Prayed on MONDAYS and THURSDAYS.

1. THE ANNUNCIATION

In this mystery, the Angel Gabriel brings word to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God. Thinking of her vow of virginity Mary asks how this mystery is to be accomplished. The Angel explains that her Motherhood will be effected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary gives her humble consent The Eternal Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, assumes human nature in her womb. "The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us." The Son of God becomes truly the Son of Mary. Think of her sublime dignity and the power this gives her with God. In becoming the Mother of God she became our Mother also. Through her all graces come to us from Christ. She can help us in all our needs. We admire her spotless purity, her profound humility, her complete submission to the will of God. Like her, we strive to be pure, to be humble, to be obedient to God's holy will. We ask her to help us to attain these ideals according to our state of life.

2. THE VISITATION

Having learned from the Angel that her cousin Elizabeth is also to bear a son, Mary goes at once to visit her and offer her services. The infant John is cleansed from original sin in his mother's womb at the moment Mary greets Elizabeth. The Holy Spirit makes Mary His instrument of grace. Elizabeth salutes her as "Blest are you among women." Mary pours out her sublime sentiments in the Magnificat.

We admire Mary's generous self-forgetfulness, her fraternal clrarity, and her prompt response to Cod's inspirations; also the carefulness with which she guards God's secret. We ask her to obtain for us the grace to imitate these virtues and to fulfil our duties towards others faithfully. We ask Mary also to visit us with her Divine Son, especially in Holy Communion, and to make us so Christlike that we may in turn bring Him to others.

3. THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

As we think of this mystery, the joys of the first Christmas are renewed in our hearts. With the shepherds we are enraptured by the song of the angels. With them we hasten to Bethlehem to adore the newborn Babe. We rejoice with Mary as she gazes with ecstatic joy on the face of her Son and her God. We see how she presses Him to her bosom with all the fervor of a mother's love, yet with all the reverence of a creature for her Creator. In spirit, we receive Jesus from Mary's hands and fold Him in our arms. St. Joseph, with devoted care, tries to make Mother and Child as comfortable as it is possible in their destitute surroundings. He, too, offers his adoring love. And Jesus, the mighty Cod, clothed in the form of a weak human infant, is obedient to the Father to the point of utter self-surrender. Like every human child, He depends entirely on His mother and father. Humility, self-abasement, obedience, detachment from earthly goods, contentment in poverty, charity toward the poor-these and many other virtues present themselves for imitation.

Simeon recognizes the Infant as the promised Savior, and prophesies that Mary's heart will be pierced by a sword because of her Son. Mary bows her will in loving submission to all that God may ask of her. She offers herself with Jesus for the world's salvation. And Jesus offers Himself to His Father as the Victim for the sins of the world. In Holy Mass we can offer this same Divine Victim each day as a most pleasing sacrifice of infinite worth. We unite with the Divine Victim and with the Mother of Sorrows in offering ourselves as victims of Divine Love.

5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Prayed on TUESDAYS and FRIDAYS.

1. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

J esus and His disciples leave the supper room and go to the Garden of Olives. Leaving the others at its entrance, Jesus takes Peter, James and John a little farther, saying "My soul is sorrowful unto death. Stay here and watch with Me." A "stone's throw" from them He falls into a fearful agony. He prays "Father, if it is your will, take this cup from Me! Yet not My will, but Yours be done!" In great anguish He returns to the three Apostles and, finding them asleep, says to Peter: "So you could not stay awake with Me for even an hour?" Retracing His steps to the place of prayer, He repeats His prayer and act of submission to His Father. Once more He returns to the three and warns them, "Wake up and pray that you may not be subjected to the trial!" His agony becomes a sweat of blood. As He continues His former prayer an Angel comes and comforts Him. He again wakes the sleeping Apostles just as Judas appears with soldiers to apprehend Him. Kissing Him and hailing Him as Master, Judas traitorously hands Him over to His enemies. The Apostles flee, and Jesus is bound and led off to the High Priest.

