Praying of the Holy Rosary

Third Joyful Mystery
The Birth of Our Lord





Scripture Reading, Luke 2: 6-12
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her first born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. 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. And this will be a sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."



Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary when the time of her delivery was come, brought forth our redeemer Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn at Bethlehem.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.

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.









LET US PRAY

O most pure Mother of God; through your virginal and most joyful delivery, whereby you gave to the world your only Son, our Savior, we beseech you to obtain for us, through your intercession, the grace to lead such pure and holy lives in this world, that we may become worthy to sing without ceasing the mercies of your Son, and His benefits to us by you. Amen.



Nativity



When we were seeking pleasure,

God sent us joy. We were peaceless

but alive at the turn of the age.

An atom struck spark and flamed

into flesh. A winter star swung down

over a rocky way. He who had been

eager to be born, now lay wrapped

in swaths. Approaching, we drank

dawn from his eyes and understood

that this one thing changes everything.

Eternity has reached down into time,

every wheel goes spinning now,

every road stretches straight, and

the light of every day disrupts the night.

Song, opening its wings, invites

simple souls to see him in his glory,

to kneel before the infant on the hay.

Doug Leonard

Second Glorious Mystery
The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven.





Scripture Readings, Luke 24: 45-53
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he 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. You are witnesses of these things. 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."Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.



Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after His resurrection, ascended into Heaven, attended by angels, in the sight, and to the great admiration of HIs most Holy Mother, and HIs apostles and disciples.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.









LET US PRAY

O Mother of God, comfort of the afflicted, as your beloved Son when He ascended into Heaven, lifted up His hands and blessed His apostles, so vouchsafe most Holy Mother, to lift up your pure hands to Him for us, that we may enjoy the benefits of His blessing and yours also, on Earth, and hereafter in Heaven. Amen.




Ascension



By the time we could tell he was heading out

Of town, many were already following him,

This savior who had risen from the dead.

We had all come to believe in him,

For we saw him everyday since he had returned.

He was different now,

Coming and going as he pleased,

Disregarding crowds and soldiers.



The scars of his wounds glowed in his flesh.

He would talk and eat with us,

Teaching us Scripture. He told us

We were already living in the Kingdom of Heaven

And he wanted us to tell everyone.

We were willing but we did not understand.

He was strong and bright,

And he was with us every day.



We didn’t know this was the day he had planned

To leave us. We always just followed him

Everywhere he went, everywhere we could.

He was walking into the country,

Toward Bethany. The day was warm and sunny.

A few clouds floated in the blue.

Then he stepped off the road,

And the crowd pressed in to hear what he would say.



Looking grave, he began to bless us slowly.

When we looked up again he was being lifted

From the earth, standing in air above our heads,

Still holding his gesture of blessing.

Soon he had risen above the trees.

Then he entered a cloud and was gone.

We didn’t know what to do.

We stared at the place in the air where he had been.



Two angels brought us back to earth.

They stood before us and proclaimed

That Jesus had been taken into heaven

And that he would return to us the same way.

Then we recalled what he’d been telling us all along.

He was going to his Father,

But we must to go back to Jerusalem

To pray and to wait for power.



Could anything else surprise us?

He had promised to stay with us always,

So why was he gone again?

He left us some terrifying commandments

About loving God and others

And spreading his Word.

But who would believe this story?

For him, we were happy.

He had conquered death

And gone to his reward. For ourselves,

We were sure that we would abandon him again.
Doug Leonard

Second Luminous Mystery
The Wedding at Cana.




Scripture Reading, John 2: 1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." [And] Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.


Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus performed his first sign at Cana in Galilee. Jesus, His beloved Mother, and His disciples were invited guests at a wedding. On the third day of celebrations Mary told Jesus that the wine had run out. Although His hour had not yet come Jesus turned water into wine, thus did He reveal His glory and His disciples believed in Him.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.








LET US PRAY

Mary by your timely intervention you were instrumental in having your beloved Son turn water into wine of the finest quality. We ask that you now be instrumental in giving us the desire to avoid sin so that, like the wine, the quality of our lives will improve to make us worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.






Wedding Feast



It was so much like heaven that you could not resist treating it as liturgy. All the elements were there. Guests were drinking long life to the bride and groom--until the wine ran out.



Wanting nothing to spoil this day for the family, your mother interceded. You had been unwilling to show yourself, but now, because of her, you could not desire not to.



The servants did as you asked, more for her sake, it seemed, than for yours. But of course they thought it pointless to fill up six big jars with water when the guests were wanting wine.



When the jars were full, you told a servant to draw some out for the steward. Tasting it, he questioned why the best wine had been reserved for those seated last.



For you this was easy, saving the day with water and wine. But you already knew that someday you would pour out blood for these dying ones. You would give them life to drink.

by Douglas Leonard

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
The Carrying of the Cross.



Scripture Reading, John 19: 16-22
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but that he said 'I am the King of the Jews.' " Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."


Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bore with the most amazing patience the cross which was laid upon Him for His greater torment and ignominy.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.








LET US PRAY

O Holy Virgin, example of patience; by the most painful carrying of the cross, in which your Son our Lord Jesus Christ bore the heavy weight of our sins, obtain for us of Him through your intercession, courage and strength to follow His steps and bear our cross after Him, unto the end of our lives. Amen.





From Gabbatha to Golgotha



From Gabbatha to Golgotha

We are the gray stones

Of Jerusalem . We cry out

Praises to the Lord of Stones

As he passes among us

With his load of wood.



While women weep,

We rejoice to bear him up.

He treads us underfoot

And sprinkles us with drops

Of precious sweat and blood

In this his glorious hour.



