“O my Jesus, direct my mind, take possession of my whole being, enclose me in the depths of your heart, and protect me against the assaults of the enemy.  My only hope is in you.”  –Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (+ 1938)

Intention:   Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You to please bless all my friends and relatives and the people who dislike me with good health, financial stability and uplifting relationships with their friends and family.  Please bless them with peace, love, joy, happiness and harmony, and please, when their time comes, give them each a peaceful, easy and happy death, and bring them into heaven to be with you forever and ever.

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.

“Mary shares our human condition, but in complete openness to the grace of God.  Not having known sin, she is able to have compassion on every kind of weakness.  She understands sinful man and loves him with a Mother’s love.”  –Saint John Paul II (+ 2005)

Intention:  The favor of God is upon me.  I am anointed for this assignment.  I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.

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.

“Mary is Mother of Mercy because her Son, Jesus Christ, was sent by the Father as the revelation of God’s mercy.  Christ came not to condemn but to forgive, to show mercy.”  –Saint John Paul II (+ 2005)

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

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.

“Natural activity does not take the words of Jesus seriously: Apart from me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).  Saint Paul, on the other hand, was convinced that he must let go of all his own strength in order to let God’s strength work in him (2 Cor 12:1-10).”  –Father Wilfrid Stinissen, O.C.D. (+ 2013)

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!

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, God-Hero,/ 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.

“Doing nothing oneself does not mean that one does nothing at all.  It is just the opposite, but one does not do it alone…  One should do it, not alone as an independent creature, but as incorporated into the Son and, therefore, like him and with him, the Father’s instrument, activated by the Spirit.”  –Father Wilfrid Stinissen, O.C.D. (+ 2013)

Intention:   Lord, please bless all the Jews and Christians in the world, and keep them safe.

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.

“Another fruit of peace is equilibrium of the soul.  Peaceful souls are neither pessimists nor neurotics.  They are not smug optimists, but have a wise and legitimate optimism, based on the heart of Jesus, for they know that nothing happens but what God wills and that for the one who lives in faith, everything is grace, everything is love.  Mild temper, forbearance, goodness, and serenity grow only in peace.”  –Father Jean du Coeur de Jesus d’Elbee (+ 1982)

Intention:   Thank You, Lord, for the peace, love and security You promise.

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.

“Christ’s risen life was a hidden life.  His glory was hidden during the forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension; his glory is hidden in his risen life now.  The forty days, the hidden life in Nazareth, the hidden life in the world today, have a likeness which is a revelation of the consistency of Christ…  We are helped by this consistency to recognize him in his hidden life in ourselves.”  –Caryll Houselander (+ 1954)

Intention:  Lord, I thank You that wherever I go this day, You and Your angels will be with me.

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.

“If, then, you have been raised with Christ, Saint Paul exhorts us, seek the things that are above… Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Col 3:1-2).  This does not mean cutting oneself off from one’s daily commitments, neglecting earthly realities; rather, it means reviving every human activity with a supernatural breath, it means making ourselves joyful proclaimers and witnesses of the Resurrection of Christ, living for eternity.”  — Pope Benedict XVI (+ 2022)

Intention:   Lord, I praise You that You are stronger than communism and totalitarianism.

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.

“Christ’s Resurrection is life to the dead, pardon to sinners, and glory to the saints.”  –Saint Maximus of Turin (+ 5th century)

Intention:  Lord, I call in healing and righteousness for America.

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.

“Let us remember, those of us who have discovered to our surprise that living a Christian life in a pagan world is difficult, that here in the Pieta is an answer if we want one.  Here is Mary Mother of all; here is the Mass, the sacrifice of Christ until the end of time.”  –Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P. (+ 1988)

Intention:  I have my trust and confidence in Almighty God.  He is my source.

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.