“It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater.”  –Pope Benedict XVI (+ 2022) 

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: Changed the World
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples
that are not written in this book. But these are written that you
may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
—John 20:30–31
Reflection:
At the crucifixion the apostles feared punishment for being
Jesus’s associates. But after the resurrection and Pentecost, they
boldly proclaimed the truth that He had risen from the dead.
Because of their tireless work to proclaim the gospel, Jesus was
able to change the world.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your message transformed men’s and women’s
hearts, and that, in turn, changed the world into a much better
place. Thank You, because I am living in a much better world
now than I would have lived in without Your coming. Amen.

Sunday: Pray Unceasingly
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
[The disciples] did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem
with great joy, and they were continually in the temple
praising God.
—Luke 24:52–53
Reflection:
Jesus’s ascension into the cloud of glory in the sky signified that
He was returning to heaven.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I know that this world is an uncertain place and
that the timing of my death and judgment are uncertain too,
so I will strive to pray always. And understanding that I cannot
do anything without You, I ask for Your grace to help me to
pray unceasingly, so that I will be prepared, no matter what
happens. Amen.

Sunday: Mary, Symbol of the Church
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba,
Father!”
—Galatians 4:6
Reflection:
Christian imagery casts Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant,
and the one upon whom Divine Wisdom (Christ) sits enthroned.
Christianity also believes that the Holy Spirit came to live in
Mary in a unique way at Pentecost.
Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, you are the symbol of the church, and
Pentecost was the church’s day of birth. Watch over your church
and continually guide Her to Christ, through your intercession.
Amen.

Sunday: Jesus Helped
Mary Into Heaven
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
The Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of
an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down
from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
—1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
Reflection:
Jesus was able to ascend into heaven on His own “power.” Mary
was sinless her whole life, and her soul would have been able to
go to heaven without waiting. But she had to have help from
Jesus to travel to heaven in both soul and body, which we call
her being “assumed.”
Prayer:
Jesus, when my time comes, please give me a peaceful, easy and
happy death, and please help me to attain entrance into heaven
quickly and easily. If I need to be purified in Purgatory, please
make the time short, and sweeten it with the love of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.

Sunday: Mary is the Ark
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its
place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the
holy of holies of the temple. The cherubim had their wings
spread out over the place of the ark, sheltering the ark and its
poles from above.
—1 Kings 8:6–7
Reflection:
In John’s vision of heaven in Revelation, he saw the new temple
in the center of the city, which had as its center the Ark of the
Covenant. Then immediately that vision opened up to the
woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and
on her head a crown of twelve stars. John’s vision of the woman
has been interpreted to be Mary, the New Ark, the Queen of
Heaven, since the earliest days of the church.
Prayer:
I pray, Lord, for the repose of all the holy souls in Purgatory, as
I pray, “Out of the depths I call to you, Lord;/ Lord, hear my
cry!/ May your ears be attentive/ to my cry for mercy” (Psalm
130:1–2). Amen.

“Suffering is a part of our human existence. Suffering stems partly from our finitude, and partly from the mass of sin which has accumulated over the course of history, and continues to grow unabated today. Certainly we must do whatever we can to reduce suffering: to avoid as far as possible the suffering of the innocent; to soothe pain; to give assistance in overcoming mental suffering. These are obligations both in justice and in love, and they are included among the fundamental requirements of the Christian life and every truly human life…. Indeed, we must do all we can to overcome suffering, but to banish it from the world altogether is not in our power.”  –Pope Benedict XVI (+ 2022)

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

Saturday: Yes, to the Angel
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Let your “Yes” mean “Yes,” and your “No” mean “No.”
—Matthew 5:37
Reflection:
It was fitting that an angel came to Mary to tell her about
the coming of the Messiah, because it was critical that Mary
be given the choice to give her fiat, or to not give it. If God
Himself had appeared to Mary instead, she could hardly have
said no, because God commands, whereas angels ask.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary, Mother and Virgin, thank you for your
“yes” to the angel. Through your intercession, please light my
way so that I can develop a close, personal relationship with
your Son. Amen.

Saturday: The Father Stooped Down
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
O Lord, you are our father;/ we are the clay and you the
potter:/ we are all the work of your hands.
—Isaiah 64:7
Reflection:
Mary had true humility, which means having a correct
assessment of one’s gifts as they truly exist. Her humility was
borne of realizing how vast the chasm was between herself (a
mere creature) and God.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, In Mary’s Magnificat, she marveled that You would
stoop down so low as to overshadow her as You did. Please,
Lord, stoop down to me and make me more perfect, also.
Amen.

