“When life presses, when I am attacked by a mood of depression, boredom, frustration, self-pity, do I give in to it and remain absorbed in self? Or do I, like Catherine, fix my eyes on him and see that this is precisely what takes me to him, this is how he comes? Monotony, other people with their irritating characteristics which get on my nerves, the daily, inexorable round of duties material and spiritual—all these form the wheel on which I go to him…. [A Christian] lives by principles, not by ever-changing feelings—and for a Christian, principles are simply the teachings of Jesus or the will of God.”  –Sister Ruth Burrows, O.C.D. (+ 2023)

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

Monday: Mary’s Leading
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered
what sort of greeting this might be.
—Luke 1:29
Reflection:
The Angel Gabriel told Mary that the Lord was with her. This
was to convey the message that she was called to carry out an
important part of God’s plan, which would be possible to do
because of the Lord’s presence.
Prayer:
Mary always leads us to Jesus. She seeks no glory for herself;
only for her Son. Lord, inspire all people and nations to come to
Mary who can understand them, and bring them to true peace
through Jesus Christ and Our Lady of Fatima. Amen.

Monday: New Ark
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me?
—Luke 1:43
Reflection:
When the ark came to David, he was so in awe that he said,
“How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Samuel 6:9). His
question was similar to Elizabeth’s when she asked, “How does
this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me?” (Luke 1:43). Thus, we see an example of how the ark
prefigures Mary.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, you are the Ark of the New Covenant. You are
powerful through your intimate connection with Jesus. Please
pray for all those who seek to destroy human life, that they may
forsake violence and seek Jesus, the Prince of Peace, instead.
Amen.

Monday: Gloria
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with
the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the
highest/ and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
—Luke 2:13–14
Reflection:
We echo the angels’ bliss when we sing the “Gloria” at Mass.
Prayer:
Lord, let our praise of You during Mass create a gentle breeze
of peace and love which floats over the entire world, enveloping
it with mercy, and healing all its peoples. Amen.

Monday: Simeon’s Prophecy
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
It had been revealed to him [Simeon] by the holy Spirit that he
should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
—Luke 2:26
Reflection:
Mary’s faith must have been enormous, because despite Simeon’s
words of warning to her when Jesus was just a Babe, she still
accompanied her Son at the Cross and released Him to the
Father at His crucifixion.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I praise You and bless You, because all Your life
You were being led to the dark and painful Cross, and yet You
still pushed forward with firm resolution and purpose, for all
our sakes. Never let me take Your sacrifice for granted. Amen.

Monday: Absolutely There
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
But they [Jesus’s parents] did not understand what he said to
them.
—Luke 2:50
Reflection:
When we experience spiritual desolation, we go through a
“desert,” not feeling that God is with us, even though we may
be continuing to do our daily prayers and devotions. It is like
we are searching for Jesus, but we can’t seem to find Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I look for You in the desert, I believe that
You are absolutely with me all along, assisting me in becoming
stronger and more trusting of You. Draw me to You, as You led
Your parents to find You in the temple. Amen.

“Saint John tells us that God is love. Every person therefore is invited to repent and believe in God’s merciful love. The kingdom will grow insofar as every person learns to turn to God in the intimacy of prayer, as to a Father, and strives to do his will.” –Saint John Paul II (+ 2005)

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

Sunday: Peace
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their
midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
—Luke 24:36
Reflection:
Jesus greeted the disciples with peace—not merely a peace of
calmness alone, because one can calmly sin. He gave them the
true peace of order, harmony, and obedience to God the Father.
Prayer:
O Lord, I am so much happier when I am living in right order
to You and my environment. Jesus, I come to be obedient to
You; fill me with Your true peace. Amen.

Sunday: Boundless Mercy
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on
high.
—Luke 24:49
Reflection:
Our Lord told the apostles to go to those who had scourged,
beaten and crucified Him and tell them that they were forgiven
and that He would be their Advocate, just as much as He
would be the Advocate of those who had followed Him. And
He reminded them to go to Jerusalem, where they would be
clothed with power from on high—the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, Master of the Apostles, You offer me endless
forgiveness, unconditional love and the Holy Spirit. Your mercy
and generosity know no bounds. Allow me to serve You with
thanksgiving all the days of my life. Amen.

