“How unnatural it is not to speak to him, to ask him to help us, to express our sorrow if we offend him, to admire his goodness, to thank him for his benefits…. Our Lord, who is God, showed that he wished people to lay their requests before him. He let people ask him, and then he granted their requests. Moreover, he tells us to ask and keep on asking…. ”  –Canon Francis J. Ripley (+ 1998)

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

Thursday: Baptism
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
I prayed to the Lord, my God, and confessed, “Ah, Lord, great
and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant
toward those who love you and observe your commandments!”
—Daniel 9:4
Reflection:
Our gracious God accepts us just as we are, and through the
Sacrament of Baptism, affirms His merciful covenant with us.
The Father professes His love for us (His children) in baptism.
Prayer:
We each yearn to hear from the Father the same words He said
to Jesus at His baptism: “You are my beloved Son; with you I
am well pleased” (see Matthew 3:17). Lord, heal me all of my
childhood wounds, from any time I felt unwanted, abused or
neglected when I was a youngster. Amen.

Thursday: Generosity and Kindness
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who
are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was… thirsty and you
gave me drink.”
—Matthew 25:34–35
Reflection:
Giving a drink to those who are thirsty was one of Jesus’s
directives in Matthew 25 – a corporal work of mercy. Blessed
Mother Mary seemed to recognize this instantly at the wedding
feast of Cana when the wine ran short there.
Prayer:
Those who have asked Blessed Mother Mary to go to her
Son on their behalf are aware of how much generosity and
kindness she has for us all, because they have experienced such
a blessing as a result. Lord Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, may
Your Blessed Mother once again become loved and cherished
throughout the world. Amen.

Thursday: Listen
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,/ because he has anointed
me/ to bring glad tidings to the poor./ He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to captives/ and recovery of sight to the blind,/
to let the oppressed go free,/ and to proclaim a year acceptable
to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the
attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue
looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture
passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
—Luke 4:18–21
Reflection:
When we counsel the uncertain and educate the ignorant with
gentleness and kindness, we are performing spiritual works of
mercy. In this, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to use us as a
tool of the divine in diminishing the cloud of darkness that
surrounds the world.
Prayer:
When we listen to others faithfully and sincerely, we are giving
them the gift of Jesus’s ear and Jesus’s heart. Dear Jesus, True
Light, inspire the leaders of large corporations to listen with
Your heart to the needs of those affected by their business
activities in the world. Amen.

Thursday: Vessels of Hope and Love
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we
will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the
last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
—1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Reflection:
The transfiguration teaches us that everything and everyone is
adaptable to grand and holy change. Divine mercy desires our
transformation into vessels of hope and love for one another.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, bless all the holy souls in Purgatory with the
enlightenment of the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday: Remember Him
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who
are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you
gave me food.”
—Matthew 25:34–35
Reflection:
While His sacrifice on the Cross was imminently near, Jesus
instituted the Holy Eucharist, that by the memorial of His
suffering, death and resurrection, we would remember Him
and stay close to Him. It was a corporal work of mercy, as well
as a spiritual one, for us.
Prayer:
There is no telling how much our lives have been extended and
how much disaster has been averted, because of Jesus’s generosity
in providing the Holy Eucharist to us. Lord Heavenly Father,
cause the Blessed Sacrament to be more and more loved and
adored throughout the world, so that people may live lives that
are more joyful, more productive and more protected against
evil. Amen.

“Be very grateful to the Lord, who in his immense love has chosen to have great intimacy with you here on earth and then later on…. ”  –Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus (+ 1974)

Intention:  I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.

Wednesday: New Possibilities
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for
you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to
a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
—1 Peter 1:3–5
Reflection:
Because of Jesus’s resurrection, divine mercy comes into our
world, and our sins, inadequacies, mistakes and misgivings
do not have the power to remain within our beings, if we so
choose. Because of divine action, the unmanifest world of new
possibilities comes into the manifest world.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, because of the resurrection of Your Son,
divine grace replaces the past with the new possibility of a future
filled with love and fellowship. Strengthen our political leaders
to view one another with new eyes that see beyond political
parties, and encourage dialogue, harmony and reconciliation
with one another. Amen.

