“Contemplation is nothing more than a constant, ­loving looking at God. Exteriorly, the life of a contemplative is like that of any other person. There is no need to imagine states which would necessitate a change of ­condition. A contemplative is subject to the same ­difficulties, the same troubles, the same anxieties, discouragements, feelings of helplessness, imperfections, and even faults as anyone else.”  –Dom Augustin Guillerand, O. Cart. (+ 1945)

Intention:  Lord, please make of America a nation that becomes like a shining city on a hill for the rest of the world, and inspires the world to become more just, kind, peaceful, free, and resistant of Communism. I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Wednesday: Clean New Start
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
Then they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and
Salome] went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling
and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were
afraid.
—Mark 16:8
Reflection:
Mary Magdalene was freed from seven demons during Jesus’s
earthly ministry. When the oppression of those demons let go of
her, she became a fresh, new, innocent woman again. This was
a kind of resurrection for her—a little echo of the resurrection
of Our Lord on Easter Sunday.
Prayer:
Jesus gives us all a fresh, clean, new start in life every time we
reach out to Him. Jesus, I am grateful to You for:
_________________________. Amen.

Wednesday: Purification
of Egocentricities
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet
ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and
your God.’”
—John 20:17
Reflection:
It must have been awe-inspiring for the apostles to watch Jesus
ascending into heaven. But the angels told them to get back to
work here on earth because there was much to be done. They
were instructed to evangelize others, certainly. But also, part
of their personal work was to achieve a purification on earth
that could be achieved faster while here—using the gifts of the
Holy Spirit—than after their deaths.
Prayer:
Jesus, with You in heaven interceding for me, I can work on
the purification of my egocentricities now, while I’m still
alive. Please assist me in working on my dominant fault:
_______________________. Amen.

Wednesday: What is Important in Life
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been
given to us.
—Romans 5:5
Reflection:
The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost like
a firestorm, totally altering the beliefs and priorities of their
lives. All of a sudden, the earthly things that they had once
talked and worried about seemed no longer the priorities that
they once were.
Prayer:
I pray for the Holy Spirit to quicken in my life, and give me the
anointing of the new eyes of the Holy Spirit, to see that what is
really most important in my life is Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday: More Dominant
Soul and Spirit
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
See, darkness covers the earth,/ and thick clouds cover the
peoples;/ But upon you the Lord shines,/ and over you appears
his glory.
—Isaiah 60:2
Reflection:
Mary’s life was sinless, and her assumption into heaven was
another example of God’s glorious grace in her life; it was the
ultimate example of that grace’s victory. We are called to follow
in her way of life, too, through the goodness and love of God
and our identification with the Mystical Body of Christ.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, In Whom Dwells the Fullness of Divinity, please
make my soul and spirit become more dominant in my life as
I follow You, as I lead a life dedicated more to the service of
others, and to my transformation by the Spirit of God. Amen.

Wednesday: Heaven
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
She will put on your head a graceful diadem;/ a glorious crown
will she bestow upon you.
—Proverbs 4:9
Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother is a symbol for the church, and so when
she was crowned Queen of Heaven, in a way, the church was
crowned also – meaning each of us, after we go to heaven
(please God). This is because we are adopted sons and daughters
of the Father, which means that we are princes and princesses,
also, because He is King.
Prayer:
Dear God, make my purity complete, that I, too, will be in
heaven. And, if You are willing, let me receive a crown of
glory, so that I can be of more service to others while in heaven.
Amen.

“Our life here on earth is like a test. Our purpose and destiny do not belong to this but to a future day in another world. If we cling more and more to this earth and all it has to offer, if we are only concerned about living in comfort ‘down’ here, then our life is off-track, an illusion. In this case, we cannot hope for a future life, and we already know that our present life will come to an end.  –Servant of God Chiara Lubich (+ 2008)

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

Tuesday: Devil’s Trap of Suffering
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did
not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of
darkness.
—Luke 22:53
Reflection:
When we contemplate the mystery of Jesus’s agony in
Gethsemane, we enter into meditation on the very center of
darkness. Jesus agonized there because He was in the grip of
the devil’s trap of suffering.
Prayer:
I have seen all too well the devil’s snare of suffering, Lord,
as I watch what persecuted Christians in the world are going
through: verbal attacks, discrimination and even downright
physical attacks. Please free the world from these evils. Amen.

