Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries

Beginning Prayer:

Let us unite with Jesus and Mary, accompanied by St. Joseph, as we participate in the Joyful Mysteries. In this Rosary let us pray, love, give thanks, and make reparation to God on behalf of ourselves and all souls, from Adam to the last man.

1. The Annunciation

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus." Luke 1:30-31

Drawn and attracted by the irresistible aroma of your lowliness, the Word of God descends, knocking on your heart through the message of the Archangel Gabriel. As Gabriel speaks to you, all creation and heaven remain still, quiet in listening, awaiting for the words of your consent. And then pronouncing your “Fiat”, your “Yes”, you open the door of your being to God; and it is then that the marvel of marvels takes place. You conceive by the Holy Spirit and the Eternal Word of God is made flesh in your womb! O Eternal God, I hide my imperfect fiat in the perfect Fiat of Mary, and take her humility in order to make it my own; so that covered in the irresistible scent of my Mother’s lowliness, You may be compelled to descend into my soul, so as to give it the sealing kiss of Your Divinity.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Let it be done unto me according to Thy Word."

2. The Visitation

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke 1:42-43

Mary, motivated by perfect love of neighbour, you make haste to the hill country of Judea; yearning to bring the presence of Jesus to your friends. As you arrive at the house of Elizabeth, you shout the sweetest of greetings, your word enclosed with God's Word. Making haste to come to you Elizabeth responds: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb…for when I heard your greeting the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” O dearest Mother, I will share your blessed womb, so that together we may visit every soul throughout all the ages, so as to bring Jesus to everyone; so that like the babe, John the Baptist, all souls may leap in the joy of Salvation.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "O Jesus, Incarnate Yourself anew in our hearts today."

3. The Birth of Jesus

"Mary gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

Without being able to find a place at an inn, you and St. Joseph take refuge in a cave that is being used as a stable. It is there in poverty that God the Father has willed you to give birth to the Saviour of the world. In your Immaculacy you give birth without any pangs. Divine Love Itself emerges from your womb in the flesh of a newborn babe. Without wanting to be selfish you make the supreme sacrifice of placing Jesus in the manger, so that all might be able to adore the Sweet Infant Jesus. With you O Mother, with St. Joseph, the shepherds and the angels, I adore with heartfelt joy the little Jesus on behalf of myself and all souls. Let this joy accompany me all throughout life. Furthermore I ask you St. Joseph, make my heart a lowly manger, for then the infant Jesus will take delight to dwell in my soul.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Little Jesus, rest in the manger of my heart."

4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

"And when the days of her purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." Luke 2:22-23

O Mary and Joseph I surrender myself into your hands, so that you might offer me to Christ your Son, the Great High Priest; so that I might be consecrated as a Living Host, raised high in the hands of the Son for the glory of God the Father and for the salvation of all souls.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Multiply holy vocations in the Temple of the Church."

5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

"And it came to pass after three days, that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" Luke 2:46

Mary and Joseph we unite with you in the three days you suffered apart from the sensible presence of Jesus. We ask that you would obtain for us and all souls, the grace of an unfailing faith and hope in times of privation and desolation. We unite also with you in encountering the joy of finding Jesus in the Temple, listening to and teaching the doctors of the Law; all of whom were enraptured by the wisdom of your Holy Child. We also ask for the grace that we might find evermore, again and again, the little Child Jesus in the depths of ourselves, our neighbours, in creation and in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Each time upon finding Jesus, let us be filled with the joy of His childish cheek: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Lead us to find the Lord in ever deeper ways."