Saturday: Jesus is Truth
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
—Luke 2:20
Reflection:
Divine knowledge comes from above, as it did when the
shepherds heard the message of the angel. And it can also be
found sometimes through human effort, as it was when the
Magi figured out the location of Baby Jesus, probably through
means of star-gazing.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, no matter how I pursue the truth, I know that I will
always end up finding Christ, who is the Way and the Truth
and the Life. Focus my eyes always upon the Truth—upon
Jesus. Amen.

Saturday: Through Mary’s Eyes
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
All will fear and proclaim God’s deed,/ pondering what has
been done./ The just will rejoice and take refuge in the Lord;/
all the upright will glory in their God.
—Psalm 64:10–11
Reflection:
Some translations say that Simeon said to Mary, “A sword shall
pierce your own soul.” These words probably caused Mary to
reflect on his words in her heart long afterwards.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, the reflection that you contemplated in your heart
must have found its way into the formation of the gospels. Assist
me to see Jesus through your eyes every time I pray the Rosary.
Amen.

Saturday: Delayed the Inevitable
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God
almighty and the Lamb.
—Revelation 21:22
Reflection:
Jesus was lost in the temple for three days, which was a
prefigurement of the three days that He was buried before the
resurrection. St. Luke, in his telling of the story, might have
been inferring that Jesus came to the temple as a boy intending
to carry out His Father’s will, right then and there.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Dearest of Mothers, did you delay the inevitable,
by making Jesus come home with you and St. Joseph? Thank
you for being such a loving mother to Him while He was here.
Amen.

“O Immortal One, nailed to the wood, you have triumphed over the snares of the devil. Glory be to you, Lord!”  –Byzantine Liturgy

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

Friday: Restoration of Human Race
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man
I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to
Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered
him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping
forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
—Matthew 26:48–50
Reflection:
At Gethsemane, Jesus grappled with His human nature to
accomplish the most important achievement in mankind’s
history: the restoration of the human race.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, for all that You gained for us at Gethsemane, I praise
You and I bless You. I thank You for being my Forever-Friend.
Amen.

Friday: Not a Roman Citizen
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release
Barabbas to us.” (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a
rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again
Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they
continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate
addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have
him flogged and then release him.”
—Luke 23:18–22
Reflection:
Jesus was stripped naked and blindfolded before He was flogged.
There was one soldier on each side of Him, striking Him with
implements of torture that would have caused welts to appear,
and ripped His skin so that it hung in shreds from His bleeding
body. Since He was not a Roman citizen, He was executed by
intense scourging and crucifixion. If He had been a Roman
citizen, He would have been flogged more lightly and then
beheaded.
Prayer:
Dear Father, how terrible for You to behold what happened to
Your Son. Please forgive me for my sins, which contributed to
Jesus’s sufferings. Amen.

Friday: Bled Profusely
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the
praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They
stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about
him. They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking
him on the head.
—Matthew 27:27–28,30
Reflection:
The thorns used were very long and sharp, and the soldiers
probably affixed them to a basket to make a pretend “crown”
that they could put on Jesus’s head and strike, so that the thorns
pierced His skull and forehead. This “crowning with thorns”
must have seriously diminished His strength before carrying
His Cross and being crucified, because scalp tissue is highly
vascularized, and would have bled profusely upon laceration.
Prayer:
Lord, You are the Divine Physician of our souls and bodies.
For those who carry the perennial cross of illness or disability,
please give them relief and solace. Amen.

Friday: Fill the Earth With Love
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after
me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
—Matthew 16:24
Reflection:
Jesus emphasized the importance of carrying one’s cross more
than he emphasized the wonders of heaven. Jewish citizens
of His time would have understood exactly what that meant,
because of all the crucifixions they had witnessed.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, You work in mysterious ways. In place of
our wastelands of hopelessness, please fill the earth with Your
love. Amen.

Friday: Trustworthy Compassion
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
At three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?”
—Mark 15:34
Reflection:
By saying this first line of Psalm 22, Jesus was quoting the
whole psalm, as best He could while being tortured. The psalm
contains many of the events of Jesus’s passion. He was in effect
saying that that scripture was being fulfilled that day.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are Trustworthy Compassion for all those who
are bogged down with grief. Minister and stay close to those
who are troubled by bereavement and sadness. Amen.