Wednesday: Holy and
Beautiful Blemishes
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
May your kindness, Lord, be upon us;/ we have put our hope
in you.
—Psalm 33:22
Reflection:
When Jesus rose into heaven through His ascension, He took
with Him the wounds from His torture on the Cross as holy and
beautiful blemishes, which symbolized the fact that kindness
and charity had won out over vengeful justice.
Prayer:
Divine mercy frees society from its blind addiction to instinctive
greed and opens up the potential for positive contributions to
one another. Heart of Jesus, Abode of Justice and Love, inspire
the wealthy of the world to freely give of their surplus treasure
to people and organizations who desperately need it. Amen.

Wednesday: Holy Spirit
Transforms Us
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
[Peter said,] “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the
holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both]
see and hear.”
—Acts 2:32–33
Reflection:
Divine love and benevolence flow down from the Heavenly
Father, through Jesus, and then connects us to the Divine
Person of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
The Holy Spirit approaches us and transforms us, and in so
doing, makes us more merciful ourselves. Dear Jesus, send Your
Spirit to all the peoples of the Earth, to make us kinder and
more merciful, one to another, and turn us from destruction
and war to make our planet a place of peace. Amen.

Wednesday: Caress Us
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with
incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with
immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:
“Death is swallowed up in victory./ Where, O death, is your
victory?/ Where, O death, is your sting?”
—1 Corinthians 15:54–55
Reflection:
The hands of the Blessed Mother nestled Jesus as a Babe and
embraced Him tenderly after He died. These same hands will
also caress us someday, in heaven. We can hope for that – and
immortal life in paradise—with those who love us dearly.
Prayer:
Our Blessed Mother is in heaven awaiting us, which is a favor
provided for us by the Heavenly Father. Dearest Jesus, Lover of
Chastity, please make our Earth more merciful by abolishing
abortion. Amen.

Wednesday: Comfort and Console
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
His mercy is from age to age/ to those who fear him./ He has
shown might with his arm,/ dispersed the arrogant of mind and
heart./ He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones/ but
lifted up the lowly.
—Luke 1:50–52
Reflection:
In her Queenly function as Co-Mediatrix of Graces, Our
Blessed Mother dispenses the divine mercy that comes from
Jesus to those of us who are wholly undeserving of it, but who
are hopefully thankful for it.
Prayer:
We lowly humans so often feel remorse and anxiety, but we
can be sure that Our Blessed Mother and Queen is always
there to comfort and console us. Dear Blessed Mother, Queen
of all Saints, please pray for all those who are struggling with
addiction of any kind, that they may be released from their
struggle. Amen.

“Always seek this beautiful virtue of humility, which the Blessed Virgin will teach you. She will make you live in the truth, so you might love and serve only the Lord.”  –Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus  (+ 1974)

Intention:   Lord, thank You for blessing America.  Thank You for blessing America!

Tuesday: God’s Gentleness is Grace
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,
“Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck
the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said
in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s
ear and healed him.
—Luke 22:49–51
Reflection:
When we suffer cruelty, our best recourse is to throw ourselves
into God’s arms and into His benevolence. His gentleness is
grace.
Prayer:
Guardian Angel, let me know if there is anyone in my
environment who is suffering, so that I may comfort them for
a little while, and help them endure it. Amen.

Tuesday: Refuse to Whip
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
For [Pilate] knew that it was out of envy that they had handed
him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent
him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man.
I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”
—Matthew 27:18–19
Reflection:
Jesus endured a scourging, which was a vicious punishment
that was invented by those who enjoyed inflicting harm upon
others.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, Eternal Wisdom, for all the times that I refuse
to whip others with my tongue, please use it for the sake of
peace on earth. Amen.

Tuesday: Teach Through Silence
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am
bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no
guilt in him.”
—John 19:4
Reflection:
It sometimes takes some wee little suffering on our part – such
as to bear a little disrespect – in order to teach others who
are ignorant of God’s laws. In our silence, we can sometimes
instruct more than words could ever do. For example, the
centurion and guards who were keeping watch over Jesus said,
“Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54) after He
bore His passion with such silent suffering.
Prayer:
“King of the Jews” was the ironic truism that Pontius Pilate
had inscribed above Jesus’s head on the Cross. Jesus, You are the
legitimate King of Heaven and Earth! Inspire in me how I can
help to bring others to You. Amen.

