“God wills everyone to be saved (1 Tm 2:4), and as he created the world with the greatest ease by a simple word, so he can very easily justify a man in a moment, in the blink of an eye…. He very easily changed Thomas from a disbelieving and stubborn man into an apostle of the deepest and staunchest faith…. He came, although the doors were locked, because nothing can stand in the way of God’s power.”   —Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (+ 1619)

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: I Love You
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into
the world.
—John 1:9
Reflection:
Imagining the annunciation, we can pretend that we are an
invisible onlooker, watching with hushed awe as Our Lady says
to the angel, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Prayer:
As I pray this decade of Hail Marys, I can also pray to little
Baby Jesus in Mary’s womb, Light of the World, and tell Him,
“I love You.” Amen.

Monday: Promise to Be Humble
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God
chose the weak of the world to shame the strong.
—1 Corinthians 1:27
Reflection:
When Elizabeth gratefully greeted Mary and said, “Blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (see
Luke 1:42), the weak little infant in Elizabeth’s womb (John),
trembled with joy.
Prayer:
Mary was humble, whereas I tend to be proud sometimes; but
I promise, Lord, to work at becoming humble. Amen.

Monday: The Babe
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah,/ too small to be among the
clans of Judah,/ From you shall come forth for me/ one who
is to be ruler in Israel;/ Whose origin is from of old,/ from
ancient times.
—Micah 5:1
Reflection:
Imagining the nativity, we can pretend that we are a little friend
of Mary’s in Bethlehem, and Mary does not mind if we take
the Baby Jesus into our arms from time to time, and whisper
loving things to Him, into His ears.
Prayer:
Jesus, I imagine how beautiful You were as a little Babe, and
I love You, there in the manger. I long to take care of Your
needs. Amen.

Monday: Simeon’s Eyes
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many
prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see
it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
—Luke 10:23–24
Reflection:
Simeon told the Father that He could let him go in peace after
seeing Jesus, because The Father had promised that he would
see the Christ child before he died. How blessed were Simeon’s
eyes.
Prayer:
When I imagine the presentation in the temple, I can think about
Mary—how she was still a virgin and did not, in actuality, need
to submit to the Law of purification. But, she did so anyway
as a sacrifice. If Mary felt like she needed to submit to the Law
of purification, it is a hint to me of how much I need personal
sanctification, also. Dear Heavenly Father, please purify me and
make me holy for You. Amen.

Monday: Duty and Devotion
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple, the place
where you have decreed you shall be honored; may you heed
the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place. Listen to
the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel which
they offer in this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling and
grant pardon.
—1 Kings 8:29–30
Reflection:
Imagining the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple, we
can envision that we are with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St.
Joseph, running from group to group in the caravan, searching
for Jesus. And finding Him nowhere, we all cry together, out
of a deep sense of loss and sorrow.
Prayer:
Jesus, finding You in the temple, I am so impressed by Your
deep devotion to Your Father’s House, and to Your duty to
serve Your Father, that You would stay there for three days,
away from Your family. Heart of Jesus, Obedient to Death,
teach me to perform the duties of my state in life with the same
devotion. Amen.

“You see, we have lost so completely the notion of the entire confidence that he expects of us that we sometimes make a prayer of the words for which he reproached his apostles: Lord, save us; we are perishing! This is not how we should pray, but rather, “With you, Jesus, I cannot perish; you are always in the boat with me; what have I to fear? You may sleep; I shall not awaken you. My poor nature will tremble, oh yes! But with all my will I shall remain in peace in the midst of the storm, confident in you.” In hours of anguish, think of the divine Master calming the violent storm with one word. This will be a tremendous source of comfort for you as you wait—peacefully—for him to waken.”  —Father Jean du Cœur de Jésus d’Elbée (+ 1982)

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

Sunday: Peace of Christ
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
A child is born to us, a son is given us;/ upon his shoulder
dominion rests./ They name him Wonder-Counselor, GodHero,/ Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
—Isaiah 9:5
Reflection:
After He rose from the dead, Jesus appeared to the apostles and
said, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). As the Prince of Peace,
He might have said this because the apostles were so confused,
and felt so badly about abandoning Him during His passion,
that they dearly needed peace.
Prayer:
I pray for the fruit of the peace of Christ, which is not worldly
peace, but a different sort of peace—borne on a wind from
heaven. Amen.