Sunday: Great Commission
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all
generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.
—James 1:5
Reflection:
The Mystical Body that Christ created in the church was like
an embryonic seed of the Kingdom, growing larger and larger
through the ages, and spreading His Holy Spirit and love
throughout all the world.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please reveal to me how I may do better at living
in the Holy Spirit, spreading Your messages and thus doing my
part in carrying out Your Great Commission. Amen.

Sunday: Mary’s Intercession
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
You are all-beautiful, my beloved,/ and there is no blemish
in you.
—Song of Songs 4:7
Reflection:
Mary is at the forefront of the new life that Jesus Christ was
born to bring into the world. She mothered Him as a Babe; she
mothered the church at Pentecost; and she mothers us even to
this day as she intercedes for us and advocates for us, for Jesus
Christ to prepare a place for us in heaven.
Prayer:
Mother Mary is our mother who was assumed into heaven, and
who sits at Christ’s side, interceding to Him for us. O Blessed
Mother, Model of Motherhood, please pray for me and inspire
me to use the best words at the best time, to minister to others.
Amen.

Sunday: A Beautiful Outcome
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,/ and between
your offspring and hers;/ He will strike at your head,/ while
you strike at his heel.
—Genesis 3:15
Reflection:
Our Mother Mary is someone who is fully human, yet she
can show us the way to the divine. She crushed the head of
the serpent, not directly, but as a result of the existence of her
Son. She teaches us how our human efforts can be used, by the
divine, to create a beautiful outcome.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, lead all teachers by the
hand and show them how to inspire the little ones under their
care in their classrooms. Help these children to grow up to
become the saints of the next generation. Amen.

“This fire of love must light up our poor hearts too, so that it can communicate itself to others—but surrounded with thorns to keep us on our guard against petty self-interests, and surmounted by a wide-armed cross to embrace all who surround us.”  –Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro (+ 1927)

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.

Saturday: Woman
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
I rejoice heartily in the Lord,/ in my God is the joy of my soul;/
For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation,/ and wrapped
me in a mantle of justice,/ Like a bridegroom adorned with a
diadem,/ like a bride bedecked with her jewels./ As the earth
brings forth its plants,/ and a garden makes its growth spring
up,/ So will the Lord God make justice and praise/ spring up
before all the nations.
—Isaiah 61:10–11
Reflection:
Sin was introduced to humanity through the temptations of
our first parents. It is fitting, then, that a woman, the Blessed
Mother, should play a pivotal role in the restoration of God’s
people.
Prayer:
God gave a critically important role in salvation history to a
woman. Dear Blessed Mother, Virgin Rightly Renowned, use
me in your mission to bring peace on earth. Amen.

Saturday: Exaltation of Humble
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
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./ The hungry he has filled with good
things;/ the rich he has sent away empty./ He has helped Israel
his servant,/ remembering his mercy,/ according to his promise
to our fathers,/ to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
—Luke 1:50–55
Reflection:
Mary’s canticle, the Magnificat, predicts that her Son would be
full of justice and truth, and that the lowly would be lifted up,
while the rulers would be thrown down from their thrones.
This is similar to what Jesus said when He proclaimed that the
humble would be exalted, and that the first would be last.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, I trust that through my littleness on earth, You
will lift me up to the heights in heaven, by (as St. Therese
said) Your heavenly elevator. Mold me into one of Your little,
humble children. Amen.

Saturday: Jesus’s power
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
And the Word became flesh/ and made his dwelling among
us,/ and we saw his glory,/ the glory as of the Father’s only
Son,/ full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14
Reflection:
Jesus’s divine nature entered the human race incorrupt, through
being born of the Immaculate Virgin. He was not tempted by
the evil in the world—not even once. He exists outside of the
evil that exists in our short, earthly lives; therefore, He is all-powerful against it.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, I praise You and bless You for being born, and I
ask for Your powerful protection for myself, my family and my
friends. Amen.