Tuesday: Yoke Me to Jesus
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and
humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.
—Matthew 11:29
Reflection:
Jesus’s fervor while carrying His Cross seems to be almost a
crime; why would He adore it so much? It seems that no matter
what His torturers did to Him, He still yearned to complete
His mission.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, You went to Your death for the benefit of sinners.
Enlighten those who despise Your Cross as mere folly. Yo k e
me to Yourself as I carry my cross to the finish line. Amen.

Tuesday: Divine Mercy
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,
“Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three
days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.”
—Mark 15:28–30
Reflection:
Everything that Jesus did on the Cross, such as absolving His
executioners, promising heaven to the “good thief” and giving
His mother to us as our mother, reveals a divine mercy inside of
Him that is hard for mortal men to fathom. Jesus quotes Psalm
22, which at its end praises God and declares that all the ends of
the earth will turn to Him – even while He is in the throes of
His most agonizing passion. There was never a truer devotion;
nor, a more divine mercy!
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, out of Your pierced side came the Blood and
Water of Your divine tenderness. Pour out Your goodwill over
everyone who thinks only of themselves, their occupations and
their daily lives, so that they may be converted, repent, receive
Your Holy Spirit and come to faith in You. Amen.

“Be very grateful to the Lord, who in his immense love has chosen to have great intimacy with you here on earth and then later on…  Just imagine what it will be in heaven!”  –Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus (+ 1974)

Intention:   Father, thank You that every part of my day can be exciting when I allow Jesus to step in and be a part of it!

Monday: Quantum Leap
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
In the lifetime of those kings the God of heaven will set up
a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to
another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms
and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.
—Daniel 2:44
Reflection:
When the angel came to Mary, it was like a quantum leap
forward in human evolution, inserted into a previously grim
world experience. The angel announced a new Kingdom that
would never end. Human evil has been transformed little by
little ever since, into human virtue.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, no matter what I may have done that was sinful in
my past, help me to come to Your forgiveness with repentance,
but also with determination and assurance, and bestow upon
me Your compassion, which endures forever. Amen.

Monday: Merciful
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.
—Luke 6:36
Reflection:
Mercy lives in Mary and in her Divine Babe, which we can see
reflected in her merciful action at the visitation of Elizabeth.
Mary’s charity was a divine connection between God and the
human race.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of Life and Holiness, thank You for
Your forgiveness. Please give me Your love, to become more
merciful toward others and myself. Amen.

Monday: Visit the Imprisoned
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who
are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was… in prison and
you visited me.”
—Matthew 25:34–36
Reflection:
For humanity, which was caged in its sin, Jesus’s birth was
one of the labors of mercy that He talked about in Matthew
25: visiting the imprisoned. We were imprisoned in our sins
before Jesus came. With God incarnate visiting us, we came
to experience His love and forgiveness in a way that we could
never have fathomed, had He not come down to meet us in
the flesh.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, without You I can do nothing. Break me out of
the jail of sin and death, and give me the grace to follow You.
Amen.

Monday: See You in Me
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
As to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will
be clean for you.
—Luke 11:41
Reflection:
Just as Jesus’s parents presented Him to the temple in an act of
mercy, we participate in this hallowed action by offering our
acts of mercy to the underprivileged and destitute. Just as we
have received Jesus, we should give back to Him—in the faces
of the poor.
Prayer:
Lord, Our Lover, give me the ability to present every charity
that I give to others as a representation of Yourself. Let them
see only You in me. Amen.

Monday: Comfort of His Presence
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work
or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the
field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
—Matthew 6:28–30
Reflection:
As St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary anxiously searched
for Jesus, they were afflicted with the loss of His comforting
presence.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, as I seek Jesus every day, remind me to reach
out to others in kindness, who may be afflicted and seeking
Him too (whether they realize it or not). Amen.

“That which flowed out of his heart was a stream that cleansed and brought new life for us. ‘O Blood and water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in you.’”  –Sister Faustina Maria Pia, S.V.

Intention:  Lord, please bless all the Jews and Christians in the world, and keep them safe.  God bless Jerusalem, and all of Israel!  I pray for peace for Jerusalem!