Sunday: Hope
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
To the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be
glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and
for ages to come.
—Jude 25
Reflection:
Jesus ascended into heaven where He has glory and authority,
so that He might beg the Father on our behalf, and thereby help
to make us secure in heaven, also.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of hope, which ultimately leads to hope of
the everlasting joy with God. Amen.

Sunday: Gifts of Holy Spirit
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But
when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all
truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he
hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He
will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and
declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for
this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and
declare it to you.
—John 16:12–15
Reflection:
In order to receive the Holy Spirit, we must love God, since
the Holy Spirit is love.
Prayer:
I pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are certain abilities
that are given to people in accordance with God’s plan, usually
to be used to benefit others. These are wisdom, understanding,
counsel, fortitude, knowledge, reverence and fear (awe) of the
Lord (Isaiah 11:2–3). Amen.

Sunday: Mary’s Intercession
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,/ a mighty savior;/ He
will rejoice over you with gladness,/ and renew you in his love,/
He will sing joyfully because of you,/ as one sings at festivals.
—Zephaniah 3:17–18
Reflection:
Mary had the power of prophecy when she said, “From now on
will all ages call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). How true that was.
Every time we say the Hail Mary, we are proclaiming how
blessed she is among women.
Prayer:
Blessed Mother Mary is in heaven now and has the desire to
pray for us, as she interceded for those present at the wedding
feast of Cana when the wine ran out. She always has our best
interests at heart. I pray for trust in the intercession of Blessed
Mary, Health of the Sick. Amen.

Sunday: Grace of Present Moment
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
Nations shall walk by your light,/ and kings by your shining
radiance.
—Isaiah 60:3
Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother Mary is Queen of all Saints and all Angels,
and her radiant brilliance must be an incredible sight to behold.
Still, though, as St. Therese said, she is our mother more than
she is our Queen.
Prayer:
I pray for the grace of the present moment, because I need to
be highly aware of the here-and-now at all times to carry out
the duties of my state in life. And also, it is only in the present
moment that the Holy Spirit is found—where blessing abounds.
Amen.

A gift is precious particularly when it is the result of self-denial, when one deprives oneself of what is given. And the Word, in a particular way, deprived himself of his divine riches to be able to become one of us. The poverty of God is an expression of his agape, of his being love.  –Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. CAP.

Intention:  Lord, please bless us with a President and Justice Department whom are non-partisan in their actions.  I thank You God ahead of time for this.

Saturday: Faith
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
—Luke 7:50
Reflection:
The angel announced to Mary that the Baby she was to conceive
by the power of God would be called the Son of the Most High
(thus, divine). She had tremendous faith; thank God she did not
succumb to the devil’s temptation to say “no” to the mission
out of fear.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of faith, which allows me to reject the
temptations of the devil, and to have the courage to obey God
in His call to me. Amen.

Saturday: Charity
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall
reap our harvest, if we do not give up.
—Galatians 6:9
Reflection:
When Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord”
(Luke 1:46), she was charitably praising the Lord. In so doing,
her soul was being formed more to the image of the Lord—the
image of Christ.
Prayer:
Because of Mary’s charity, she rushed to aid Elizabeth when
she was with child. All the other virtues rest upon the virtue of
charity (i.e., love). Lord, I pray for the virtue of charity, which
is a cornerstone virtue. Amen.

Saturday: Humility
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,/ for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
—Matthew 5:3
Reflection:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Bethlehem means “House
of Bread.” He humbly came down to become the Living Bread
descended from heaven.
Prayer:
Jesus was the ultimate example of humility, emptying Himself
and taking on the form of a man. Dear Lord, I pray for the
virtue of humility, which is also known as being poor in spirit.
Amen.

Saturday: Justice
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
—Matthew 5:17
Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother offered the Baby Jesus as an oblation to
God, as was considered appropriate under the Law. But this was
also an expression of Mother Mary’s and St. Joseph’s gratitude
to God for the gift that was given to them.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of justice, of which the Ten Commandments
and the Beatitudes are expressions. Amen.

Saturday: Prudence
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,/ for
they will be satisfied.
—Matthew 5:6
Reflection:
We should always be seeking Jesus Christ because He is Life.
He is Life because He causes us to live righteously on earth and
live in eternity with God.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of prudence, which means to reason rightly
about one’s actions in the present moment—to live those actions
righteously, and to create a happy, pleasant future. Amen.