Saturday: Accepting Jesus
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
My eyes have seen your salvation,/ which you prepared in sight
of all the peoples,/ a light for revelation to the Gentiles,/ and
glory for your people Israel.
—Luke 2:30–32
Reflection:
The wise old man Simeon, upon holding the Baby Jesus in his
arms, saw ahead to a life that would cause men and women
to either to accept or reject Him. Even though He came to
redeem every person on earth, some would reject Him and all
He stands for.
Prayer:
Jesus asks if I accept Him or reject Him. Heart of Jesus,
Sacred Temple of God, I do choose to accept You wholly and
completely. Remove every part from my being that would seek
to reject You or Your life in me. Amen.

Saturday: Slavery
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother
said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father
and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
—Luke 2:48
Reflection:
The Child Jesus might have seen St. Joseph in the Jerusalem
temple during His childhood, offering the Pascal lamb, and its
being prepared for the sacrifice by running two skewers in the
shape of a cross through its body.
Prayer:
Enslaving a person to another is a form of killing the innocent.
Lord Jesus, I pray for the abolition of all forms of slavery in our
world. Amen.

“When uncertain about God’s will, it is very important that we tell ourselves: ‘Even if there are aspects of God’s will that escape me, there are always others that I know for sure and can invest in without any risk, knowing that this investment always pays dividends.’ These certainties include fulfilling the duties of our state in life and practicing the essential points of every Christian vocation.”  –Father Jacques Philippe

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.

Friday: Offering Suffering
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I
will, but as you will.”
—Matthew 26:39
Reflection:
Jesus Christ’s human nature shrank back from death; yet, His
divine nature was able to overcome His human nature and
accept the bittersweet consolation that, although He was about
to die, in so doing, He would fulfill the will of the Father.
Because He was God (as well as man), His suffering meant
eternal redemption for us all.
Prayer:
Eternal Father, I offer my sufferings and anxieties to You for
peace on earth, and for the salvation of souls. Even if my offering
is only a drop in Your ocean, I give it freely. Amen.

Friday: Destroy the Temple
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in
three days I will raise it up.”
—John 2:19
Reflection:
The witnesses at Jesus’s trial claimed that He said He would
destroy the temple, when, in fact, He said that they would
destroy it. They also claimed that He said that He would build
another temple, when in fact He said that He would raise it up
(meaning His Body).
Prayer:
Lord, help me to understand human frailty and thereby transcend
my limitations. Amen.

Friday: Sorrow for Sins
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered
the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock
crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and
began to weep bitterly.
—Luke 22:61–62
Reflection:
Even though Peter denied that he was associated with Christ,
Jesus extended forgiveness and generosity toward him, just as
He did toward those who crucified Him. He made Peter “The
Rock,” even though he was a sinful man, so that later on we
would never despair of Jesus’s love and acceptance of us, no
matter what our sins were.
Prayer:
Sin always wounds people—in small ways and in large ways.
It is the sorrow I feel at my sins because they have wounded
others or myself that is the key to repentance, and the key
to forgiveness also. Jesus, please help me to understand the
healing power of forgiveness for myself and enable me to offer
forgiveness to those who hurt me. Amen.

Friday: Help to Carry
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who
was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and
Rufus, to carry his cross.
—Mark 15:21
Reflection:
It is beautiful to contemplate how Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus
carry His Cross. In fact, it naturally leads to our wanting to
imitate Simon by assisting our neighbors to carry their crosses
of grief or loneliness, if only just to listen to their story a little
while, to help them feel less alone in it.
Prayer:
There but for the grace of God go I; therefore, being conformed
to Christ’s mind, I must help my brothers and sisters in carrying
their crosses. Dear Heavenly Father, make my heart like Jesus’s
heart: full of compassion and love for my neighbor. Amen.

Friday: Ultimate Triumph
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli,
Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?”
—Matthew 27:46
Reflection:
When Jesus quoted this, He was quoting the first line of Psalm
22—that in those days was a way of referring to the entire
psalm—that spoke of many aspects of His passion. And also,
at the end, it spoke of the ultimate triumph of the Lord and
deliverance of the descendants of Israel.
Prayer:
My Father, Who art in heaven, remind me that there is a
purpose in my sufferings, and use them to help to bring about
Your ultimate triumph on earth. Amen.