Sunday: My Resurrection
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week,
they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who
will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled
back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young
man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they
were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You
seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is
not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. But go and
tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him, as he told you.’”
—Mark 16:2–7
Reflection:
Even when we mourn our dead, we need to think of the
resurrection that we anticipate for them, and then sing,
“Alleluia!”
Prayer:
Lord, help me to hope in my own resurrection, which is
promised by the resurrection of Jesus Christ—if I live Jesus’s
commandments and believe in Him. Amen.

Sunday: Walk With Holy Spirit
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
While meeting with [the apostles], [Jesus] enjoined them not
to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the
Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized
with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy
Spirit.”
—Acts 1:4–5
Reflection:
A priest, religious or layperson in love with God brings
compassion and holiness to others wherever they go, because
they walk with the Holy Spirit so much.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Infinite Goodness, assist me to rise above the
negativity in the world, and to freely throw myself into Your
arms, as I embrace Your will for my life and Your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Sunday: Enliven the Church
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.
—Romans 15:13
Reflection:
In the upper room at the Last Supper, Jesus promised the
disciples that the Holy Spirit would come. Later on, after Jesus
was crucified, in the same upper room with Mary present, the
promise was fulfilled, and the disciples became apostles: they
were filled with the power, love, joy and peace of the Spirit –
Jesus’s Spirit.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Virgin Most Powerful, pray for the church in
this modern time, that the Holy Spirit would enliven Her and
encourage Her to grow and flourish across the globe. Amen.

Sunday: Shower Me
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
For see, the winter is past,/ the rains are over and gone./ The
flowers appear on the earth,/ the time of pruning the vines
has come,/ and the song of the dove is heard in our land./ The
fig tree puts forth its figs,/ and the vines, in bloom, give forth
fragrance./ Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!
—Song of Songs 2:11–13
Reflection:
The assumption image of Mary that the Oriental Christians
prefer is her dormition: that sweet sleep of death where Jesus
is nearer to her heart and soul than anyone else could be, in
heaven. Western Christians prefer the image of her dying, then
rising up to heaven, body and soul, the most beautiful creature
God ever made. Either way, let us follow her up to heaven when
our time comes, with joy, and with trust in the process.
Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, thank you for going up to heaven first.
You paved the way for me to follow. When I get there, Lord,
please welcome me with open arms and shower me with Your
love. Amen.

Sunday: Supernatural Peace
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;/ put
on the splendor of glory from God forever:/ Wrapped in the
cloak of justice from God,/ bear on your head the mitre/ that
displays the glory of the eternal name./ For God will show all
the earth your splendor.
—Baruch 5:1–3
Reflection:
The coronation of Mary is the fusion of the whole Rosary
into one. From the grand mission that God entrusted to Mary
at the annunciation, and through every other mystery we
have considered, God’s everlasting plan of salvation has shone
through. In this one, we are reunified with the majesty of
heaven.
Prayer:
Oh, Mother Mary, Queen of Angels, your experience highlights
for us the glory that awaits us in heaven, where there is no
misery, but where we will experience supernatural peace! Please
pray for us to go there after we pass from this life. Amen.

“Before Jesus gave himself totally on Calvary, he desired our attention. Scourged and crowned with thorns, he was brought out in front of the crowd gathered, as Pilate dramatically announced, Behold the man! (Jn 19:5). The eyes of all were fixed on Jesus. Behold the man. Fully God, yet fully man.  Disfigured by the lashes, Jesus did not try to explain that this was not who he is, or that this was unjust. Jesus stood motionless, without any escape route in mind or heart. He was thinking of us. Receiving the coldness, hatred, and disgust of the crowd, he wanted to be there for us.” –Sister Faustina Maria Pia, S.V.

Intention:   Lord, I thank You that wherever I go this day, You and Your angels will be with me. Thank You, Lord, for the peace, love and security You promise.

Saturday: Redeemed
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
He had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might
be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the
sins of the people.
—Hebrews 2:17
Reflection:
Mary accepted the call to divine maternity, becoming the
mother of God, so that all of us could become adopted children
of God through her Son Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on
the Cross.
Prayer:
Dear Blessed Mother, I shall be ever grateful to you, who
sacrificed the quality of your life so that we could be redeemed
through your Son. Pray for me to acquire the virtues of charity
and humility, and so follow in your footsteps and in the footsteps
of Jesus. Amen.

