Church. Jesus,
Mary and St. Joseph, pray for me to be motivated to do my
best in life, so that I naturally want to do things in an excellent,
patient and helpful way. Amen.

Monday: Gift of Knowledge
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
—Ephesians 5:2
Reflection:
The angel never suggested that Mary go to Elizabeth to aid her
in her time of need; Mary intuited it herself, because she was
so willing to lend a hand where she was needed.
Prayer:
All it takes for me to be like Mary is to perceive the needs
around me, and then offer assistance without being asked. Holy
Spirit, entrust me with Your gift of knowledge, that I may
discern more easily the necessities of others. Give me Your holy
wisdom. Amen.

Monday: Offer My Fiat
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the
whole world should be enrolled.
—Luke 2:1
Reflection:
Because Caesar required them to go to Bethlehem to be
enrolled, Mary and St. Joseph had to take the long tiring trip
while she was nine-months’ pregnant. The trek was arduous,
but it resulted in Our Lord’s being born in Bethlehem, as was
predicted in sacred scripture. God is always in control, which
we hardly ever understand at the time.
Prayer:
I can imitate Mary by performing the duties of my state in
life, focusing on the present moment and—when required by
charity—maybe taking some long detours. All I have to do is
give these diversions my fiat—my “yes”. Dear God, I say “yes”
to Your will. Please work through me. Amen.

Monday: Minimize Any Damage
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
And Simeon blessed them 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.”
—Luke 2:34
Reflection:
Mary was thankful for her healthy Divine Baby Boy, and she
was happy to present Him to God in the temple. She pondered
the ominous prophecy of Simeon long afterward.
Prayer:
Sometimes I get a feeling of foreboding in my life. This is
a feeling that Mary must have gotten, too, when Simeon
prophesied over her divine Son. Lord, please minimize any
damage that may be coming into my life when I feel such
apprehension, and write straight with crooked lines as only You
can. Amen.

Monday: God’s Plan
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
Trust in God at all times, my people!/ Pour out your hearts to
God our refuge!
—Psalm 62:9
Reflection:
St. Joseph was obedient by taking his little family to Jerusalem
for the Passover. Jesus was obedient to His Heavenly Father by
staying at the temple, learning, teaching and conversing with
the doctors of the law.
Prayer:
Mother Mary and St. Joseph, you understood how to trust God,
despite the appearance of a disaster looming upon you. Please
pray for me to trust in God’s plan as I live my own little life,
too. Amen.

“Today we live again in a time that urgently needs to be renewed at the hidden springs of God-fearing souls. Many people, too, place their last hope in these hidden springs of salvation. This is a serious warning cry: Surrender without reservation to the Lord who has called us. This is required of us so that the face of the earth may be renewed.”  –Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (+ 1942)

Intention:  Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You to please bless all my friends and relatives with good health, financial stability and uplifting relationships with their friends and family.  Please bless them with peace, love, joy, happiness and harmony, and please, when their time comes, give them each a peaceful, easy and happy death, and bring them into heaven to be with You forever and ever.

Sunday: Follow in His Footsteps
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple
whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord
from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
—John 20:2
Reflection:
Even though Jesus had told His disciples that He would suffer
and be killed at the hands of men and would rise again, when
they discovered the empty tomb, they were dumbfounded,
because their faith was so weak and empty.
Prayer:
Jesus, I understand that through Your resurrection from the
dead, You promised eternal life to all of us, too, who would
follow in Your footsteps. Thank You for preparing a place for
me. Amen.

Sunday: Jesus Had to Leave
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up
into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they
went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked
with them and confirmed the word through accompanying
signs.
—Mark 16:19–20
Reflection:
When Jesus ascended into heaven, His disciples were filled with
joy even though their Friend had gone away. They saw that God
had a purpose, that He was truly present with them and that He
was going to send the Advocate to assist them.
Prayer:
Jesus had to leave this world so that He could send the Holy
Spirit to be with us. Heart of Jesus, Salvation of Those Who
Trust in Thee, I do love You, above all other things and people.
Bestow upon me eternal life with You, after I die. Amen.

Sunday: Elation
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
—Jeremiah 31:33
Reflection:
Pentecost made all the difference to the apostles. They were
filled with the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised they would be.
The Holy Spirit filled them with many gifts, including courage
and boldness, to preach and prophecy.
Prayer:
Having been through the desolation of Good Friday, the apostles
understood their utter dependence on Jesus; and on Pentecost,
they believed that He was with them in the Holy Spirit, and
their hearts soared with elation. Dearest Jesus, please fill me
with the sure knowledge that You are unquestionably with me,
and that I am no longer alone. Amen.