“The best exegesis of the beatitude about the poor is the life of Christ itself. Saint Paul writes, Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Cor 8:9)…. ‘He took on bodily poverty, in order to enrich us spiritually,’ comments Saint Thomas Aquinas. He did not come to make people richer in terms of earthly goods but to make them sons and daughters of God and heirs of eternal life. The poverty of Christ above all has a concrete, existential aspect that accompanies him from birth to death.”  –Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. CAP.

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: Reverence, Worship and Faith
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Lord, I call to you;/ come quickly to help me;/ listen to my plea
when I call./ Let my prayer be incense before you;/ my uplifted
hands an evening sacrifice.
—Psalm 141:1–2
Reflection:
When Jesus prayed “Our Father…” He gave us an excellent
example of how to pray devotionally, with love for God, and
with faith that God would listen to Him and be with Him.
Prayer:
O Lord, reach down to me as I reach up to You. I pray for
reverence, worship and faith in God. Amen.

Friday: Temperance
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
I trust in you, Lord;/ I say, “You are my God.”/ My times are
in your hands;/ rescue me from my enemies,/ from the hands
of my pursuers./ Let your face shine on your servant;/ save me
in your kindness.
—Psalm 31:15–17
Reflection:
Some theologians think that the reason Pilate had Jesus scourged
was so that the crowd of people would be swayed to feeling
compassion and kindness for Him once they saw Him after the
scourging, and decide not to put Him to death. However, that
was not what happened.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of temperance, which is to take the physical
objects of pleasure in this world, and use them only so much as
is needed to maintain health and be responsible to one’s state
in life. Amen.

Friday: Love of Enemies
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how
many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further
answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
—Mark 15:4–5
Reflection:
Because Mary was there to see Jesus’s crown of thorns, she
shared in His suffering of humiliation, and so also in His
redemptive action. Mary’s humility, coming as it did from a
human creature, devastated the proud demons because it helped
create the victory over them.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of love of my enemies, which involves the
recognition that all of them are children of God, whom God
loves unconditionally. Lord, please bless my enemies. Amen.

Friday: Fortitude
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of
Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice
exultantly.
—1 Peter 4:13
Reflection:
When a cross comes into our life, it is wise to think of it as
having coming from Jesus—as if He had come to us and asked
us if we would assist Him to carry His Cross. This is because
Jesus seeks to purify us through our crosses and make us more
humble. It is His will that we become holy; that we become
saints.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of fortitude, which is courage in adversity.
It applies when there is a risk of death, but it also applies when
one is being challenged or ridiculed. Lord, please give me the
gift of fortitude. Amen.

Friday: Mercy
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
Blessed are the merciful,/ for they will be shown mercy.
—Matthew 5:7
Reflection:
Christ Jesus prayed for His enemies at the time they were
crucifying Him. This is a remarkable achievement of love and
mercy. Yet with Christ’s help, we too can pray for our enemies,
even while they are doing or saying whatever is making us
suffer.
Prayer:
I pray for the virtue of mercy, unconditional love and
forgiveness—that involves being generous to others even when
they are not being generous back to me. Heart of Jesus, Source
of all Consolation, please give me the gift of mercy. Amen.

“Love denotes an act of fundamental assent to another, a ‘yes’ to the person towards whom the love is directed: ‘It is good that you exist’ is Josef Pieper’s striking definition of the nature of love.  The lover discovers the goodness of being in this person, is happy because of his or her existence, says ‘yes’ to this existence and confirms it.”  — Pope Benedict XVI (+ 2022)

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: Holiness
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn
open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
—Mark 1:10
Reflection:
When Jesus rose up from the water in His baptism, it was as
if the sun rose with Him—so bright was His luminosity and
the radiance of the Holy Spirit. It is a joy-filled event for us to
ponder, because the Son of God was now truly united with us,
after our long night as a human race.
Prayer:
The saints reflect Christ’s light in their holiness; I pray to
become like them in my holiness. O Lord, grant that all the
virtues might live inside of me in an easy and effortless way.
Amen.