“[Mary] is Mother to all of us, and to us all is given the tremendous privilege of calling on her for help in this valley of tears.”  –Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P. (+ 1988)

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

Thursday: Be a Lamp
1st Luminous Mystery: The Baptism
of Jesus in the Jordan
Scripture:
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been
none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom
of heaven is greater than he.
—Matthew 11:11
Reflection:
John the Baptist was a very unique man who lived in the
wilderness and ate locusts and wild honey. He was also a
prophet who lived and proclaimed the truth, from every part
of his being.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to follow in the footsteps of John the
Baptist—to be a lamp that shines the way to You, without
worrying about human respect. Amen.

Thursday: Virtue and Holiness
2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
Scripture:
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
—John 2:3
Reflection:
When Jesus said to His mother, “Woman, how does your
concern affect me?” (John 2:4), He really might have been
informing her that she must be the one to begin His ministry
in the world.
Prayer:
Jesus, take my natural human nature and turn it into virtue and
holiness, just as You turned water into wine. Amen.

Thursday: All Will Be Well
3rd Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation
of the Kingdom of Heaven
Scripture:
But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given you besides.
—Matthew 6:33
Reflection:
Even though people may not want to hear the truth, it is
important to tell them the truth in love, including the truth of
the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and His love for us.
Prayer:
As a disciple of You, Lord, I pray, aid me in finding the Kingdom
of God, and in having faith that all will be well. Amen.

Thursday: Direction and Guidance
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
Scripture:
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow
over them.
—Matthew 17:5
Reflection:
The disciples wanted the beauty of the bright cloud on the
mountaintop during the transfiguration to last forever. But
they had to descend into the valley and deal with the events of
Jesus’s passion. We must also come down from our mountaintop
experiences in the Holy Spirit, and come back into our everyday
lives.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Good Shepherd, help me to look only to You for my
direction and guidance, whether I am in the valley or on the
mountaintop; whether I am in consolation or desolation. Amen.

Thursday: More and More Like Jesus
5th Luminous Mystery: The Institution
of the Holy Eucharist
Scripture:
He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with
you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until
there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
—Luke 22:15–16
Reflection:
Jesus humbled Himself by allowing His glorious substance to be
contained in a little piece of bread, so that we could take Him
inside of ourselves.
Prayer:
The Holy Eucharist makes it possible for us to become more
and more like Jesus every time we partake of it. Heart of Jesus,
Tabernacle of the Most High, spread Your Holy Spirit across the
world through the communion of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Amen.

“Many people question whether prayer is meaningful at all. ‘If God knows everything, why tell him?’ Asking such a question presupposes that the main purpose of prayer is to inform God of something. But prayer is really another form of communication altogether. It is a sort of loving dialogue in which one raises all one’s thoughts to God.”  –Rhonda Chervin

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

Wednesday: Sea of Love
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s
dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and
they will be his people and God himself will always be with
them [as their God]. He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
[for] the old order has passed away.”
—Revelation 21:3–4
Reflection:
When we leave this life, all of our sufferings, difficulties and
tribulations will appear to be surreal, compared to the beautiful
appearance of Jesus, Who will be awaiting us in the next life.
Prayer:
If it please God, I look forward to being in heaven one day, and
being in a sea of love – loving and being loved by all, including
Jesus. Lord, infuse Your love into all families, so that divisions
no longer exist within them, but only love. Amen.

Wednesday: Invisible Realms
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
Behold, the kingdom of God is among you.
—Luke 17:21
Reflection:
Jesus has ascended and sits at the right hand of the Father.
He consoles us when we can sense His presence within us.
When we cannot sense His presence, could it be that we are
consoling Him?
Prayer:
Lord, grant me a deep trust in You—that You are always with
me in the invisible realms, and that I am never alone, even when
I cannot feel You. Amen.

Wednesday: Courageous
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be
dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.
—Joshua 1:9
Reflection:
When the gifts of the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the
disciples, there was a pronounced change in the disciples,
whereby timid men became courageous. And though it was
dangerous to do so, they proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven
in Jesus’s name.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth and Wisdom, bestow upon our civic
leaders Your gifts of wisdom, prudence, patience and love, that
they may be dedicated to carrying out merciful justice in all
their duties. Amen.

Wednesday: Thoughts,
Words and Actions
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
You are the glory of Jerusalem,/ the surpassing joy of Israel;/
You are the splendid boast of our people.
—Judith 15:9
Reflection:
The Blessed Virgin Mary is interceding for us here, while
she is in heaven cheering us on with her love and care. She
understands all that we are up against, and is praying for us to
withstand all that would cause us to slip away from our virtue.
Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, Shrine of the Spirit, show me how to
keep my thoughts, words and actions in line with being a true
Christian. Amen.