Tuesday: Prisoners
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests
and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him
at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with
the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and
the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against
Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none.
—Mark 14:53–55
Reflection:
Jesus endured gruesome torture when He was flogged by the
soldiers, and then was crucified. But He did this so that He
could descend into the realm of the dead and save those brothers
and sisters who lived there.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I bring to mind all prisoners, and I ask You to
bless them with repentance, consolation and humane treatment.
Please release them from prison, also, if they are there for an
unjust reason. Amen.

Tuesday: Reputation Destroyed
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Pilate asked [Jesus], “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said
to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief
priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” But they
were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his
teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began
even to here.”
—Luke 23:3–5
Reflection:
Jesus’s respectable reputation and distinction as a holy man
were ripped away from Him as He was ridiculed, beaten and
humiliated, during the crowning with thorns.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Most Worthy of all Praise, Your blameless name,
reputation and dignity were all destroyed so that ours could
be renewed. I pray for all those who have been the victims of
slander. Amen.

Tuesday: Simon
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;
this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.
—Matthew 27:32
Reflection:
Jesus had to slowly drag His Cross through the streets of
Jerusalem, bruised and wounded, with the angry and cruel
mob of people on both sides of Him, taunting Him and jeering
at Him. He accepted all this suffering. And then came Simon
of Cyrene, who assisted Him in carrying His Cross.
Prayer:
I imagine myself as Simon of Cyrene, helping Jesus to carry
His Cross, when I look at my own cross in life. I realize that I
am doing it for the sake of all sinners – including myself—and
for the sake of peace in the world. Give me the strength, Holy
Spirit, to keep carrying my cross until I come home to the
Lord. Amen.

Tuesday: Bravest Warrior
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and
put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
—John 19:29–30
Reflection:
Jesus endured not only physical torment on the Cross, but also
the spiritual torment of feeling cut off from the Father. But after
He had breathed His last, He went down into the realm of death
to battle the forces of destruction and darkness who lived there,
and to liberate the righteous souls there.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, You are the bravest warrior who ever lived,
because You battled and defeated Satan himself. Deliver us from
any demonic influences that may be responsible for instigating
violence, hatred or envy in our world. Amen.

“If Our Lord raises the Marys instead of the Marthas to contemplation, he also reserves for them, in the midst of their contemplation, some crosses that are much more painful. Without suffering as much, the Marthas too attain the living waters…. They quench their thirst and are satiated in proportion to their desire…. A truly humble person ought to be content with the road along which our Lord leads it; it then enjoys divine wisdom and the light of life, even if not always fully conscious of it.”  –Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, o.p. (+ 1964)

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.

Monday: Godly Values and Virtues
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,/ shout for joy, O daughter
Jerusalem!/ See, your king shall come to you.
—Zechariah 9:9
Reflection:
Imagine the beauty and innocence of the Blessed Virgin Mary
as she said “yes” to the angel. What a gift from God she is to
us—this angelic girl who is so full of love and joy, and was
willing to give herself to us in this way!
Prayer:
Dear Blessed Mary, Virgin Rightly Praised, if you were so
full of the love and joy of the Holy Spirit when you were alive
on earth, I can hardly imagine how powerful you must be in
heaven, acting on our behalf! Please pray for all writers, artists,
musicians, producers, directors and actors, that they would
produce art that reflects godly values and virtues. Amen.

