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(Taken from
http://www.pacifier.com/~rosarweb/joyful.htm)
With illustrations from the booklet
Praying the Rosary Without Distractions.
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The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION
- The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
- Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception to be
the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
- The Angel Gabriel announces: "Hail, full of grace! The
Lord is with thee."
- Mary wonders at this salutation.
- The Angel assures her: "Fear not . . . you shall
conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son."
- Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity.
- The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of
the Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
- The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent.
- Mary answers: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it
done unto me according to your word."
- The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Spiritual Fruit: Humility |
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The Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATION
- Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age .
. . for nothing is impossible with God.
- Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the
hour of her need.
- The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty miles
requiring four or five days.
- Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary
bears with her the Incarnate Word.
- At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in
his mother's womb.
- Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb."
- "How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?"
- "Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to
her would be fulfilled."
- Mary replies: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the
Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."
- Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months
until the birth of John the Baptist.
Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor |
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The Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITY
- Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the
decree of Caesar Augustus.
- The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no
room in the inn.
- In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a
cave, Mary remaining a Virgin.
- She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a
manger.
- In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower
of her virginity.
- Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of
detachment from earthly things.
- The angel announces to the shepherds: "Today there is
born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the
Lord."
- The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to His people on earth."
- The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the
Infant Jesus.
- The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him
gifts.
Spiritual Fruit: Poverty of Spirit |
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The Fourth Joyful Mystery
THE PRESENTATION
- Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple
to present Him to the Lord.
- According to the Law the firstborn male child of every
family should be consecrated to the Lord.
- Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back
at the price paid by the poor.
- Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach
obedience, submits to it.
- Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in
humility she submits to it.
- God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death
until he had seen the Messiah.
- Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you can dismiss
your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word."
- "This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of
many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed."
- And to Mary Simeon reveals: "And your own soul a sword
shall pierce."
- After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to
Nazareth.
Spiritual Fruit: Purity of mind and body
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The Fifth Joyful Mystery
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
- When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents
to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
- After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary
unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus.
- At the end of the first day's journey they discover
Jesus is missing.
- His parents return immediately looking for Him.
- This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our
understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
- On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the
Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom.
- Mary: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father
and I have been searching for you in sorrow."
- Jesus: "Why did you search for me? Did you not know that
I must be about my Father's business?"
- Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to
them.
- Mary keeps all these things in her heart.
Spiritual Fruit: Obedience |
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This site was last updated
08/04/07
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