Saturday: Reunion
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one
has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the
bond of perfection.
—Colossians 3:12–14
Reflection:
As we meditate on this mystery, we may realize that in emulating
Mary’s charitable visit to Elizabeth, we too are called to reunion
with everyone with whom we have ties – ties of being our
relatives, ties of being our neighbors, ties of being in the same
nation and ties of even just being in the same world. We are
called to unity and charity with everyone, even those who
consider themselves our “enemies.” Even if we never even speak
to them again in this life, we can at least pray for them.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Full of Goodness and Love, help me to attain
the lofty and worthwhile goal of having universal charity for
everyone—through forgiveness if necessary—and of praying for
them (even my enemies). Amen.

Saturday: Jesus Seeks Us
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them
the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem
and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you
have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him
homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And
behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star.
—Matthew 2:7–10
Reflection:
The magi represent all the peoples of the earth – Europeans,
Americans, Asians, Africans, Australians – all who seek Jesus
from afar to come bend their knees to his manger in adoration,
as He seeks them afar with his eyes as a Babe, as if looking
deeply into the future and deeply into the past, to envelop them
all with His love and to give them the gift of His forgiveness
and redemption.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, please be with all the babies in the world, and
give them Your joy and love. Give their parents the grace of
knowing You and loving You, so they can bring their children
up with Christian values. Amen.

Saturday: Jesus Came for All
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Devote your hearts and souls to seeking the Lord your God.
—1 Chronicles 22:19
Reflection:
In this mystery, we contemplate the Baby Jesus being offered
at the temple in accordance with Jewish Law. It was as if the
Old Testament was meeting the New, that day. He came
for the Israelites as well as the Gentiles, kings as well as
peasants—everybody.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray for all people who are seeking You but do not know
how to find You. Aid them in locating You, Jesus—their true
answer in life. Amen.

Saturday: Wisdom and Knowledge
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur
sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge
against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. I am the Lord.
—Leviticus 19:17–18
Reflection:
Jesus, only twelve-years-old, disappeared and was found three
days later amongst the doctors of the Old Testament Law. They
probably discussed the above scripture from Leviticus and many
other critical passages from the scrolls of the Law and Prophets.
It was a considerable honor to hold discussions with the doctors
of the Law at that time, and so all the more special for a twelve-year-old boy to be holding them. In those days, wisdom and
knowledge were held in very high esteem.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray for all those involved in research and education of
intellectual fields of study, that their efforts may lead to a kinder,
healthier and more humane society. Amen.

“’I try to see things and beings with the eyes of Christ.’ A better definition of faith cannot be given. It is enough to add: ‘to see God with the eyes of Christ.’ But this new point of view is obtained after much sacrifice and humility. It is also the occasion of a great source of renewal: to be able at last to recognize the true meaning of life, including the element of sin, to be able to discover the truth of things…. The Christian has the assurance that God has a place for him each day in a plan.”  –Father Bernard Bro, O.P. (+ 2018)

Intention:  Thank You, God, that You’re in control.  Thank You that You’re working behind the scenes.  Thank You that You’re arranging things in our favor.  Thank You that we are full of Your wisdom.  Thank You that we are well able to do what You have called us to do.

Friday: Press On
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after
day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me.
But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets
may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
—Matthew 26:55–56
Reflection:
During His agony in the garden, Jesus’s passion was no longer
a distant foreboding image, but an imminent reality for Him.
And to top it all off, He knew He would be abandoned by His
disciples. This is why His sweat became drops of blood.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Most Patient, when You allow me to suffer, help me
imagine the sight of You in the garden, so that I may press on,
and exercise my will to accept what is happening as completely
as I possibly can, to be in solidarity with You. Amen.

Friday: Mortify Passions
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and
upon our children!”
—Matthew 27:25
Reflection:
Even if we are not chosen for martyrdom by the shedding of
our blood, we are always called to mortify ourselves through
the self-restraint of our appetites and emotions – a rigorous
self-discipline of the temptations of life. In this way, we can be
in solidarity with Jesus as He suffered at the pillar, each in our
own little way.
Prayer:
Jesus, I walk the Way of the Cross when I mortify my passions.
As I take each step, show me the way to become more like You,
inch by inch, and minute by minute. Amen.