Monday: Powerfully Helpful
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
I trust in your faithfulness./ Grant my heart joy in your help,/
That I may sing of the Lord,/ “How good our God has been
to me!”
—Psalm 13:6
Reflection:
The two women, Mary and Elizabeth, must have been so
radiant to watch when they met—both carrying very blessed
children in their wombs, both quietly aware that they were
participating in God’s divine plan in a glorious way and both
trusting in His plan.
Prayer:
Dear Blessed Mother, Queen of Confessors and Virgins, you
were not only graced with the love and joy of the Holy Spirit
but also with the desire to share what little you had with others,
as evidenced by your hurrying to go and assist Elizabeth. Again,
I imagine how powerfully helpful you must be in our world,
right now! Please pray for many young men and women to have
vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and to act on those
vocations. Amen.

Monday: Heavenly Events
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
You formed my inmost being;/ you knit me in my mother’s
womb.
—Psalm 139:13
Reflection:
The birth of Jesus reveals to us that the conception of a child
is not just a physical event. It reaches into the dimensions of
the divine, with God showering the soul with goodness and
blessings.
Prayer:
Dear Guardian Angel, I understand that my own birth was
a heavenly event, as well as a physical one. Please pray for all
lawmakers to remember the sanctity of human life, in their
lawmaking efforts. Amen.

Monday: Godly Upbringing
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Train a boy in the way he should go;/ even when he is old, he
will not swerve from it.
—Proverbs 22:6
Reflection:
Jesus was presented in the temple as a normal babe, and yet
He was the King of kings. He was consecrated to God there.
Afterward, He grew up with an extended family of St. Joseph
and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and also probably many aunts and
uncles—as mother and father figures. He also had many cousins
whom the gospels record as His brothers and sisters (there was
no word for “cousin” in Jesus’s time).
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, between Your consecration to God as a Babe,
and how You grew up in Your village surrounded by relatives,
You were given a loving, well-rounded, faith-filled—albeit
poor—upbringing. Help me to be a loving influence on all the
children in my life. Amen.

Monday: Enthusiasm
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for
although you have hidden these things from the wise and the
learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father,
such has been your gracious will.
—Matthew 11:25–26
Reflection:
Jesus was probably a teenager who was handsome, confident,
enthusiastic and intelligent, with a funny sense of humor. The
other boys and girls in His village probably loved being around
Him, because He was so full of life and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Most Amiable, through Your assistance help me to
become more uplifting, honest and enthusiastic with others.
Amen.

“Jesus could have saved a thousand worlds with a short prayer. Instead, he willed to shed all of his blood to redeem us. Blood constitutes the essence of sacrifice, for blood is the means of reconciliation with heaven.”  –Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida (+ 1937)

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.

Sunday: Belief in Resurrection
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you
have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed.”
—John 20:28–29
Reflection:
The resurrection of Jesus is mysterious in such a deep and
profound way that we cannot really fathom it with the mind;
we have to ponder it from the heart.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to believe fully in the resurrection,
though I may not understand the entire mystery of it. Amen.

Sunday: Eternal Destiny
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
We too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who
raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us
with you in his presence.
—2 Corinthians 4:13–14
Reflection:
If we are faithful, we are destined to follow Jesus after our death,
and arise into heaven to experience new life there, through
Jesus’s power. Although we are supposed to focus our attention
on loving God and our neighbor while we are here on earth,
it is important to also remember that our ultimate destiny is
for a grand place beyond space and time, where we will be one
with God.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, please show me how can I attend to my
responsibilities, and to loving God and my neighbors, but not
get so caught up in daily life that I forget my eternal destiny in
heaven. Teach me to be more detached. Amen.

Sunday: Positivity out of Negativity
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all
things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance
for every good work.
—2 Corinthians 9:8
Reflection:
The apostles shared an intense experience in the upper room,
one that ignited their faith into a flame, and encouraged them
to want to proclaim Jesus Christ to the whole world, for the
rest of their lives. This intense faith-experience was an action
of God working through them: the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, In Whom Are All Treasures of Wisdom and
Knowledge, whenever I am faced with a difficult situation in
my life, help me to assure others that I have faith that God will
make something positive come out of my negative situation.
That is one of the most compelling ways that I can witness to
my faith. Amen.