Thursday: Divine Design
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
Let us rejoice and be glad/ and give him glory./ For the wedding
day of the Lamb has come,/ his bride has made herself ready.
—Revelation 19:7
Reflection:
Jesus showed a love and generosity at the wedding at Cana that
showered divine light and favor upon the wedding party there.
Prayer:
Jesus’s presence at this wedding gives marriage a purpose that is
by divine design. I pray for married couples—that Jesus would
be present as a “third person,” in all their marriages. Amen.

Thursday: Heal Our Souls
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage,
child, your sins are forgiven.”
—Matthew 9:2
Reflection:
Christ came to heal people’s physical illnesses and maladies,
but also to heal their souls – as when, for example, He forgave
their sins.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, people’s faith was an important factor in whether or
not You could perform miracles for them. I have faith in You!
Please reach out to me with Your healing hand when I suffer.
Amen.

Thursday: Illuminate Me
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but
becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men
standing with him.
—Luke 9:32
Reflection:
Jesus was an ordinary human being to His disciples; He walked
the dusty roads, He healed the sick, and He became tired and
hungry every day as they did. Then one day, up on a mountain,
He showed them His true glory: He became filled with light
and radiated the Holy Spirit in a supreme and brilliant way.
Prayer:
If God’s light were shining in me luminously, would I see the
pride and egocentricities that still linger inside? Lord Jesus,
Brightness of Eternal Light, please illuminate me so that I may
see myself objectively, and help me to make corrections. Amen.

Thursday: Jesus’s Presence
in the World
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
With bread from heaven he filled them.
—Psalm 105:40
Reflection:
The Blessed Sacrament’s residence in all our Catholic Churches
gives the world little bits of Jesus’s presence in the world—
Bread from Heaven—keeping the world from descending into
degeneration, disaster and war. Thank God!
Prayer:
Millions of people celebrate Mass every day and receive the
Blessed Sacrament, spreading Jesus’s presence across the world,
and creating unity amongst the members of the church. Lord,
bring new members into Your church, and so increase Your
presence here. Amen.

“Virtue, dearly beloved, is something precious and valuable, and among all the things held in admiration in this life, it would, I think, be preferred by those who are in the habit of viewing matters rightly.  One would with very good reason commend the good and honest man who would be willing to undergo countless labors for it with enormous diligence, filled with that best sort of zeal.  I for my part say to those who have achieved such exceptional glory, if any of them should need a purpose, that they must never slacken…”  –Saint Cyril of Alexandria (+ 444)

Intention:  Lord, please help us to resist communism and totalitarianism. 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.

“The first way to work for peace in the world is to let Jesus establish it in our souls.”  –Father Jean du Coeur de Jesus D Elbee (1982)

Intention:  In Jesus’ name, please bless America with a moral, law-abiding, and God-honoring citizenry, so that we are worthy of self-governance.

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.

“Repose united with religious observance disposes man to forget for a while the business of this daily life, and to turn his thought to heavenly things and to the worship which he so strictly owes to the eternal Deity (Pope Leo XIII).  Sundays and holy days are meant to remind us that, in addition to temporal work, there are other labors in the vineyard of our own soul.”  –Blessed Stefan Wyszynski (+ 1981)

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: Trust the Lord’s Call
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
I wait for you, O Lord;/ I lift up my soul/ to my God./ In you
I trust; do not let me be disgraced.
—Psalm 25:1–2
Reflection:
Mary was the only human person who cooperated with God’s
plan so fully and completely. Her cooperation was vital in
allowing God’s plan to come forth. She lifted up her soul to
God, and God responded with a calling for her. She trusted
that God’s plan was best and that there was nothing to fear in it.
Prayer:
Dear Blessed Mother, Tower of Ivory, through your intercession,
assist me in following in your footsteps, lifting my soul up to
God and trusting in His call for me, too. Amen.

Saturday: Bear Fruit
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed
you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you
ask the Father in my name he may give you.
—John 15:16
Reflection:
In the visitation, we see that Mary hurries to share her love and
charity with Elizabeth, because her holiness calls her to do so.
True love always involves an action of loving someone else, to
witness to our brothers and sisters the love and kindness that
God has shown to us.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, I may never see what the results of my loving
actions will be. Help me to bear fruit that will transform the
world somehow, even just a tiny bit. Amen.