Wednesday: Heavenly Intercession
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of
my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished
the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of
righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will
award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who
have longed for his appearance.
—2 Timothy 4:6–8
Reflection:
The Blessed Mother’s humility was so exceptional that it
filled the angels with astonishment and perplexed the haughty
demons. Her excellence and virtue are manifested now in her
reign as Queen of Heaven and Earth, and she is on our side.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother, you watch over and encourage all of us, as a
doting mother does. Inspire many people to come to the faith
through your heavenly and motherly intercession. Amen.

“Take from me whatever makes me unclean, dries me up, makes me inflexible, sends me astray, and enfeebles me. Take from me all that makes me unworthy of your visitation, of your chastisement and your reproofs, unworthy of your consoling words and your communications, and lastly of your love and your benevolence.”  –Saint Peter Faber (+ 1546)

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

Tuesday: Use My Suffering
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”
—Matthew 26:38
Reflection:
Jesus gave us an example of what to do when suffering shows up:
submission, charity, and offering the suffering up to the Father.
In accepting the Father’s will, He trusted that everything would
work out well in the end.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, when I have to be in pain, please accept my suffering
and use it to purify the church and protect the Holy Father.
Amen.

Tuesday: Cover With Your Blood
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you
want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!”
—Matthew 27:21
Reflection:
In the scourging at the pillar, Jesus suffered excruciating pain
because of the whips, but He also probably suffered humiliation
as people looked on with bemused expressions on their faces.
Prayer:
Precious Blood of Christ, Price of Our Salvation, please cover
me, to heal my hurts, inadequacies and sins. Amen.

Tuesday: Substandard Human Rights
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
[Even] Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and
mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he
sent him back to Pilate.
—Luke 23:11
Reflection:
We often think that our own cross is too heavy to carry for
even one more day. But all we have to do is think of how Jesus
was crowned with thorns after being scourged, to realize that
we can endure a lot more than we think, if we take Him as our
example and model.
Prayer:
Lord, please comfort and protect those who are imprisoned
because of their faith beliefs in countries with substandard
human rights. Free them, O Lord, from unjust religious laws.
Amen.

Tuesday: Crosses Allowed by God
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the
dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our body.
—2 Corinthians 4:8–10
Reflection:
We might have sometimes thought that the cross was destined
for Jesus alone, and not for us. But salvation does not mean a
release from suffering. Rather, it gives value to our suffering.
Prayer:
Dear Father, please motivate me to accept my cross as if it comes
directly from You, and to trust that value will come out of it. I
don’t have to understand how now; I only need to trust. Amen.

Tuesday: Pardon My Enemies
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father
will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will
your Father forgive your transgressions.
—Matthew 6:14–15
Reflection:
Jesus is the model we should follow regarding forgiveness of
enemies. He forgave those who killed Him, while on the Cross.
Yet it is so hard for us to do the same. Could it be that we
have trouble forgiving ourselves, and that is the reason for our
insufficient charity toward our neighbors?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please give me the compassion to pardon myself as
well as my enemies, and to persevere to the end in offering up
sacrifices, for the sake of all souls and peace on earth, until I
die. Amen.

“In short, O my Lord, I beg you to take from me whatever divides, separates, and distances me from you and you from me.”  –Saint Peter Faber (+ 1546)

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

Monday: Vocations to Religious Life
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love
covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without
complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one
another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
—1 Peter 4:8–10
Reflection:
When the shadow of iniquity was upon the human race, the
Blessed Virgin Mary’s charity and meekness motivated the
Father to send the Angel Gabriel to her, asking that very special
question, to which she responded, “Yes.”
Prayer:
Dear Father, please grant that many young people may consider
vocations to the religious life, that they may lead lives of
service and prayer, and be examples to the world of virtue and
generosity. Amen.

Monday: Magnify the Lord
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by
the Lord would be fulfilled.
—Luke 1:45
Reflection:
The Blessed Virgin Mary hurried to visit her cousin Elizabeth,
to assist her during her time of pregnancy, even though she
herself was still probably very much in awe of what the angel
had just told her. Still, she magnified the Lord in all her words
and in her help for Elizabeth.
Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, please assist me to magnify the Lord also,
by living out the virtues as best I can today. Amen.