For us stones, he became

The stone the builders rejected.

And this day he is becoming

The cornerstone of history

As of creation, the keystone

Of all times and all places.



We elements, we minerals,

Have been groaning

For eons, awaiting

His coming. He is here

At last, walking the last mile

That will renew the earth.



How beautiful are the feet

Of the Rock of Ages

Going out of the city gates.

All these walls, these blocks,

And the stones of the temple

Will soon lie at his feet.



Strengthened by our song,

He ascends the last hill.

Among the skulls there

Are stacked some

Stone tablets to help him

Step up into the Tree.

Doug Leonard

Third Joyful Mystery
The Birth of Our Lord.



Scripture Reading, Luke 2: 6-12
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her first born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. 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. And this will be a sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary when the time of her delivery was come, brought forth our redeemer Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn at Bethlehem.


In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.











LET US PRAY

O most pure Mother of God; through your virginal and most joyful delivery, whereby you gave to the world your only Son, our Savior, we beseech you to obtain for us, through your intercession, the grace to lead such pure and holy lives in this world, that we may become worthy to sing without ceasing the mercies of your Son, and His benefits to us by you. Amen.



Nativity



When we were seeking pleasure,

God sent us joy. We were peaceless

but alive at the turn of the age.

An atom struck spark and flamed

into flesh. A winter star swung down

over a rocky way. He who had been

eager to be born, now lay wrapped

in swaths. Approaching, we drank

dawn from his eyes and understood

that this one thing changes everything.

Eternity has reached down into time,

every wheel goes spinning now,

every road stretches straight, and

the light of every day disrupts the night.

Song, opening its wings, invites

simple souls to see him in his glory,

to kneel before the infant on the hay.

Doug Leonard

Fourth Joyful Mystery
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of Our Lady.




Scripture Reading, Luke 2: 25-32
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. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for 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."


Let us contemplate in this mystery how the Blessed Virgin Mary on the day of her purification, presented the child Jesus in the temple, where Holy Simeon giving thanks to God with great devotion received Him into his arms.


In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.




LET US PRAY

O Holy Virgin, most admirable mistress and pattern of obedience, who did present in the temple the Lord of the temple; obtain for us of your beloved Son, that with holy Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise and glorify Him forever. Amen.



The Presentation of Jesus



They brought a cage of doves into the temple,

A working man with his young wife and baby.

They had come to Jerusalem to give their boy to God,

In spite of Herod.



Like a last leaf of autumn aimless in the wind,

Simeon entered the temple. Always in prayer,

He was holding to a promise that one day

He would see the Christ.



Receiving him, Simeon found in blessing the child

That he himself was blessed. He spoke, “Master, now

Let me be gathered to my fathers, for I have gathered

You into my arms.



“Your child will reveal true God to the Gentiles,

And Israel will contradict the glory he brings it.

All who meet him will have their hearts

Severed by his word.”



Simeon said to Mary, “A sword will pierce you too.”

Mary would ponder it later. For now, with Anna,

A pious woman sent by God to witness the scene,

She gave thanks to God.

Doug Leonard

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
The Crucifixion




Scripture Reading, John 19: 25-30
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.



Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ, being come to Mount Calvary, was stripped of his clothes, and His hands and feet were most cruelly nailed to the cross, on which He died, during His three hours of agony, in the presence of His afflicted Mother.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.




LET US PRAY

O Holy Mary, Mother of God; as the body of your well beloved Son was for us stretched on the cross, so may our desires be daily more extended in His service and our hearts wounded with compassion for His most bitter passion; and you, O most Blessed Virgin, graciously vouchsafe, by your powerful intercession, to accomplish the work of our salvation. Amen.




Sorrowful Mother

Joyful Virgin, with your trusting yes

You un-spoke our primal disobedience.

Spirit wove a holy child of your flesh.

Who thought that nailing that Flesh

To a Roman cross would establish

At last the identity of the boy’s Father?

Long ago you brought the infant

To the temple. You did not expect the priest

To speak terrible things over him.

Nor did you understand his mentioning,

As if in afterthought, your own piercing.

You had already taken the baby to heart.

You felt it, Sorrowful Mother, as his blood

Soaked the wood and darkened the earth.

This moment he made you my mother.

Doug Leonard

First Sorrowful Mystery
The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden



Scripture Reading, Luke 22: 39-46
Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not undergo the test." After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." [And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.] When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you that you may not undergo the test."

Let us contemplate in this mystery how our Lord Jesus Christ was so afflicted for us in the Garden of Gethsemani, that His body was bathed in a sweat of blood, which ran down in great drops upon the ground.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.



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.






LET US PRAY

Most Holy Virgin, more than martyr, by that ardent prayer which your beloved Son poured forth unto His Father in the garden, vouchsafe to intercede for us, that our passions being reduced to the obedience of reason, we may always, and in all things, conform and subject ourselves to the will of God. Amen.

Fourth Glorious Mystery
The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into Heaven.




Scripture Reading, Luke 1: 46-55
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.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
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."



Let us contemplate in this mystery how the glorious Virgin Mary, twelve years after the resurrection of her Son, passed out of this world unto Him, and was by Him assumed into Heaven, accompanied by the holy angels.



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe 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, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.


(1)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.


(2)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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)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.


(6)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.


(7)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.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)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.

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.








LET US PRAY

O most prudent Virgin, who entering the heavenly palace, did fill the angels with joy and man with hope, vouchsafe to intercede for us at the hour of our death, that being delivered from the illusions and temptations of the devil, we may joyfully and securely pass out of the temporal state, to enjoy the happiness of eternal life. Amen.