“Even if we do all we can to find out God’s will in this or that situation by prayer, reflection, and spiritual guidance, we will not always get a very clear answer, at least not right away.  There are two reasons for this: first, God treats us as adults, and in many situations he wants us to decide for ourselves. The second reason is purification. If we were always sure we were doing God’s will and walking in the truth, we would soon become dangerously presumptuous and at risk of spiritual pride. Not always being absolutely sure we are doing God’s will is humbling and painful, but it protects us.” –Father Jacques Philippe

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

Thursday: Christ’s Mind
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me
and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can
do nothing.
—John 15:5
Reflection:
In Christian spirituality, we are called to be grafted onto
Christ’s vine and conform ourselves and our lives to Him more
completely every day. In this way, we clothe ourselves with
Christ (Galatians 3:27), and become members of His Mystical
Body.
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, Our True Vine, thank you for making me a
part of Your Mystical Body through my baptism. Assist me
to conform my mind to Your mind, and my actions to Your
actions. Help me to bear fruit for the good of souls. Amen.

Thursday: Obedience
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
—John 2:5
Reflection:
In a sense, Mary was a teacher to the servants when she told
them, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). In the Rosary, she
teaches us about Christ by inviting us to peer through her eyes
at the different scenes of His life, doing whatever He tells us.
Prayer:
O Mother Mary, Mother Most Pure, teach me to be obedient to
what Christ tells me to do, a little bit more each day. Through
your intercession, help me to identify my shortcomings and
overcome them. Amen.

Thursday: Asking
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks,
receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who
knocks, the door will be opened.
—Matthew 7:7–8
Reflection:
The reason for Jesus’s confident urging is because of the power
of the Trinity. The Father is loving; Jesus is our advocate (1
John 2:1); and the Holy Spirit intercedes with inexpressible
groanings (Romans 8:26). With God totally on our side, who
can be against us?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I ask You to fill all my needs, both large and
small. Remind me to do my best, and entrust myself to You.
Amen.

Thursday: Christ’s Importance
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen
Son; listen to him.”
—Luke 9:35
Reflection:
The Father exhorted the disciples to “Listen to Him” (Luke
9:35), so that they could come to an understanding of Jesus’s
passion. Then they could experience the gladness of the
resurrection, and ultimately be transformed by the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost.
Prayer:
God the Father commands me to listen to Christ, His Son.
What could possibly give more importance to Christ’s words?
Heart of Jesus, Of Whose Fullness We Have All Received, I
promise to try to talk with You about everything I am going
through today and listen for Your response. Amen.

Thursday: Holy Eucharist
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the
world and he loved them to the end.
—John 13:1
Reflection:
When Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, He offered His Body
and Blood in the form of bread and wine for the salvation of all
humanity, with whom He promised to be until the end of time.
Prayer:
It is my most sacred honor to partake of the Body and Blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Dearest Jesus,
Our Way and Our Life, I am so blessed by You. Thank you!
Amen.

“Zacchaeus must be praised, therefore—he whose riches were unable to keep him from the royal threshold. He is greatly to be praised because his riches brought him to the threshold of the kingdom. Hence we understand that wealth is not a hindrance but a help to attaining the glory of Christ if, while yet possessing it, we do not squander it on wantonness but give it away for the sake of salvation, for there is no crime in possessions but in those who do not know how to use possessions. For wealth is a temptation to vice for the foolish, but for the wise it is a help to virtue.”  –Saint Maximus of Turin (+ 5th century)

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

Wednesday: I am Your Sheep
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
—John 20:16
Reflection:
Jesus had once said that He called His sheep by their names.
When He called Mary by her name and she saw the wounds on
His hands and feet, she realized that it was Him.
Prayer:
Jesus, You are my Shepherd, and I am Your sheep. I listen for
You to call my name. Call me to graze in your green pastures
of love, peace and joy. Amen.

Wednesday: Enlighten Me
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
And [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah
would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that
repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his
name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
—Luke 24:46–47
Reflection:
Our Lord, through His resurrection appearances, opened
the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures. He
was finally able to explain to them that He was the Suffering
Servant spoken about by Isaiah, Who would triumph through
His suffering.
Prayer:
Lord, please enlighten me with Your Holy Spirit, and give me
the gift of understanding when I read the scriptures. Make my
heart burn within me with love for You. Amen.