Sunday: Long-time Tradition
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the
earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male
child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great
eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where,
far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two
years, and a half-year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent
of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away
with the current. But the earth helped the woman and opened
its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out
of its mouth.
—Revelation 12:13–16
Reflection:
Belief in the assumption of Mary started in apostolic times
and was passed down as oral tradition. St. Thomas Aquinas,
in the 13th century, declared it to be a valid tenet of the faith.
The Orthodox Church has also always believed in Mary’s
assumption. Consequently, when Pope Pius XII declared the
dogma of her assumption in 1950, it had actually been part of
the Tradition of the church for a very long time.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to believe in the dogma of the assumption,
despite those voices who would dispute it. Lord, I do believe;
help my unbelief. Amen.

Sunday: Dignity and Sacrifice
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
The king loved Esther more than all other women, and of all
the virgins she won his favor and benevolence. So he placed the
royal diadem on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
—Esther 2:17
Reflection:
The coronation of Mary has been contained in church documents
for centuries also. Prefigured by the experience of women like
Esther, this mystery reminds us of Mary’s stateliness, splendor
and majesty.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, You are celebrated as the King of Heaven, and so
Mary, being Your Mother, is acknowledged as the Queen of
Heaven. Please convey to her how much I honor her for her
dignity and her sacrifice. Amen.

“Charity! Saving word, since it includes all light and strength, since it transforms life and the soul, since it means love; and only love will last forever. We must fulfill our responsibilities daily, without worrying about what fruit God will draw out of them. For us: work, sacrifice, the offering of ourselves. For God: the immediate or remote effect that the least of our thoughts and actions will have on others. Nothing is lost, and it is this close unity, this solidarity in work and prayer, that constitutes the wonderful, blessed communion of saints….”  –Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur (+ 1914)

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.

Saturday: Move Forward
in God’s Will
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell
among you, says the Lord.
—Zechariah 2:14
Reflection:
Mary had doubts about how Jesus’s conception would take place
after the angel announced it, and so she asked how. This was not
an indication that her faith was in any weak, but just something
that faith-filled people do because they are careful and diligent.
The angel’s answer was simply that God would handle it, and
so Mary agreed to go ahead, despite her doubts.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother, Virgin Most Wise, please encourage me to
follow your example of moving forward in God’s will for my
life—in spite of my doubts and insecurities—aware that if I do,
God can do beneficial things through me. Amen.

Saturday: Love of God and Neighbor
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all
your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with
all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” [Jesus] replied to
him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
—Luke 10:27–28
Reflection:
This mystery makes us reflect on the importance to Mary of
her loved ones—her family members, such as Elizabeth—even
though she had just had the most amazing personal experience
of her young life (in the annunciation).
Prayer:
Blessed Mother, Mother of our Savior, you are an example of
someone who always loved God and neighbor in a deep and
abiding way, which was the central message that your Son
grew up to declare, to the ends of the earth. Help me, by your
intercession, to follow your example. Amen.

Saturday: Ponder the Mysteries
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
—Luke 2:19
Reflection:
Jesus was born in poverty, totally unacknowledged as the King
of the world. How Mary must have pondered the curiosity of
her Baby, who would have the throne of David, being born in
a lowly stable with nothing. God is such a mystery!
Prayer:
Dear Father, as I ponder the mysteries in my life, such as why
I was born into a particular family rather than another family,
please assist me in trusting in Your divine plan for my salvation
and the salvation of others. Amen.