Friday: Tremendous Responsibility
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And
when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no
answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many
things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer
him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
—Matthew 27:11–14
Reflection:
As we reflect on this mystery, let us also reflect on the serious
duty that comes with the gifts of abundant talents, intelligence
and wealth. With tremendous gifts, come tremendous
responsibilities.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, please assist me to utilize all my gifts, talents and
abilities for the benefit of all, without ego or pride on my part,
but only with consideration for the contribution I can make to
my fellow humans and to the world. Amen.

Friday: Grateful for Crosses
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
The Lord has heard my weeping./ The Lord has heard my
prayer;/ the Lord takes up my plea.
—Psalm 6:9–10
Reflection:
Life as a human being is characterized by heavy burdens and
difficult obstacles along the broken road – and not infrequently,
tears and grinding of teeth. But we must be grateful for each of
the crosses that we carry, for without them, we would eventually
succumb to the ever-present temptations of pride and apathy
and become someone we would never want to become.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for my cross. It helps me to attain
humility, gentleness of heart and generosity toward my fellow
man. It assists me to learn acceptance of Your will. And last, but
certainly not least, it helps me to become more and more like
Your precious Son, my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Friday: Hour of My Death
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.
The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of
the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on
his right and one on his left.
—Mark 15:25–27
Reflection:
From His first baby smile that illuminated the world with joy,
to His last dying breath that was filled with pain and suffering,
the Lord Jesus’s entire life is intricately woven into our own
experience of life, also.
Prayer:
Dear Blessed Mother, Mirror of Justice, you were there when
your Baby Jesus took His first breath, and you were there when
He took His last one. I love you; through your intercession
please be with me now, and at the hour of my death, also.
Amen.

“Pray for so many of your brothers who never pray. Praise, bless, thank, and love the Lord even for those who do not know and love him. May the pleasing incense of your prayers rise to the throne of God as rose the fragrance of the prayers of Mary Most Holy, calling divine mercy down upon our land of exile. When you present yourself to God in prayer, you must implore the assistance of the Holy Spirit, since we cannot even conceive a good thought without him.”  –Blessed Clelia Merloni (+ 1930)

Intention:   Lord, please bless the world with peace on earth. I expect the earth to be at peace – true peace, like that which we experience on Christmas Day, in Jesus’ name and in His mighty power!  I thank You God ahead of time for this!

Thursday: Fire of the Spirit
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who
is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry
his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.
—Matthew 3:11
Reflection:
Our baptism consecrates us to God in a special and enduring
way and fills us with the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit within
us can light up the whole world.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I know that You are flowing through me because
of my baptism. Please light the world ablaze with the fire of the
Spirit—the fire of truth and love, the fire of justice and peace.
Amen.

Thursday: Turn to Mary for Faith
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
When the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from (although the servers
who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the
bridegroom.
—John 2:9
Reflection:
The water was turned into wine through Jesus’s miracle.
However, the waiters had to first fetch the water and fill the
jars. This demonstrates to us that miraculous things can happen
when we follow God’s commands for us.
Prayer:
Blessed Mother Mary, you told the waiters to do whatever Jesus
told them to do. You had complete faith in Him. And so, you
are the one to whom I should turn for help in increasing my
faith when it is weak. Please pray for me to strengthen my trust
in Jesus. Amen.

Thursday: Kingdom of God
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing
every disease and illness.
—Matthew 9:35
Reflection:
Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is within us; this
means that Jesus is inside of us, closer to us than our own breath.
The Angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus’s Kingdom would have
no end, and so it is also eternal.
Prayer:
I have the Kingdom of God inside of me, always there to help
me in my temporal needs. I must remember that it is there,
though, and respond to it responsibly and sincerely. Lord Jesus,
King of the Patriarchs, remind me to always pray in Your name.
Amen.

