The Rosary for Life
The First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation
The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced God's Will that she become the Mother of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Mary said "Yes, let it be done unto me according to Thy Will." Mary was a teenager and at the time had other expectations for her life. She was no less human than we are ... consider what fears and uncertainties might have gripped her. Mary's love for God, her resolve to always do His Will, and the graces that she received from Him, made all the difference and she was strengthened to say "Yes" to the new Life that was to begin in her womb. Let us pray for all those who are troubled by the news of a pregnancy ... may they turn to God for the courage and support to say "No" to abortion and "Yes" to Life.
The Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation
Through His Mother, Jesus began His ministry from the moment of His conception. Led by the Holy Ghost, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth who was in her 6th month with child. As they met, Elizabeth's child leapt in the womb and Jesus sanctified the child, Saint John the Baptist. Mary's womb was sanctified by the presence of Our Lord; Elizabeth's womb was sanctified by the action of the unborn Jesus. Surely, the unborn child is more than just tissue. In God's eye, each unborn child, even on day 1, is already a person, a very precious person in His sight. Let us pray for a conversion of hearts so that every person will see, as God sees, the preciousness of life from the moment of conception to our natural death as ordained by God alone.
The Third Joyful Mystery - The Nativity
With joy we meditate upon this mystery of the birth of the Infant Jesus. The night sky is brilliant with the host of Angels singing: "Glory to God in the Highest and Peace on Earth to men of good will!" That blessing of peace was meant for us for all time - not just at that moment. But how can we possibly have this peace with all the daily troubles that beset us and the sudden tragedies and fears that interrupt our lives? ...
... By placing our trust in God. By making a leap of faith in Him to be there for us when we make a difficult decision. To believe that He will take care of things when we make the decision to stop the contraceptives, to let the unborn child live, to do what is right regardless of the outcome. Please take to heart Jesus' words as recorded by St. Matthew (6:24-34) and St. Luke (12:22-31). God knows what we need and He will provide - there is nothing to fear. So let us rejoice with the Angels and let us embrace the goodness of God's gift of Life!
The Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Consider the absolute JOY of the Christ Child as He was offered and dedicated to His Father, in His Father's house. Jesus became Man to do God's will and doing His will was His joy and His sustenance. Yet this occasion for joy was totally dependent on the submission of Mary and Joseph to the law of their faith. They submitted to the law, even though they carried the Redeemer Himself! If they had lived in our "enlightened" age of personal liberties, dissension, disobedience and rationalizations, would Mary and Joseph have placed themselves above the law! Not for a second and neither should we. Pause for a moment and think ... what are you clinging to that you suspect is not in accord with God's will, particularly as given to us by the Roman Catholic Church?
God IS in charge, He loves you dearly, and He has a better plan for each of our lives than we could ever imagine, if only we let Him. Whether it be a Life issue or not, let us pray to Jesus, Mary and Joseph for Faith, Courage, Prudence and Patience to do God's will. The Joy will follow.
The Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
After searching for 3 days, Mary and Joseph found their 12 year old Son, Jesus, doing what He loved ... teaching of His Father's love. Then God the Son returned to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them. Pause and answer this: Do you want to do God's will? When we obey those whom God has placed in lawful authority over us, then we can be sure that we are doing God's will. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that "obedience is the greatest gift we can offer God, for it is the gift of the whole person. Through obedience we are conformed to Christ." God directs us in matters of morals through the Roman Catholic Church. Are we obedient to God's law as given us through the Church? Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. If you are unsure, then ask a Priest and expect to receive the Truth given with the Compassion of Christ. All that takes from life (abortion, contraceptives, misuse of our bodies, euthanasia) must go so that God can fill our lives completely with His Goodness.
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