Wednesday: Fortitude
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do
not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will
send him to you.
—John 16:7
Reflection:
Jesus told the apostles that after He went up to heaven, He
would send them His Holy Spirit to renew and strengthen them
in their knowledge of the Kingdom. He said that they would
experience the same type of opposition as He had faced.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, I praise You and thank You for making me a part
of Your Mystical Body. Give me the fortitude of the Holy Spirit,
that I can withstand the pressures and temptations of the world,
the flesh and the devil. Amen.

Wednesday: Perfect
Truth and Beauty
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
Arise, Lord, come to your resting place,/ you and your
majestic ark.
—Psalm 132:8
Reflection:
When we behold the majesty of Christ and the special honor
given His blessed Mother, we naturally desire to make the
world a place of perfect truth and beauty. Although perfection
cannot be attained in this physical world, we strive to achieve
better excellence and to leave the world a better place than we
found it.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty, help me to leave a legacy of
truth, beauty and peace behind when I leave this place to come
home to You. Amen.

Wednesday: Faith, Hope,
Charity and Obedience
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Quote:
“[The Virgin Mary’s] role in relation to the Church and to
all humanity goes still further. ‘In a wholly singular way she
cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity
in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For
this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.’”
—Catechism No. 968
Reflection:
As the foremost member of the church, Mary is also Mother of
the church, thereby providing the perfect role model of faith
as she leads people to Jesus, and confirms her importance as an
intercessor on our behalf.
Prayer:
O Blessed Mother, Queen of the Rosary, please intercede for
me while I pray for the virtues of faith, hope, charity and
obedience. Amen.

“If you try to make some effort of attention, and say: ‘God have mercy on me, help me, give me your grace,’ then your prayer is good, and you will only have to repeat from time to time during the day: ‘Jesus, I trust in you,’ or any other such aspiration.”  –Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat (+ 1865)

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.

Tuesday: Invoke the Blood of Jesus
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat
became like drops of blood falling on the ground.
—Luke 22:44
Reflection:
Men of today shed each other’s blood in war to satisfy their
desire for reparation for sin—both real and imagined. When
someday they learn to invoke, instead, the Blood of Jesus Christ
for forgiveness, they will have no more need for war.
Prayer:
We all have a past that includes memories of things we did
that were less-than-godly. Heart of Jesus, Enriching All Who
Invoke Thee, I invoke Your peace and pardon on me, for what
You shed in Your Agony at Gethsemane. Please cleanse me with
Your Precious Blood. Amen.

Tuesday: Teach Me Silence
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more
afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,
“Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him.
—John 19:8–9
Reflection:
Pilate asked Jesus where He was from, rather than who He was.
Pilate seemed to perceive that Jesus was different from others
somehow. Jesus might have been silent because He could not
defend Himself, since He was atoning for the sins of mankind.
Prayer:
Sometimes explaining myself to someone would be the
equivalent of casting pearls before swine. Dear Lord, teach
me when silence is the best answer to the accusations of an
unbelieving and judgmental world. Amen.

Tuesday: Suffering Servant
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted/ and opened not
his mouth;/ Like a lamb led to the slaughter/ or a sheep before
the shearers,/ he was silent and opened not his mouth.
—Isaiah 53:7
Reflection:
Jesus was the Suffering Servant—as silent as a lamb being led
to the slaughter—as Isaiah had predicted. He came to His own
people, but they did not recognize Him. He will come again
at the end of days, in faithfulness to us.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Patient and Most Merciful, I praise You and
all Your suffering martyrs of the 20th century, who were
slaughtered during communism, socialism and fascism. I ask
all Your martyrs to pray for our world. Amen.

Tuesday: Sacrificial Sin-Offering
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate
the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the
camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. For here we have no
lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.
—Hebrews 13:12–14
Reflection:
In ancient times, the scapegoat was a goat that was driven out
of the city to die in the desert. Jesus was crucified outside the
city gates, like the epitome of a sacrificial sin-offering.
Prayer:
Give me encouragement, Lord, while carrying my cross during
this earthly life, and while keeping my eye upon Your everlasting
city above in heaven. Amen.

Tuesday: Ignorance
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what
they do.”] They divided his garments by casting lots.
—Luke 23:34
Reflection:
It was the ignorance of the ones who crucified Christ that
probably saved them, ultimately. For, if they had honestly
understood what they were doing, they might never have been
saved.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, inspire the leaders of all nations to fall to their
knees in sincere and humble prayer to You and ask You for Your
guidance in all their decisions. Help them to be aware of their
spiritual responsibilities as the heads of their countries. Amen.