Thursday: Jesus in the Spirit
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged
them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man
has been raised from the dead.”
—Matthew 17:9
Reflection:
When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John,
His face shone like the sun (see Matthew 17:2). He was beyond
beautiful in appearance. And then that astounding voice from
the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased; listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5). The transfiguration was
filled with beauty, wonder and awe.
Prayer:
How I wish that I could see my dear Jesus in His transfigured,
glorious state. Oh, to see not as through a mirror indistinctly,
but instead face to face, as St. Paul said (see 1 Corinthians 13:12).
Jesus, please give me a glimpse of You as You truly are in the
Spirit. Amen.

Thursday: With Us Always
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share
it amongst yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I
shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes.”
—Luke 22:17–18
Reflection:
Jesus loved His own in the world, and He loved them to the
end (see John 13:1). He told them that He would be with them
always (see Matthew 28:20). Out of His enormous love for us,
He instituted the Holy Eucharist, so that we could eat and drink
His Body and Blood, and so, be nearer to Him.
Prayer:
I thank You, Jesus, The Mighty God, for giving Yourself
to me in the Blessed Sacrament. I confide these cares and
concerns to You, since I know that You are with me now:
________________________. Amen.

“Before starting your activities, offer Jesus a few words of your choosing. Then, during your work often lift up your mind to God. You will benefit much and there will be no detriment to your job. First and foremost, watch how anything concerning yourself or others is begun. Direct it first to God with any short prayer with which he may inspire you, mentally or also in words that express your thoughts and wishes. Then, while working, thinking, or planning, frequently lift up your mind to God. Should your activity continue, break it up, perhaps, for the time it takes to say a “Hail Mary,” or as it may seem convenient to you. If you follow this practice, you will get used to praying easily and without detriment to your work or to your health; you will be praying incessantly, even while drinking, eating, acting, talking, studying, writing, etc.”  –Saint Anthony Zaccaria (+ 1539)

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: Message to Jesus
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might
go and anoint him.
—Mark 16:1
Reflection:
When the women came to anoint Jesus’s body with the spices,
they were astonished and sad to see that the tomb was empty.
But, a young man there in white told them, “He has risen.”
Prayer:
Jesus, I try to imagine what the women must have felt like
when the youth told them that You had risen. They must have
thought they were in a dream. And then You appeared to them
later! Receive my message to You, as if I was there with them:
____________________. Amen.

Wednesday: Orphan
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while
the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because
I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am
in my Father and you are in me and I in you.
—John 14:18–20
Reflection:
Jesus taught His disciples for forty days and showed them how
the scriptures applied to Him. Then He assigned them the task
of witnessing to others about Him, and teaching them about His
saving mercy. He then ascended back to the heights of heaven.
Prayer:
Do I feel a little bit like an orphan when I think about Christ’s
leaving the earth to return to heaven? I sing to Him, Father of
the World to Come, chant His praises and ask Mary, Refuge of
Sinners, to be a mother to me, now – through her intercession.
Amen.

Wednesday: Love and Joy Flow
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
[Peter] testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting
them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those
who accepted his message were baptized, and about three
thousand persons were added that day. They devoted themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the
breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
—Acts 2:40–42
Reflection:
The apostles and Mary became filled with the Holy Spirit in the
upper room, and then went out into the streets and proclaimed
Christ to everyone there, speaking in different languages to all
the peoples from different lands. Three thousand people were
converted and baptized as a result.
Prayer:
I imagine what it must have been like to hear the apostles
talking to me in my native tongue. How astonishing! And,
what a feeling, almost of drunkenness, to have felt the Holy
Spirit flowing through me as a result of their witness to me!
Holy Spirit, please allow Your love and joy to flow through me
in this way today. Amen.

Wednesday: Hope of Heaven
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
[Be] imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are
inheriting the promises.
—Hebrews 6:12
Reflection:
Tradition says that when Mary’s time had come, the apostles
gathered around her bed to pray for her, she fell asleep, and then
went up into heaven—body and soul.
Prayer:
I imagine following Mary up into heaven and seeing the angels
and saints honoring her, clapping for her and shouting for her
so loudly that the sounds of jubilation are tremendous; the joy
is palpable. They are thrilled to have her with them. Blessed
Mother, Holy Mother of God, pray for me to be able to imitate
you, and to help others like you did while you were on Earth,
and pray for me to inherit my hope of heaven. Amen.