Saturday: Leads Me to Christ
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Many nations shall come, and say,/ “Come, let us climb the
mount of the Lord,/ to the house of the God of Jacob,/ That he
may instruct us in his ways,/ that we may walk in his paths.”/
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,/ and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
—Micah 4:2
Reflection:
The most important aspect of the presentation in the temple
are the words of Simeon when he looked at the Baby Jesus and
said, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared
in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:30–32).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, the Blessed Mother continually leads me to
Christ, who presents me to You—just as she offered Jesus to
You in the temple so long ago. I thank You for the blessing of
her intercession, and for Your watching over me and shielding
me from harm. Amen.

Saturday: Balance Responsibilities
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
I rejoiced when they said to me,/ “Let us go to the house of
the Lord.”/ And now our feet are standing/ within your gates,
Jerusalem.
—Psalm 122:1–2
Reflection:
Blessed Mother Mary and St. Joseph did not understand Jesus’s
response to them about why He had stayed behind in the
temple. Perhaps they thought that He was being disrespectful
or thoughtless about their feelings. To us in hindsight, it simply
seems that He wanted to be in the house of the Lord, because of
the high calling on His life. However, He obediently returned
home with His parents, after they found Him.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, assist me to find a balance between my everyday
responsibilities and my life of prayer, service and devotion to
God. Amen.

“Throw yourself, then, into the arms of your dear Jesus who is waiting for this filial and confident thrust of your entire being in order to fortify your soul, purify it, and give it Herculean strength in the ocean of his most pure and divine heart. If you sometimes feel your soul pricked by some sharp and poisonous thorn, don’t let this disturb you but be more on guard than ever, so that it does not pierce and penetrate it.”  –Blessed Clelia Merloni (+ 1930)

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.

Friday: Jesus is Model
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it
is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your
will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them
asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.
—Matthew 26:42–43
Reflection:
The gospel writers make it clear that Jesus experienced enormous
emotional pain while praying in Gethsemane. However, He
bravely told the Father that He preferred the Father’s will over
His own will, trusting that the Father would look after Him
no matter what.
Prayer:
Jesus is my model of how to deal with difficult situations.
Father, I trust You to take care of these concerns and anxieties
that I have in my life today: __________________. Amen.

Friday: Jesus’s Severe Torture
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!
What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard
the blasphemy; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He
deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him,
while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us, Messiah:
who is it that struck you?”
—Matthew 26:65–68
Reflection:
The gospels make no mention of a pillar with regard to Jesus’s
scourging; however, artists back through history have painted
this mystery with Jesus being tied to a pillar, and so it has
become recognized as the Scourging at the Pillar.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, the Scourging at the Pillar is separated from the
Crowning with Thorns in the Rosary to help us to recognize
the genuine physical torture that You received at the hands
of those who scourged You. Help me to remember that You
suffered before me when I face the challenge of illness or pain.
Amen.

Friday: Emotional and
Mental Suffering
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption by his blood, the
forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his
grace that he lavished upon us.
—Ephesians 1:7–8
Reflection:
The torture that Jesus experienced while being crowned with
thorns was not just physical; it was also emotional and mental.
Our emotional and mental sufferings can also be offered up as
redemptive suffering, in union with Jesus’s suffering, during this
third sorrowful mystery.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, I offer up to You this emotional or mental
suffering that I have experienced, in union with Your sufferings:
____________________. Amen.

Friday: Keep Moving
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling
around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers
throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God
of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ
[Jesus] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish
you after you have suffered a little.
—1 Peter 5:8–10
Reflection:
Jesus offers us an example of how to undergo suffering in
this mystery by continuing to move forward, no matter how
painfully, no matter how slowly, resisting the devil, while
having faith in the Father’s love for Him.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I am steadfast in the faith that You are loving me
through whatever situation I am in at the moment – even if
I cannot feel Your love. I will keep moving and resisting the
devil’s temptations, and keep uniting my cross to the Cross of
Christ. Amen.