Monday: Jesus in the Poor
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his
mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh.
—Matthew 2:11
Reflection:
God works in mysterious ways. For example, the Messiah—the
Heavenly King come down to save the world—was born in
great humility in a dank and cold cave. Then the Magi found
Him and showered Him with extremely costly gifts.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful, I ask You for the wisdom
to see You in the faces of the poor and lonely – those who have
nothing to offer me (in the world’s eyes). Amen.

Monday: Intellectual Challenges
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,/ My God, my rock
of refuge,/ my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!
—Psalm 18:3
Reflection:
What a mystery Jesus’s mission must have seemed to Mary,
when she handed him to be prophesied over by Simeon. What
a sense of responsibility she and St. Joseph must have had, to be
the protector of that mission. They trusted in God’s wisdom
and power, concerning the path that was ahead of them. God
was their rock of refuge.
Prayer:
Some children in the womb are particularly vulnerable to being
aborted before they come to term. In particular, children with
intellectual challenges are chosen by the Father to achieve
important work for the Kingdom, but in secret. Dear Lord,
please give courage to the parents of children with intellectual
challenges, and help them to accept and recognize their
children’s gifts and talents. Amen.

Monday: Family Anxiety
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
All who heard him were astounded at his understanding and
his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished.
—Luke 2:47–48
Reflection:
The Blessed Mother was, most likely, in a seriously anxious state
for three days. She must have been wondering about what had
happened to her precious Son.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, when my family is torn apart by anxiety, dissention
and anger, please spread Your love and forgiveness over us like
a healing mist, so that we may find harmony with each other,
once again. Amen.

“The day of Sabbath was blessed more than the other days, and so Genesis 2:3 says: God blessed the seventh day. Likewise, she is blessed above all women. Again, Saturday was holier than the other days, and so in the same place it is said: He sanctified it. And she is holier than all. So it is fitting that she who is blessed above all and holier than all should be more specially honored on the holier day.”  –Blessed Humbert of Romans (+ ~1277)

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

Sunday: Deliver Me
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Scripture:
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
—Matthew 28:1
Reflection:
Jesus empowers us as His followers; He gives us victory over sin
and death through His passion and resurrection.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, please deliver me from evil and sin, and reawaken
in me Your love, joy and peace. Amen.

Sunday: Bolder Trust
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Scripture:
[Jesus] said to them [the eleven], “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes
and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be
condemned.”
—Mark 16:15–16
Reflection:
After the resurrection, Jesus gave the apostles the joy of
experiencing His presence for forty days in His glorified body.
After the ascension, we remain in union with Him through the
wonderful gift of the Holy Eucharist.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, Gate of Heaven, please pray for me to have a bolder
trust and hope in Jesus. Amen.

Sunday: Pure Love
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord,
plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future
full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I
will listen to you.
—Jeremiah 29:11–12
Reflection:
When the Consoler makes His home inside of us, He gives us
His strength, heals us and guides us. Everything becomes better.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, please increase within me Your pure love. May
all those suffering from depression experience Your love and
peace. Amen.

Sunday: Immaculate Heart
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
Scripture:
The Lord is my strength and my shield,/ in whom my heart
trusted and found help./ So my heart rejoices;/ with my song
I praise my God.
—Psalm 28:7
Reflection:
In heaven, Mary is always praying to God for us, her children,
to be strong and shielded from all harm.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, I give your Immaculate Heart my sincere devotion.
Please pray for my fears to be calmed, for my concerns in life to
be taken care of, and through your intercession help me attain
the gift of heaven. Amen.

Sunday: Confidence
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to
win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
—1 Corinthians 9:25
Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother is in heaven, but she is also a Queen, and
so when we pray the Rosary, we should have confidence that
what we are praying for will come to us in God’s timing, if it
is God’s will.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, Queen Raised Up to Glory, please pray for harmony
among the nations and peoples of the world. Amen.

“It is good to know why those who are devoted to the Blessed Virgin honor her more on Saturdays than on other days.  Consider, then, that our Lord is said to have rested on the Sabbath; again, he rested in her as in his tabernacle. Therefore, the sabbath and the Virgin are in harmony, for Saturday is the time of our Lord’s rest, and she is the place of it. Again, the work of creation, that is, of nature, was finished on Saturday; in her, the work of re-creation, that is, of grace, was finished. Saint Bernard says: ‘In thee, and through thee, O most kind Lady, the hand of the Maker recreated all that he had created.’ Thus, she and Saturday agree in regard to completion.”  –Blessed Humbert of Romans (+ ~1277)

Intention:   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.