“Try to pray by reading or reciting a few Psalms and by rousing your will to make acts of resignation, or petition, accompanied by confidence in God who lets us suffer only because he loves us.”  –Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat (+ 1865)

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

Monday: New Type of Humanity
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and
the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and
he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom
there will be no end.
—Luke 1:32–33
Reflection:
Humanity was born of Adam and Eve. But God loved us so
much that in order to redeem us, He asked Mary to consent
to becoming the mother of Our Lord, creating a new type
of humanity—one freed from sin. But Mary had to freely
choose it.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all Virtues, You came to make us part
of Your new humanity, in which sin and death were vanquished
forever. Give parents the inspiration to instruct their children in
the ways of virtue, and so create more human flourishing and
peace in our world. Amen.

Monday: Magnified With Her Soul
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;/
my spirit rejoices in God my savior./ For he has looked upon
his handmaid’s lowliness;/ behold, from now on will all ages
call me blessed.”
—Luke 1:46–48
Reflection:
After Elizabeth greeted Mary, exclaiming that the babe inside
her womb leapt for joy, Mary’s response is called the Magnificat.
In it, she looked backward to the time of Abraham, and also,
she looked forward to the future when all generations would
call her blessed. She magnified the Lord with her human soul.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Tower of David, despite a life of poverty and
suffering, you described yourself as eternally blessed because
you gave birth to the Savior of the World. Please pray for me to
birth Christ in my heart, so that I too may be blessed beyond
my wildest dreams. Amen.

Monday: God Born as Outcast
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in
swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was
no room for them in the inn.
—Luke 2:7
Reflection:
There was no place for them in the inn, but there was just
barely a little room in the stable. The inn represents social
respectability; the stable represents the outcast. God Himself
was born as an outcast. Divinity is often found where we least
expect it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, provide the poorest of the poor in our world—
the faces of Christ – with their daily bread. Amen.

Monday: First Canticle
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation
of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.
—Luke 2:25
Reflection:
Simeon’s canticle was the first song to celebrate Christ’s being
born on the earth. He sang that Jesus was a light to reveal God
to the nations, and the glory of the people of Israel.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the Everlasting Hills, please heal all
divisions in the Holy Land so that Christians, Jews and Muslims
may live together in blessed accord, and demonstrate peace to
every corner of the world. May the Holy Land become a land
of healing and harmony. Amen.

Monday: What Must I Do?
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents
did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they
journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives
and acquaintances.
—Luke 2:43–44
Reflection:
At twelve years old, Jesus was using the word “must” with
regard to His duty to His Heavenly Father. He was already
steeling Himself in His human nature, to fulfill the “must” of
His divine nature.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, show me what I “must” do to fulfill Your
will, and steel me to do it through my human nature and
through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to endure to
the end. Amen.

“You must believe in mercy to the point of believing that you are a joy for Jesus.”  –Father Jean du Cœur de Jésus d’Elbée (+ 1982)

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

Saturday: In Favor of God’s Will
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be
done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed
from her.
—Luke 1:38
Reflection:
The Father’s plan of redemption all depended on Christ, and
Christ’s coming to earth all depended on Mary. It was a plan
for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in
heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:10). We can imagine how
all creation was somehow touched in some mysterious way by
Mary’s conceiving Jesus Christ in her womb on the day of the
annunciation.
Prayer:
Mary’s “yes” changed the whole course of humanity in favor of
God’s Will. Dear Mary, Queen of Peace, please keep praying
for peace on our earth, so that all mankind hungers and thirsts
for God’s presence within. Amen.

Saturday: Joy of His Presence
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
—Luke 1:44
Reflection:
Jubilation was the emblem of Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth,
when John in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy, because of the
presence of Our Lord in Mary’s womb.
Prayer:
Like John, the presence of Christ inside of me causes me to leap
for joy. Lord Jesus, please aid all those who are lonely to feel the
joy of Your presence today. Help them to know that they are
not alone, nor have they ever been alone! Amen.

