“It is now for us to pay our respects to this great Queen and, seeing her so close to her Son, to pray her to ­assist us by her all-powerful intercession. O holy, blessed Mary, because you are with Jesus, enjoying a holy and blessed familiarity with him, speak for us to his heart. Speak, and your Son will listen.”  –Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (+ 1704)

Intention:   Lord, please give us fair and honest elections.

Friday: Offering Suffering
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I
will, but as you will.”
—Matthew 26:39
Reflection:
Jesus Christ’s human nature shrank back from death; yet, His
divine nature was able to overcome His human nature and
accept the bittersweet consolation that, although He was about
to die, in so doing, He would fulfill the will of the Father.
Because He was God (as well as man), His suffering meant
eternal redemption for us all.
Prayer:
Eternal Father, I offer my sufferings and anxieties to You for
peace on earth, and for the salvation of souls. Even if my offering
is only a drop in Your ocean, I give it freely. Amen.

Friday: Destroy the Temple
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in
three days I will raise it up.”
—John 2:19
Reflection:
The witnesses at Jesus’s trial claimed that He said He would
destroy the temple, when, in fact, He said that they would
destroy it. They also claimed that He said that He would build
another temple, when in fact He said that He would raise it up
(meaning His Body).
Prayer:
Lord, help me to understand human frailty and thereby transcend
my limitations. Amen.

Friday: Sorrow for Sins
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered
the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock
crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and
began to weep bitterly.
—Luke 22:61–62
Reflection:
Even though Peter denied that he was associated with Christ,
Jesus extended forgiveness and generosity toward him, just as
He did toward those who crucified Him. He made Peter “The
Rock,” even though he was a sinful man, so that later on we
would never despair of Jesus’s love and acceptance of us, no
matter what our sins were.
Prayer:
Sin always wounds people—in small ways and in large ways.
It is the sorrow I feel at my sins because they have wounded
others or myself that is the key to repentance, and the key
to forgiveness also. Jesus, please help me to understand the
healing power of forgiveness for myself and enable me to offer
forgiveness to those who hurt me. Amen.

Friday: Help to Carry
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who
was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and
Rufus, to carry his cross.
—Mark 15:21
Reflection:
It is beautiful to contemplate how Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus
carry His Cross. In fact, it naturally leads to our wanting to
imitate Simon by assisting our neighbors to carry their crosses
of grief or loneliness, if only just to listen to their story a little
while, to help them feel less alone in it.
Prayer:
There but for the grace of God go I; therefore, being conformed
to Christ’s mind, I must help my brothers and sisters in carrying
their crosses. Dear Heavenly Father, make my heart like Jesus’s
heart: full of compassion and love for my neighbor. Amen.

Friday: Ultimate Triumph
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli,
Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?”
—Matthew 27:46
Reflection:
When Jesus quoted this, He was quoting the first line of Psalm
22—that in those days was a way of referring to the entire
psalm—that spoke of many aspects of His passion. And also,
at the end, it spoke of the ultimate triumph of the Lord and
deliverance of the descendants of Israel.
Prayer:
My Father, Who art in heaven, remind me that there is a
purpose in my sufferings, and use them to help to bring about
Your ultimate triumph on earth. Amen.

” What good do we do [that is not done] also by [the Father]? It is God at work in you, both to will and to work his good pleasure (Phil 2:13). He, then, provides our works with their origin and their reward; he is himself our whole reward…”  –Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (+ 1153)

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Intention:  Lord, please preserve our rights to meaningful representation in government, the right for free speech, the right for freedom of religion, the right for freedom of assembly, the right to bear arms, and having a country with firm borders.

Thursday: Christ’s Mind
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me
and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can
do nothing.
—John 15:5
Reflection:
In Christian spirituality, we are called to be grafted onto
Christ’s vine and conform ourselves and our lives to Him more
completely every day. In this way, we clothe ourselves with
Christ (Galatians 3:27), and become members of His Mystical
Body.
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, Our True Vine, thank you for making me a
part of Your Mystical Body through my baptism. Assist me
to conform my mind to Your mind, and my actions to Your
actions. Help me to bear fruit for the good of souls. Amen.

Thursday: Obedience
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
—John 2:5
Reflection:
In a sense, Mary was a teacher to the servants when she told
them, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). In the Rosary, she
teaches us about Christ by inviting us to peer through her eyes
at the different scenes of His life, doing whatever He tells us.
Prayer:
O Mother Mary, Mother Most Pure, teach me to be obedient to
what Christ tells me to do, a little bit more each day. Through
your intercession, help me to identify my shortcomings and
overcome them. Amen.