Wednesday: Cheer Our
Blessed Mother
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
Raise your eyes and look about;/ they all gather and come to
you:/ Your sons come from afar,/ and your daughters in the
arms of their nurses.
—Isaiah 60:4
Reflection:
Mary has been crowned Queen of Heaven by the Father, by
Jesus and by the Holy Spirit. It is her rightful place, because she
is the chosen one. Immense honor and immense responsibility
are hers.
Prayer:
Blessed Mother, Queen of Patriarchs and Prophets, I imagine
being in heaven as one of your loyal subjects when you were
crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. All the angels, all the
saints, all those in Purgatory—we all gather to cheer you and
to commend your virtue and beauty. Let me stay close to you.
Amen.

“The faith of Christ overcame the world. The doctrine of the Gospel enlightened mankind; the darkness and delusions of false religions faded before the resplendent light of Christianity; the Church of God rose conspicuous on their ruins and has always remained in the public profession of the same faith, in the teaching of the same doctrines, in the administration of the same sacraments, in the possession of the same ministry uninterruptedly derived from Christ and his apostles, in the offering of the same one, holy, adorable sacrifice to the Eternal Father, and in retaining its distinguishing and characteristic title of Catholic….”  –Archbishop John Carroll (+ 1815)

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

Tuesday: Watchful Prayer
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still
sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come.
Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up,
let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
—Mark 14:41–42
Reflection:
Imagining the agony in the garden, we can pretend we are
one of the three sleepy disciples whom Jesus continues to try
to awaken. Yet, we are so sleepy! We see Jesus, so determined
and intense in His prayer, out of the corner of our eyes, as we
slumber.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, Model of Virtues, I am trying to follow Your
example in Your watchful prayer about everything that concerns
me in my life. Something that happened yesterday or today,
about which I want to pray, is this: _______________. Amen.

Tuesday: Penance
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for
Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.
—Matthew 27:20
Reflection:
Imagining the scourging at the pillar, we can pretend that we
are one of the crowd who are screaming, “Crucify Him!” (see
Matthew 27:23) when Pilate asks us what evil Jesus has done.
Jesus is whipped within an inch of his life and afterward falls
limp on the ground.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, as I reflect on the severity of Jesus’s scourging to
atone for my sins, I realize that my comparatively mild penance
strengthens me to become more virtuous, and that it is nothing
to fear. Assist me in embracing my penance. Amen.

Tuesday: Resolution
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out,
“Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him
yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”
—John 19:6
Reflection:
Imagining the crowning with thorns, we can pretend that we
are one of the soldiers who is looking on, as some other soldiers
drape a purple robe around Jesus, and put a crown of thorns on
His head, and strike it repeatedly, spitting on Him and yelling,
“Hail, King of the Jews!” in mock adoration of Him.
Prayer:
I realize that my sins were part of the cause of Jesus’s suffering
when He was crowned with thorns. Dear Holy Spirit, Spirit of
Meekness, I resolve never to do or say anything cruel or mean
to anyone, ever again. Help me to carry out my resolution with
firmness. Amen.

Tuesday: Suffering Purifies Me
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
[The Lord] is like the refiner’s fire,/ or like the fuller’s lye./ He
will sit refining and purifying [silver],/ and he will purify the
sons of Levi,/ Refining them like gold or like silver/ that they
may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.
—Malachi 3:2–3
Reflection:
Imagining the carrying of the cross, we can pretend that we are
Simon of Cyrene, assisting Jesus to carry His Cross to Calvary.
We see how lovingly Jesus hugs His heavy Cross in front of us.
We see how determinedly He shuffles along the Via Dolorosa
with us.
Prayer:
Jesus, You teach me how to carry my cross in life, not just with
resignation, but with love. As I carry my cross, help me to
remember that suffering purifies me of my egocentricities, and
helps me to become a much more compassionate person – and
someone who is more in touch with God. Amen.

Tuesday: Cry
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
—John 19:25
Reflection:
Imagining the crucifixion, we can pretend that we are with
Our Blessed Mother and the other two Marys at the foot of
the Cross. We hear Jesus suffer difficulty while trying to take
a breath, and yet still manage to say the last seven things from
His divine mouth.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I think about how much Jesus suffered
for me, it makes me want to cry. Please soothe my tears. Amen.