Saturday: Everyone Helps Jesus
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,/ and from
his roots a bud shall blossom./ The spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon him:/ a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,/ A spirit
of counsel and of strength,/ a spirit of knowledge and of fear
of the Lord.
—Isaiah 11:1–2
Reflection:
When Jesus was born, God granted the human race the
wondrous honor of participating it its own redemption, through
its cooperation in God’s plan. Jesus was the promised One
foretold by Isaiah, who would make all this possible.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, every human baby born on earth has a vocation:
following in Your footsteps, to help You with Your ongoing
work of redemption of the entire world. Please lead me so that
I may do my part. Amen.

Saturday: Produce Blessed Fruit
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
The Lord has made his victory known;/ has revealed his
triumph for the nations to see,/ Has remembered faithful love/
toward the house of Israel./ All the ends of the earth have seen/
the victory of our God.
—Psalm 98:2–3
Reflection:
St. Joseph and Mother Mary exemplify submission to God’s
laws in their presentation of Jesus at the temple. As a result of
their sincere obedience, Christ was consecrated to God in Israel,
making possible His victory to all the ends of the earth.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, everyone who yields to the laws of God, and
practices their faith in the church to the best of their ability,
will produce blessed fruit on the earth. Please breathe Your
holy breath across the land to all peoples, to inspire them to do
this. Amen.

Saturday: Unique Calling
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner
worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through
love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the
bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called
to the one hope of your call.
—Ephesians 4:1–4
Reflection:
Mother Mary and St. Joseph demonstrate that children should
be loved unconditionally and guided gently, but also that parents
should give them up to God’s purposes in their unique lives.
The life of the Child Jesus shows that children have a special
call from God that parents need to honor and nurture as they
grow and as they learn.
Prayer:
Lord, whether we are parents, friends or acquaintances, we
must remember to honor each other’s unique calling on our
lives. Keep me from ever dishonoring another’s special vocation
from You. Amen.

“The sinner who has recovered the grace which he had lost has three reasons to be full of joy.  He should rejoice that he did not die in his sins and face everlasting punishment.  He should be glad because he has been restored to God’s favor though he merited it not.  He should rejoice that he will be brought to glory if he perseveres in his newfound friendship.”  Saint Anthony of Padua (+ 1231)

Intention:   Lord, I praise You that You’re greater than any trouble I might encounter in life; you are bigger than any problem I could possibly have.  Jesus, I trust in You!

Friday: Embraced Our Humanity
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front
was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus
to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son
of Man with a kiss?”
—Luke 22:47–48
Reflection:
When Jesus was in His agony, He confronted the powers of
darkness, and the human tendencies to do evil such as lying,
cheating, betraying pure love, lusting after others and other
tendencies of the “all me” ego. Against all this, He stood up for
Our Father’s practice of honoring the little one, and of forgiving
and loving unconditionally.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, You suffered the betrayal of one of Your most
trusted disciples. In Your heart, You embraced our entire
humanity—including our tendency toward evil, that it would
always and forever be altered by Your divine love. Please assist
all policemen and policewomen to do their jobs well, stay safe
and keep the peace. Please send angels to protect them. Amen.

Friday: Scapegoat
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Laying both hands on [the scapegoat’s] head, he shall confess
over it all the sinful faults and transgressions of the Israelites,
and so put them on the goat’s head. He shall then have it led
into the desert by an attendant.
—Leviticus 16:21
Reflection:
Jesus was scourged as a scapegoat, Who replaced us in all
our evils: original sin, detraction, theft, violence, torture,
adultery, etc.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, You are the innocent victim who was accused
of our crimes and scourged for our sins, in order that “by his
stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5). In place of our deserts of
hate, fill the world with Your love. Amen.

Friday: Suffer in Solidarity
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy!
Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying
many other things against him.
—Luke 22:64–65
Reflection:
Christ witnessed to the truth, and said, “I am the way and the
truth and the life” (John 14:6). He received a crown of thorns
as He became the victim for all those who would lie against
the truth. All those who suffer ridicule, torture and murder for
witnessing to the truth suffer in solidarity with Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Sun of Justice, You promised everlasting life to
everyone who witnesses to Your truth and stands with You. I
pray to be one of those. Amen.

Friday: Expressway to
Father’s Blessing
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Even when I walk through a dark valley,/ I fear no harm for
you are at my side;/ your rod and staff give me courage.
—Psalm 23:4
Reflection:
In His journey to carry all our sins to the Cross, Jesus was
crushed by the weight of the Cross and fell several times, just
as He was crushed by the weight of our sins. But He kept
getting back up and moving toward His final goal—despite
the weight, despite the ridicule of the crowd—so determined
was He to save us from our sins. He could tell that the Father
was with Him.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, You changed the Way of the Cross into an
expressway to the Father’s blessing. Assist me to remember the
extraordinary value in carrying my cross, and to learn to even
cherish it. Amen.