Sunday: Singular Grace
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Quote:
“By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s
redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit,
the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity.”
—Catechism, no. 967
Reflection:
Mary was the one chosen to carry the exalted responsibility of
bearing the Christ-Child. Still, though, she was just a creature,
and as unable to transport herself to heaven as any one of us
would be. It was a singular grace of God that accomplished her
assumption, because of her complete devotion to God for her
entire life.
Prayer:
Mary was assumed into heaven because she was so much like
Jesus; she loved God very deeply, like Jesus did. Dear Mary,
Mother of Christ, intercede for me, to inspire me to model
myself after you, a creature like myself, whom I can imitate.
Amen.

Sunday: Obedience and Faithfulness
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Quote:
“She is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ’… since she
has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers
in the Church.”
—Catechism, no. 963
Reflection:
Mary cooperated so obediently and faithfully with God’s plan
to save us that she helped to restore our souls to everlasting life
through her human efforts, which is why she is a mother to all
of us.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, pray for me to become
obedient and faithful to God, as you were, and make me pure
of heart, and quick to do God’s will in my life. Amen.

“The same Father has adopted us and…wants that utter loving submission of the children to the Father who has adopted them into his own family, which alone transforms acceptance of his will into worship.”  –Father Bonaventure Perquin, O.P. (+ 1970)

Intention:  I’m expecting that no weapon formed against me will prosper.

Saturday: Accompany Me
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you
have found favor with God.”
—Luke 1:30
Reflection:
Mary was probably just puttering around her house, working,
doing her chores and praying as usual, when suddenly an angel
appeared to her and said, “Hail, full of grace!” (see Luke 1:28).
Mary was startled at such a greeting, as anyone would be. But
it was a magnificent acknowledgment from the angel that Mary
was grace-filled, because of her deep love for God.
Prayer:
Like Mary, I can live my little life, whether I work outside
the home or in the home, and love God with deliberate focus
and trust that that is what God will see when He looks at
me. Heavenly Father, please accompany me and guide me
throughout my daily chores, tasks and the duties of my vocation
in life. Amen.

Saturday: See Jesus in Everyone
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not
pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its
own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over
injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with
the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
—1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Reflection:
Although Mary had just conceived Our Lord in her womb, she
rushed out with haste to visit Elizabeth, whom she recognized
was in the hour of her need, because of her late-in-life pregnancy.
Mary realized that lending a hand to someone in need was more
important than anything else.
Prayer:
I must love everyone else – even those people I find distasteful
in some way – by seeing Jesus in them, and treating them as I
would Him. Lord Jesus, help me to do this, in order to care for
the least of my brothers and sisters. Help me to remember Saint
Mother Teresa’s five-fingered gospel: “You did it for me” (see
Matthew 25:40). Amen.

Saturday: Mary and
Joseph: Role Models
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
—Luke 2:12
Reflection:
How dark and dank that cold December cave must have been,
especially at night, when Mary bore her Babe. How cold she
must have been. How frightened St. Joseph must have been.
But they brought the Savior into the world that night, despite
their conditions of hardship, and no one knew about it except
the shepherds.
Prayer:
I can take Mary and Joseph as my role models, and love God,
despite the hardships that may come my way. Holy Spirit, give
me direction on how to do this, in whatever situation I find
myself. Amen.

Saturday: Purify Vices
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
It is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the
womb shall be consecrated to the Lord.”
—Luke 2:23
Reflection:
While the Christian Church hadn’t yet come into being, Mary
and St. Joseph presented Jesus in the temple as directed by
the law and the prophets. They followed the laws of Judaism
faithfully and taught Jesus to do so as well.
Prayer:
Jesus taught us about treating each other with deep, abiding
love. I can continue to learn how to do this through prayer,
through reading the gospels and through participating in the
Sacraments of the church. Heavenly Father, please purify me of
my vices in this way. Amen.

Saturday: Jesus Seeks Me
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
How lovely your dwelling,/ O Lord of hosts!/ My soul yearns
and pines/ for the courts of the Lord./ My heart and flesh cry
out/ for the living God.
—Psalm 84:2–3
Reflection:
When we seek for Jesus, we will find Him in little things: a
sweet smile we encounter on our way; a meeting of minds
with a friend over coffee; a simple gesture of kindness, such
as being offered a glass of cold water. Behind all these human
acts of generosity is Jesus, who is actually their author and their
perfecter.
Prayer:
The ironic thing, Jesus, is that You came into the world to look
for me. I thought that I was the one who was looking for You.
Thank You! Amen.

“We cannot measure the joy we shall receive by the suffering we have now; there is no proportion between the two: eye has not seen nor ear heard the welcome the Father gives to the children who love him. Like the Son, the adopted children suffer in order to enter into their glory….”  –Father Bonaventure Perquin, O.P. (+ 1970)

Intention:   Lord, send favor now!

Friday: Something Beautiful
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not
my will but yours be done.
—Luke 22:42
Reflection:
Jesus asked us to take up our cross and follow Him; yet when
His passion was close at hand, He agonized over it, asking
that the cup be taken away from Him. Thus, we know that
it is appropriate to ask the Father to alleviate our sufferings,
whenever possible.
Prayer:
Something inside of me perceives that suffering is a vicious
wrong, and so I wince away from it; however, God’s mercy can
turn it into something beautiful for the world. Heavenly Father,
turn my suffering into something splendid for the world. Amen.