Friday: Painkiller
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means
Place of the Skull), they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with
gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
—Matthew 27:33–34
Reflection:
In the Gospel of Mark, we read that Jesus was offered a mild
painkiller, a mixture of wine and myrrh; we don’t know if
perhaps this was some small move of compassion by the soldiers
or not. However, He refused the concoction.
Prayer:
Lord, I sometimes resort to unhealthy habits to numb my senses
when I am suffering. Grant that I might be strengthened and
delivered from these temptations. Amen.

“Remember that we are soldiers of Jesus and as such we must quickly combat all our fierce enemies, who spare nothing to lead us to ruin. Discouragement does nothing but weaken the strength of the soul.”  –Blessed Clelia Merloni (+ 1930)

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.

Thursday: Renewal of
Baptismal Promises
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
Jesus said to [John the Baptist] in reply, “Allow it now, for thus
it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
—Matthew 3:15
Reflection:
The Bible says that we should be baptized just as Jesus was and
that we would receive the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace in
baptism.
Prayer (Renewal of Baptismal Promises):
I reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. I
believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and
earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who
was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was
buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand
of the Father. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body and life everlasting. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has given us a new
birth by water and the Holy Spirit and forgiven all our sins.
May He also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ forever
and ever. Amen.

Thursday: Into Jesus’s Hands
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of
things not seen.
—Hebrews 11:1
Reflection:
Jesus revealed that He was the Son of God by bringing forth
miracles that people could see, to increase their faith in Him.
In this first miracle at Cana, Mary did not direct Jesus to do
anything; she merely told Him what the problem was, and left
Him to decide what to do and how to do it, while telling the
servers to “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).
Prayer:
Blessed Mother, House of Gold, I have faith in Jesus. Please put
the following petition into His gentle hands, so that He can
decide what to do with it: __________________. Amen.

Thursday: Reading Scripture
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my
Father in heaven.
—Matthew 7:21
Reflection:
Jesus traveled around the Holy Land for three years teaching
the disciples. It is important to study the teachings of Jesus and
to do our best to follow in His footsteps.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, please guide me in reading and contemplating the
scriptures. Help me to get the deeper meaning out of them.
Amen.

Thursday: Put Jesus First
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
Whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss
because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything
as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord.
—Philippians 3:7–8
Reflection:
When Jesus Christ showed Himself in transfigured glory to
Peter, James and John, He was showing them that He was not
only a human man, but that He was also the Son of God.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, King of Glory, I know that You are the Son of God.
Grant me the grace that I would always put You first in my life,
above all other people and things. Amen.

Thursday: Attending Mass
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the
desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from
heaven so that one may eat it and not die.
—John 6:48–50
Reflection:
Jesus told the disciples to take bread and wine and consecrate
them so that we could receive Him (Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity) in Communion. He said to do this in remembrance
of Him. The consecration of the Holy Eucharist is a miracle in
which we can participate at every Mass.
Prayer:
Father, I am certain that Jesus is the Bread of Life. I know that
partaking of the Blessed Sacrament is healing and helpful for
me. Help me to be diligent about attending Mass and receiving
Communion as often as possible. Amen.

“In our communion with Christ on earth, we reach each other through the span of the cross; we can love all men, known and unknown, through loving literally with Christ’s love…. The sacrifice of self at the heart of each life, offered for the world to God, is a complete expression of the sacrifice of the cross.”  –Caryll Houselander (+ 1954)

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

Wednesday: All Things
Work for Good
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
—Romans 8:28
Reflection:
Jesus died on the Cross. Then afterward, on the third day, He
rose again in bodily form. Just as He came back to life, we will
also rise again in physical form, on the last day.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I understand that everything I experience can work
for good if I love You and try my best to do Your will. Speak to
me Your heavenly words of love and wisdom, that I may hear
them above the din of the busy world. Amen.