We learn the necessity of prayer to overcome our temptations. We grasp what an awful thing it is to betray our Savior by sin. We beg for deep and heartfelt contrition for our past sinfulness. We thank Jesus for His bitter sufferings for us, and offer His Blood and agony to the Father in expiation of our own and the world's sins. We ask for grace to accept God's will in trials with perfect conformity as Jesus did.

2. THE SCOURGING

Jesus is brought to Pilate, the Roman Judge, for trial. Pilate questions Him, but finds "no cause" in Him. However, to pacify the Jews, he orders Jesus to be scourged before releasing Him. Soldiers lead their Victim to a low whipping post, where they tear off His clothes. With leather thongs, tipped with lead or stones, the soldiers take turns lashing His taut, quivering form. Jesus writhes in agony at each cruel blow. Soon His Body is covered with wounds. Streams of blood flow down His Body and redden the ground.

By this cruel laceration Jesus atones for sins of impurity. Such excruciating suffering should make us realize what aversion Jesus bears for sin. Through the merits of His pain and Precious Blood we ask for grace to repent sincerely of any sins we have committed, and to refrain from sin in the future. We pray for the tempted, and ask for a spirit of penance. Through the stripes and sufferings of Jesus, we ask for the grace to mortify our rebellious senses and readily suffer anything rather than offend God.

3.THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

4. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

The soldiers bring Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate shows Him to the rabble saying: "Behold the Man!" hoping that His pitiable condition will soften the Jews. But they cry out: "Crucify Him! Let His blood be upon us and our children." Hypocritically washing his hands, Pilate, the weak-kneed judge, condemns Jesus to death. Jesus is led away and a heavy cross is placed on His pain-wracked shoulders. Stumbling along the rough streets, He fails several times. At a turn in the road Jesus comes face to face with His grief-stricken Mother, and a sword of sorrow pierces both their hearts. Fearing their Victim will not reach Calvary alive, the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus. Arnid all the cruelty a woman shows Him kindness, by wiping His blood-stained Face with her veil. A little farther on, Jesus passes a group of women who bewail His plight. He says to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me. Weep for yourselves and for your children." When Jesus arrives at Calvary, He is stripped of His garments. The soldiers give Him gall and sour wine, and make the preparations for crucifying Him.

Willingly Jesus accepts His Cross, His pain, His humiliations. He knows that by them He will win for us eternal joy and glory. We ask for grace to refrain from unjust judgments, murmuring and rebellion in our sufferings and cross-bearing.

Prayed on WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS and on SUNDAYS.

1. THE RESURRECTION

"After three days I will rise again," Jesus had said. The soldiers watching at His tomb are suddenly terrified by a great earthquake and flee. Jesus leaves the tomb unseen by anyone. Many believe He showed Himself first of all to His holy Mother. When the red dawn is streaking the east, the holy women hurry anxiously to the tomb to anoint Jesus' Body. To their astonishment they find the huge stone rolled from its entrance. Trembling they enter and find two angels who announce, "He is risen! He is not here!" The women hurry off to report the news to the Apostles. But Mary Magdalen lingers in the garden, and Jesus appears to her. A little later He appears to the contrite Peter. He walks with two disciples on the way to Emmaus, and explains the Scriptures about Himself. At the supper table, they recognize Him, and He disappears. That same Easter day, He passes through the barred door and greets the Apostles in the Cenacle with the words: "Peace be to you!" He gives them power to forgive sins. Eight days later, He shows Himself to Thomas. For forty days He continues to instruct the Apostles on the Kingdom of God.

We ask Jesus to strengthen our faith, hope and love, and for a glorious resurrection like His, of which this mystery is the pledge and greatest proof of His Divinity and teachings. We thank Him for the Sacrament of Penance, and ask Him to renew our spiritual ferver, and raise up spiritually all who are in sin.