Friday: Not alone
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
[Pilate said to them,] “Therefore I shall have him flogged and
then release him.”
—Luke 23:16
Reflection:
The Roman soldiers whipped Jesus until He was almost at
death’s door, but God the Father was with Him with each and
every lashing.
Prayer:
When I feel pain, I have to remember, God is with me every
step of the way, every painful moment. Heart of Jesus, Hope
of Those Who Die in Thee, let me not feel alone when I am
in pain. Let me feel Your yoke of divine friendship with me at
such times. Amen.

Friday: He Went Before Us
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on
his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak.
—John 19:2
Reflection:
The soldiers made a mock court out of the praetorium and
a mock King out of Jesus. Then, as if mocking Him weren’t
enough, they “crowned Him” with long thorns, to bite into
His head.
Prayer:
Even though Jesus was God, He had no protection against this
wretched misery. Lord, when I am hurting, let me remember
that You went before me to lead the way for me. Amen.

Friday: A Random Way
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a
Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after
laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
—Luke 23:26
Reflection:
Simon of Cyrene came across Jesus on His way to Calvary by
happenstance, when Jesus fell on His knees, and the soldiers
chose Simon to support Our Lord in carrying His Cross. The
cross often comes to us in a random way, such as this.
Prayer:
My Lord Jesus, I recognize that You are with me when I am
carrying my cross, and that You will always help me to carry
it until the end. Please uplift those people who are despairing,
and help them to know in their hearts that the world would be
a worse place without them. Amen.

Friday: Endure to the End
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in
wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink.
—Matthew 27:48
Reflection:
The soldiers ripped off Jesus’s clothing, which had dried to His
Body, opening up all the wounds from earlier at the scourging.
They offered Him a concoction of wine and myrrh to numb
His senses, but He refused it.
Prayer:
The way to heaven will be through the cross. Lord Jesus, Most
Powerful, You have shown me how to carry the cross, and have
promised to be with me, if I will only just endure to the end.
Give me Your strength to do so. Amen.

” The sufferings of Christ, which move us to our very marrow, and his love, in which he pours out his blood for us, intoxicating our heart and causing us to pray, ‘Blood of Christ, inebriate me,’ must not allow us to forget that the eternal goal is not participation in the cross but, rather, the blessed face-to-face vision of the God-Man Jesus Christ reigning in transfigured glory in eternity.”  — Dietrich von Hildebrand (+ 1977)

Intention: I pray for Your help, Lord, today in carrying out the work that You have given me to do.

Thursday: Sanctified Waters
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
A voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved
Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
—Matthew 3:17
Reflection:
Jesus was in the midst of His Father’s business when He went
to the Jordan to be baptized by John. He was expressing His
solidarity with all of us while He was sanctifying the waters of
baptism.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus Christ, help me to always be in the heart of the
Father’s business by aiding me to live out my baptism to the
fullest. Amen.

Thursday: Pleasing to God
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding at Cana
Scripture:
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.
—John 2:11
Reflection:
Jesus’s changing the water into wine at Cana, while a miracle,
is also a symbol. It symbolizes His changing of the Jewish
ceremonial washings into His work—that transforms each
person into a being pleasing to God—through His task of
redemption.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, let me feel Your love for me at all the important
events of life, and think of You at Cana. Amen.

Thursday: Use Words When Necessary
3rd Luminous Mystery: The
Proclamation of the Kingdom
Scripture:
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.”
—Mark 1:14–15
Reflection:
Jesus said that only after His death and resurrection would His
disciples be able to truly understand His teaching.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the grace to understand and teach Your gospel
everywhere. And, as St. Francis of Assisi said, “When necessary,
use words.” Amen.

Thursday: Heavenly Light
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up
a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured
before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no
fuller on earth could bleach them.
—Mark 9:2–3
Reflection:
The figure of Jesus became dazzling white from the glory of
the Godhead within Him, manifesting His grandeur. His Body
was not yet glorified, but It was able to show forth some of Its
divine radiance.
Prayer:
Lord, please indwell me evermore with Your heavenly light, to
illuminate my mind, purify my emotions and give me a heart
full of love for my brothers and sisters. Amen.

Thursday: More Like Unto Him
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that
the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread,
and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my
body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the
same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the
new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me.”
—1 Corinthians 11:23–25
Reflection:
The above scripture is the earliest written account of the
institution of the Holy Eucharist, and it indicates Jesus’s emphasis
on the giving of Himself.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, after You give me Your Body and Blood, make me
more and more like unto Yourself, each week, little by little.
Transform me, bit by bit, into Your glorious Self, so that I am
no longer an old creation, but a new one. Amen.