Wednesday: Suffering Will End
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man,
from heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly
one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.
—1 Corinthians 15:47,49
Reflection:
Jesus appeared to the disciples for forty days after the resurrection,
and then He ascended to heaven to prepare a place for them. “If
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take
you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (John 14:3).
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, when Jesus died, He stopped suffering.
My suffering will end with my death also, because if I obey
Jesus’s commands, I will go to heaven, to a place prepared by
Him. I pray to live a virtuous life as best as I can, and to come
to You in heaven when I die. Amen.

Wednesday: Direction and Guidance
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle
you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I
have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.
—Ezekiel 37:14
Reflection:
“…Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as
once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church #1302.)
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, reveal to me Your direction and guidance all
the days of my life. Show me the way in which I should go –
to the right or to the left, straight ahead or backwards. Amen.

Wednesday: Following
Mary’s Example
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out
and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the
breasts at which you nursed.”
—Luke 11:27
Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother was blessed with the gift of being received
into heaven body and soul, where all souls are eternally happy.
Thus, she is an excellent example to follow, if we want to be
blessed like she was.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of Charity, inspire us to do
small works of pure love in the world—following Mary’s
example—creating a covering of true sanctity around the whole
church. Amen.

Wednesday: Asking for Prayers
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may
be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual
wisdom and understanding.
—Colossians 1:9
Reflection:
Jesus is called a King in the book of Revelation in the Bible.
Mary was crowned as a Queen in heaven because she is Jesus’s
mother, who reflects the brilliant light of her Son. We are
taught by the church to honor and venerate her, but never to
worship her (because she is a creature like ourselves).
Prayer:
Guardian Angel, as I ask my relatives and friends to pray for me,
I also ask you, Our Lady and the other saints, to pray for me
as well – for my good health, financial stability and uplifting
relationships with all my friends and family members. Amen.

“As soon as Mary spoke those words, the royal marriage between the Eternal Word and our human nature was ratified. At that moment the heavens bowed down and the great, glorious God stooped down to our banality, and wretched man was elevated to the company of the divine nature. Mercy encountered truth; peace and justice embraced. At that moment, dew rained down from heaven and righteousness poured down upon the earth like a heavy cloudburst; and earth herself received and brought forth the Savior of the world. Finally, the humble maid-servant has become the Mother of her Creator, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Queen of angels and mankind.”  –Father Joseph Rivius, O. Praem. (+ 1666)

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: Offer to God
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said
to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit
is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
—Matthew 26:40–41
Reflection:
Jesus became acutely aware of the torture He was about to
undergo while He was alone in the garden. And so, He prayed
to His Father to take the cup of suffering away from Him, but
also that not His will, but that His Father’s will, be done. He
understood that God would work everything out for the good,
if He loved Him and was called according to His purposes (see
Romans 8:28).
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, Splendor of the Father, Your sacrifice was the
most valuable example ever of submission to God’s will and the
offering up of suffering. Lord, I offer the following suffering of
mine up to You: _________________________. Amen.

Tuesday: Made up for Sin
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain
false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but
they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can
destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.’”
The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer?
What are these men testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent.
—Matthew 26:59–63
Reflection:
Jesus suffered terribly when He was scourged at the pillar,
because of the false testimony against Him. But in His suffering,
He made up for the sins of all people since the beginning of
time. Sin is such a terrible thing, in God’s order, that Jesus had
to undergo excruciating agony to atone for it.
Prayer:
Perjury is a terrible sin because it kills a person’s good name.
Lord Jesus, please reveal the truth about every person who has
been hurt by false testimony. Amen.

Tuesday: Pray for the Cruel
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you.
—Matthew 5:44
Reflection:
Jesus also suffered when He was crowned with thorns, because
the soldiers treated Him with the terrible cruelty of ridicule,
shouting taunts and scornful barbs at him, in addition to beating
Him. However, He prayed for them—returning blessing for
evil—as He had taught His disciples to do.
Prayer:
Guardian Angel, pray for me to pray for those who have been
cruel in my life, even though it may feel unnatural to do so.
Guide me, until I learn how to do this better on my own.
Amen.