Saturday: Good News
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim
to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For
today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who
is Messiah and Lord.”
—Luke 2:10–11
Reflection:
Happiness and joy filled Bethlehem that night when Jesus was
born, while the angels proclaimed to the shepherds that there
was good news of unending joy.
Prayer:
Jesus was born in a lowly stable, and yet the angel proclaimed
that His birth was wonderful, joyful and desirable news. Lord
Jesus, Joy of the Angels, help me to remember that no matter
what is happening in my earthly life, there is always good news:
You are here with me. Amen.

Saturday: Jesus’s destiny
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation
of Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
(And you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.
—Luke 2:35
Reflection:
At the presentation in the temple, both joyful and sorrowful
events unfold. Simeon finally was able to see the Christ Child,
as had been foretold to him so long before. But also, he predicted
that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction and that His mother’s
heart would be pierced.
Prayer:
From the time Jesus was born, His destiny was to die for us
all. Heavenly Father, please make all Christians one, as Jesus
prayed for and dearly wanted so long ago. Help them to focus on
the commonalities between them rather than their differences.
Amen.

Saturday: Living the Virtues
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you
not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did
not understand what he said to them.
—Luke 2:49–50
Reflection:
Happiness and sorrow also mix in the events of the finding of
the Child Jesus in the temple. On the one hand, we see the
miracle of Jesus conversing with the scholars of the law, even
at such a young age. On the other hand, we see Mary’s and
St. Joseph’s worry and concern about their Child’s putting the
Father’s business before all other concerns—even them.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, assist me to follow You by living the virtues of
prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance—even when it is
unpopular to do so, or when others simply wouldn’t understand.
Amen.

“May my soul bless you, Lord God my Creator. Sweetest lover, may the mercies with which your unbounded lovingkindness has so unconstrainedly surrounded me make confession to you from the innermost depths of my being. I give you thanks, from wherever I draw the ability, for your vast mercy.”  –Saint Gertrude the Great (+ 1302)

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

Friday: Ease the Burden
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and
kneeling, he prayed.
—Luke 22:41
Reflection:
Jesus was tempted mightily by Satan in the Garden of
Gethsemane, to say “no” to the anguish awaiting Him in
His passion and death. But He said “yes” to the Father’s plan,
reversing the “no” that Adam and Eve said by disobeying God
in another garden: the Garden of Eden.
Prayer:
Eternal Father, You see the cross I carry in my own life. I
implore You to ease the burden of that cross, if it be for my
ultimate good; nevertheless, let Your Will be done in my life.
Amen.

Friday: Offer in Unity
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
cloak. And [Pilate] said to them, “Behold, the man!”
—John 19:5
Reflection:
Our Lord was thrust into the most horrid of physical sufferings
when He was scourged.
Prayer:
Jesus, Your human nature underwent torture in the scourging—
part of the passion that saved us. When I undergo painful trials
in my life, help me remember to offer them up to You in unity
with Your saving passion. Amen.

Friday: He Trusts Me
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
And they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And
they struck him repeatedly.
—John 19:3
Reflection:
Our Lord was thrown into the most disgraceful of mental and
emotional sufferings when He was crowned with thorns and
mocked, beaten and spat on.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me remember that my suffering is
allowed to come to me because You trust me. You trust me to
suffer well and to continue loving You through it all. Amen.

Friday: He Carries it With Me
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Then [Pilate] handed him over to them to be crucified.
—John 19:16
Reflection:
God humbled Himself unto death, even death on a Cross
(Philippians 2:8). He took this Cross and carried it all the way
to Calvary, in the most humiliating way possible. But He was
willing to do it for you and for me.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, all that I am and all that I will ever be is in You.
Please help me to know that when I am carrying my cross, we
are yoked together, and so You are carrying it with me. I am
never alone. Amen.

Friday: Jesus’s Love
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and
divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also
took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece
from the top down.
—John 19:23
Reflection:
Jesus died a horrible death—a painful death of asphyxiation
on the Cross. We can imagine being with Mary beneath His
Cross, loving Him, understanding with her how deep Jesus’s
love is for all of us.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, Mystical Rose, please pray for me, that the mystery
of Jesus’s love may be revealed to me more and more, as I
contemplate His saving sacrifice on the Cross. Let the knowledge
of His love fill me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.