Thursday: Asking
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks,
receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who
knocks, the door will be opened.
—Matthew 7:7–8
Reflection:
The reason for Jesus’s confident urging is because of the power
of the Trinity. The Father is loving; Jesus is our advocate (1
John 2:1); and the Holy Spirit intercedes with inexpressible
groanings (Romans 8:26). With God totally on our side, who
can be against us?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I ask You to fill all my needs, both large and
small. Remind me to do my best, and entrust myself to You.
Amen.

Thursday: Christ’s Importance
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen
Son; listen to him.”
—Luke 9:35
Reflection:
The Father exhorted the disciples to “Listen to Him” (Luke
9:35), so that they could come to an understanding of Jesus’s
passion. Then they could experience the gladness of the
resurrection, and ultimately be transformed by the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost.
Prayer:
God the Father commands me to listen to Christ, His Son.
What could possibly give more importance to Christ’s words?
Heart of Jesus, Of Whose Fullness We Have All Received, I
promise to try to talk with You about everything I am going
through today and listen for Your response. Amen.

Thursday: Holy Eucharist
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the
world and he loved them to the end.
—John 13:1
Reflection:
When Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, He offered His Body
and Blood in the form of bread and wine for the salvation of all
humanity, with whom He promised to be until the end of time.
Prayer:
It is my most sacred honor to partake of the Body and Blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Dearest Jesus,
Our Way and Our Life, I am so blessed by You. Thank you!
Amen.

“In choosing a mother, [Our Lord] might have chosen one of high rank, a queen, a princess, or a titled lady. Instead he chose a woman from the lowest rank, from among the poor who earn their livelihood by manual labor. He chose a virgin who esteemed herself as the least of all his creatures. He also chose a foster-father of lowly condition, who likewise esteemed himself the least of all men. For, after the Blessed Virgin, no one was so humble as Saint Joseph.”  –Saint John Eudes (+ 1680)

Intention:  Lord, please give us a society that becomes more religious again, and has a Christian revival. I thank You God for the revival that is already started.

Wednesday: I am Your Sheep
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
—John 20:16
Reflection:
Jesus had once said that He called His sheep by their names.
When He called Mary by her name and she saw the wounds on
His hands and feet, she realized that it was Him.
Prayer:
Jesus, You are my Shepherd, and I am Your sheep. I listen for
You to call my name. Call me to graze in your green pastures
of love, peace and joy. Amen.

Wednesday: Enlighten Me
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
And [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah
would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that
repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his
name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
—Luke 24:46–47
Reflection:
Our Lord, through His resurrection appearances, opened
the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures. He
was finally able to explain to them that He was the Suffering
Servant spoken about by Isaiah, Who would triumph through
His suffering.
Prayer:
Lord, please enlighten me with Your Holy Spirit, and give me
the gift of understanding when I read the scriptures. Make my
heart burn within me with love for You. Amen.

Wednesday: Fortitude
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do
not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will
send him to you.
—John 16:7
Reflection:
Jesus told the apostles that after He went up to heaven, He
would send them His Holy Spirit to renew and strengthen them
in their knowledge of the Kingdom. He said that they would
experience the same type of opposition as He had faced.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, I praise You and thank You for making me a part
of Your Mystical Body. Give me the fortitude of the Holy Spirit,
that I can withstand the pressures and temptations of the world,
the flesh and the devil. Amen.

Wednesday: Perfect
Truth and Beauty
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
Arise, Lord, come to your resting place,/ you and your
majestic ark.
—Psalm 132:8
Reflection:
When we behold the majesty of Christ and the special honor
given His blessed Mother, we naturally desire to make the
world a place of perfect truth and beauty. Although perfection
cannot be attained in this physical world, we strive to achieve
better excellence and to leave the world a better place than we
found it.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty, help me to leave a legacy of
truth, beauty and peace behind when I leave this place to come
home to You. Amen.

Wednesday: Faith, Hope,
Charity and Obedience
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Quote:
“[The Virgin Mary’s] role in relation to the Church and to
all humanity goes still further. ‘In a wholly singular way she
cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity
in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For
this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.’”
—Catechism No. 968
Reflection:
As the foremost member of the church, Mary is also Mother of
the church, thereby providing the perfect role model of faith
as she leads people to Jesus, and confirms her importance as an
intercessor on our behalf.
Prayer:
O Blessed Mother, Queen of the Rosary, please intercede for
me while I pray for the virtues of faith, hope, charity and
obedience. Amen.

“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.