Tuesday: Offer Up the Cross
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.
—Luke 9:23
Reflection:
Jesus carried His Cross on the way to Calvary. He fell down
under the weight of His Cross three times, and so we can
deduce that it was very heavy, and that He was very weak.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus offered up to You the suffering
of carrying the heavy Cross to Calvary. Motivate me to make
a morning offering every day, to offer up my cross to You as
well. Amen.

Tuesday: Cover Any Sin
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order
that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
—John 19:28
Reflection:
Jesus was crucified and died as a sacrifice to compensate for our
sins, because He loves us very much and thirsts for us to love
Him and to go to heaven with Him. His offering is so powerful
that it can cover any sin we have committed, no matter how
terrible – if we repent.
Prayer:
Jesus, I appreciate that You want to forgive me and that you
want me to accept Your blessing. Please bring to mind the
sins and vices that I need to confess at my next Sacrament of
Reconciliation. Amen.

“Likewise, the Greek word phylassontes in this same context conveys much more than simply ‘observing’ or ‘keeping.’ Indeed, its full range of associations extends to defending, cherishing, fostering, safeguarding, all meanings directly relevant to the conception, bearing, and rearing of a child. To keep the Word of God, as Jesus enjoins, cannot at bottom mean anything other than allowing the Holy Spirit to implant the Son of the Father in the womb of our souls, and then for us to give birth to this Word into the world in union with Mary, the historical Mother of Jesus and the perennial Mother of the Church.”  –Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis

Intention:  Dear 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: Yes, to God
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin
shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
—Isaiah 7:14
Reflection:
As prophesied by Isaiah, the Virgin Mary did indeed deliver a
Son, Who was Jesus Christ, the Son of God—the second Person
of the Trinity.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Mary was given the gift of becoming the
mother of God because she loved You so much and because she
said “yes” to You. Hear my prayer as I say “yes” to You with
all my love, also. Amen.

Monday: As I Would Be Treated
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
—Luke 6:31
Reflection:
Mary made the trek to Zachariah’s house to visit Elizabeth,
who was going to have a baby in her old age—a baby boy, John,
who would grow up to become John the Baptist. Mary went
out of deep charity to help her.
Prayer:
Dearest Holy Spirit, Spirit of Holiness and Justice, mirror back
to me how well I treat others as I would want to be treated, how
well I forgive others when they have harmed me and how I can
improve on these intentions, in the future. Amen.

Monday: Clothe with love
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of
a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption.
—Galatians 4:4–5
Reflection:
Jesus was born as a human being, yet He was also the Son of
God. Being the Son of God, He was able to ransom us from
sin’s bondage and be with us always, even to the end of time.
Prayer:
Jesus, I recognize that You are right beside me and that I can
talk to You anytime. Please clothe me with Your love. Amen.

Monday: Obeying Authorities
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Lo, I am sending my messenger/ to prepare the way before
me;/ And suddenly there will come to the temple/ the Lord
whom you seek,/ And the messenger of the covenant whom
you desire.
—Malachi 3:1
Reflection:
Simeon waited a long time for the Lord to come to the temple,
and finally, He did come when Simeon was a very old man.
Mother Mary and St. Joseph presented Jesus there because
they were following the laws of that time; they were obeying
authority.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven, please assist
me to obey the authorities in my life with cooperation and
willingness. Amen.

Monday: Relate to Father
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
O God, within your temple/ we ponder your steadfast love.
—Psalm 48:10
Reflection:
Jesus was twelve years old when He stayed in the temple for
three days to talk with the doctors there about God’s teachings
for us. He called the temple His Father’s house, because He was
speaking of His Father in heaven as His real Father, meaning
that He was God’s Son.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us to call You “Father,” as
we do when we pray the “Our Father” prayer. Please show me
how I can relate to You better, as my dear Abba—my Papa, my
Daddy. Amen.