2. THE ASCENSION

Jesus takes a last meal with His Apostles forty days after His Resurrection. He commissions them to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He promises to be with them all days, and bids them wait in Jerusalem for the Paraclete. Then He goes with the Apostles to Mt. Olivet, and as they watch He ascends on high. When He has disappeared angels tell them that He has "been taken up into heaven." (Acts 1,11.) Mary and the disciples return to Jerusalem to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

We thank Jesus for the Sacrament and powers given to priests, by which all men can be saved. We promise to follow the guidance of the Church, and beg for more faith, and more vocations. We offer Jesus' merits for the missionary conquest of the world.

3. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Gathered in the Cenacle, the disciples, with Mary and the holy women, make the first novena. On the tenth day a strong wind suddenly shakes the whole house, and parted tongues of fire appear. The apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit. They begin to speak in different languages. Filled with zeal, they go out of the Cenacle and Peter preaches his first sermon. About three thousand Jews are converted and baptized. A little later the Apostles disperse and go to preach the Gospel in all the known world.

We ask the Holy Spirit to make His love and grace effective in our lives, to transform us, and enable us to show true Christlikeness to others. We pray for the sanctification of priests and missionaries, and ask for an apostolic zeal for all the members of the Church.

An old legend says that when Mary felt the end approaching, she wished to say farewell to the Apostles. By divine inspiration, all, except Thomas, returned to Jerusalem. Together they celebrated the Holy Sacrifice and Mary received holy Viaticum, the kiss by which Jesus drew her to Himself forever. Three days later Thomas arrived and begged that the tomb be opened. His wish was granted, but no mortal remains were found. Instead lilies and roses filed the place with heavenly fragrance. Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption in 1950. This mystery makes stronger our faith and hope in the resurrection and glorification of our own bodies. We beg Mary to help us imitate her in life that we may enjoy eternal glory with her in life that we may enjoy eternal glory with her in heaven. We ask her to obtain a happy death for us and loved ones, and for all who will die today.

5. MARY'S CORONATION AS QUEEN OF HEAVEN

Neither tradition nor Scripture gives definite information on this mystery, but Holy Church has always approved it. From earliest times, Mary has been saluted as "Queen." We picture our Heavenly Queen's throne at the right hand of her Divine Son, where she rejoices in being Advocate, Helper and Mediatrix. She is honored by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as Daughter, Mother and Spouse.

We promise our Heavenly Queen to listen to the daily message of her holy Rosary. She says to us, "My children, hear me. Blessed are they who keep my ways. Hear instruction; be wise and refuse it not. He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord." With filial love we consecrate our-selves to her: "0 my Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you!" We humbly ask for graces for the Church and souls, for the release of Souls from purgatory. We beg her to bring us and

all our dear ones to the eternal joys she now possesses. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!

PRAYER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ROSARY

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His Life, Death and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech You, that we who meditate on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the blessed Virgin Mary, may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives forever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

O God, in Your wonderful providence You were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother. Grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our protector. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

O Lord, send workers for Your harvest so that the commands of Your only begotten Son may always be obeyed and His sacrifice be everywhere renewed. Look with favor upon Your family and ever increase its numbers. Enable the Church to lead its sons and daughters to the holiness to which they are called and to work for the salvation of others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.

OUR FATHER

Our Father, Who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

HAIL MARY

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

GLORIA

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

OPTIONAL

THE FATIMA PRAYER

(to be said after each decade of the Rosary)

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy Mercy."

Introductory Prayers:

1. The Apostles Creed

2. Our Father

3. Three Hail Marys, followed by a Gloria

Rosary Proper:

4. Recall the First Mystery Our Father

5. Ten Hail Marys

6. Gloria Second Mystery Our Father

7. Ten Hail Marys (Repeat as above until five Mysteries are said.)

Back to Part 1 The Rosary: My Daily Prayer