Saturday: Completed
the Father’s Will
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
You guide me along the right path/ for the sake of your name.
—Psalm 23:3
Reflection:
With Mary’s “yes” she completed the Father’s will. She will be
blessed forever, because she embraced God’s will.
Prayer:
Father, as I walk the dusty roads of life, give me the unselfishness
to be obedient to Your will every step of the way. Amen.

Saturday: Carrying Jesus to Others
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back.
—Ezekiel 34:16
Reflection:
Mary carried Jesus, God Incarnate, in her womb, to visit
Elizabeth, seeking her out for the love of neighbor.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to carry Jesus to others, in imitation of Mary.
Give me a simple smile for others, or the answer to someone’s
question about the faith or a listening ear. Amen.

Saturday: Adoring Jesus
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
The angel of the Lord appeared to them [the shepherds] and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck
with great fear.
—Luke 2:9
Reflection:
The Word Incarnate was born into the world and laid in a
manger where Mother Mary, St. Joseph and the shepherds
adored Him.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary and St. Joseph, assist me, through your
intercession, in doing my best to imitate you and the shepherds
by simply adoring Jesus, and thereby recognizing Him as Our
Lord and Savior. Amen.

Saturday: Accepting
Divine Appointments
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said
about him.
—Luke 2:33
Reflection:
Simeon gave his prophecy about Mary’s being pierced by a
sword in recognition that serving God would not always be
easy.
Prayer:
Lord, encourage me to listen to Your still, small voice, and to
accept Your divine appointments in my life. Amen.

Saturday: Safety Net
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek
me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the
Lord.
—Jeremiah 29:13–14
Reflection:
We often get off track spiritually, and Jesus can seem far away
from us. But He died to make sure that He would be available
to us always, if we would only seek Him.
Prayer:
Jesus, assist me in remembering You, and Your safety net of
divine love. Teach me to turn to You even in my darkest
moments. Amen.

“Let us respond to the tremendous thirst of God by our loving trust in his love for us and total surrender to his will with joy. Let us turn to God with deep faith and love, repenting for our sins and begging for his mercy. Let us turn to each other also in love and trust, asking pardon for the hurt we have caused others and forgiving all the hurt we have received….”  –Saint Teresa of Calcutta (+ 1997)

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

Friday: Strengthen
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you
may not undergo the test.”
—Luke 22:40
Reflection:
When Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father in the Garden
of Gethsemane, He took His own earlier advice and found
strength in God through prayer and reflection.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please aid me in my most distressing times to
keep doing Your will, so that I can be assured that I will be
strengthened by You. Amen.

Friday: Accepting Insults
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
No weapon fashioned against you shall prevail;/ every tongue
you shall prove false that launches an accusation against you./
This is the lot of the servants of the Lord,/ their vindication
from me, says the Lord.
—Isaiah 54:17
Reflection:
It is disturbing to envision Jesus’s tormenters laughing at Him,
and whipping Him again and again as He bled. But it is valuable
to think of this, to remind us of how much He paid for us.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, I ask for the ability to accept every insult I receive
for the love of You. When others are thoughtless toward me,
help it to roll off of me and instead to focus on Your love. Amen.

Friday: He Loves Me
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
But [Pilate] said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only
shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!”
—Matthew 27:23
Reflection:
Again, it is disturbing but valuable to envision the humiliations
that Jesus suffered when He was crowned with thorns. If He,
who was sinless, underwent such suffering, why would we
think that we should be spared all suffering in our lives?
Prayer:
Lord, when something humiliating comes my way, help me to
meditate on Your suffering, accept what happened and call to
my mind how much You love me – remembering that nothing
will ever stop You from loving me. Amen.

Friday: Accept Cross Willingly
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to
be executed.
—Luke 23:32
Reflection:
It is sobering to think of the agony that Jesus and His Mother
Mary must have experienced together when their eyes met on
His way to Calvary as He – bruised and wounded—carried the
heavy Cross.
Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, Vessel of Selfless Devotion, please pray for
me to accept my cross willingly, and for Jesus to assist me in
carrying it, also. Amen.

Friday: Replace My Pride
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
Love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
—Psalm 32:10
Reflection:
When Jesus entrusted His Mother to John while on the Cross,
He was giving her to all of us, too. He wants us to depend on
her and to love her, as He loves her.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary, through your intercession, let me love
Jesus with your heart, and please replace my pride with your
humility. Amen.