Friday: God-shaped Hole
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to
myself.
—John 12:32
Reflection:
Because of original sin, we lost the bliss of solidarity with the
Father, creating a God-shaped hole inside of us. This hole
causes us to betray and abandon one another habitually. Jesus
filled up this hole, soothed our feelings of abandonment and
unworthiness and transformed it all on the Cross.
Prayer:
For our sake, Dear Jesus, You absorbed all our sufferings, even
to the point of feeling disconnected from the Father’s love while
You were on the Cross. In so doing, You drew us upward to
the Father with You, when You died. Help me to understand
this awe-inspiring mystery. Amen.

“Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.  Love your neighbor more than yourself.  Do not kill a fetus by abortion or commit infanticide.  Do not withdraw your hand from your son or your daughter; but from their youth teach them the fear of God.  Do not covet your neighbor’s goods; do not be greedy.  Do not be on intimate terms with the powerful, but associate with holy and lowly folk.  Accept as blessings the casualties that befall you, assured that nothing happens without God.  Do not be double-minded or double-tongued, for the double tongue is a deadly snare…”  –From the Epistle of Barnabas (from the late 1st century)

Intention:  I call in healing and righteousness for America, in Jesus’ name.

Thursday: Receive Me
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, we too might live in newness of life.
—Romans 6:4
Reflection:
In our baptism, we have been plunged into the waters of the
death of Christ, so that we are no longer in the grip of sin, but
are alive in Christ Jesus, as a new human being.
Prayer:
Jesus, as You died and rose again, our gift of eternal life was
realized through You. Our Risen Savior, bring me to everlasting
life as I ask You to receive me. Amen.

Thursday: Aim for Harmony
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them
to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take
it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.
—John 2:7–8
Reflection:
In marriage or any other type of human relationship, the key is
not to attain a certain amount of materiality, or a certain level
of comfort, but to have a deep and abiding harmony with each
other. This is the presence of the Holy Spirit at work between
and within each of us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, encourage me to aim for the harmony that includes
patience and love for others, whether we agree or disagree.
Amen.

Thursday: Fringes of Society
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
Then Jesus straightened up and said to [the woman caught in
adultery], “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned
you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do
I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.”
—John 8:10–11
Reflection:
Jesus brings us the gospel of the love of God for all human
beings, no matter what their race, religion, political affiliation,
financial status, social status or gender. No one is denied the
salvation of God.
Prayer:
Jesus, I understand that I am called to reach out to the fringes of
society with the gospel message of love and forgiveness. Please
show me how I can do this, given my vocation and state in life.
Amen.

Thursday: Becoming Transfigured
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
“Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory
of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I say to you, there
are some standing here who will not taste death until they see
the kingdom of God.” About eight days after he said this, he
took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his
clothing became dazzling white.
—Luke 9:26–29
Reflection:
We follow in Jesus’s footsteps by becoming transfigured gradually
throughout our lives through the Sacraments. Consuming the
Holy Eucharist, for example, transforms us to be more and more
like Jesus each time we partake of It. Because of this, we will
rise with and through Him, and our bodies will be transformed
into glorified bodies, also.
Prayer:
O Lord, You are Friendship, Unity and Love. In countries
ripped apart by war, bring Your healing balm of peace. Amen.

Thursday: Foretaste of
the Heavenly Banquet
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
“Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the
Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because
of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike
your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread
will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the
synagogue in Capernaum.
—John 6:57–59
Reflection:
Each time we partake of the Blessed Sacrament, we have new
life—the mercy and love of Jesus poured out upon us as His
Body and Blood, given for our sake. This new life renews our
lives and helps us to relate better with our brothers and sisters.
Prayer:
Dearest Father, I understand that the reason we call receiving
the Holy Eucharist “receiving Communion” is that, with the
Holy Spirit’s action within us, it is a foretaste of the heavenly
banquet—where we will love God and all our brothers and
sisters, face to face. For their faithfulness, generosity, self-sacrifice
and genuine spirituality, please reward all priests. Amen.