The Joyful Mysteries, short mediations

The following short meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are a sharing by one of the Sisters. The Scripture references are taken from the Song of Songs, the book of the Bible which celebrates God’s great love for His people. For Jesus becomes man in order that we might become the children of God; He is the Divine Bridegroom seeking His Bride, the Church.

1 - The Annunciation ... “You are wholly beautiful, my love, and without a blemish” (Sg 3:7). Mary, the Immaculate Conception, is without any blemish, without any shadow of sin; she is most beautiful in God’s eyes. With great love He sends His messenger to announce she has been chosen by God to bear the Messiah. With fullness of grace she responds with her fiat, totally accepting God’s will in her regard, and salvation begins. Mary, Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

2 - The Visitation ... “I hear my Beloved. See how he comes leaping the mountains, bounding over the hills” (Sg 2:8). Jesus is carried by Mary to the hill country, to the home of her cousin, Elizabeth. Through the Incarnation God will overcome all obstacles of sin and darkness which separate us from friendship with Him. And Elizabeth’s child, John, even though only an infant in the womb, testifies to this good news by leaping for joy. Mary, Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.

3 - The Birth of Our Lord ... “Show me you face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful” (Sg 2:14). Mary, who has loved and nurtured Jesus for nine months in her womb, now beholds His Sacred Face. With delight she holds in her arms the one is who both her Son and her God. He is so tiny, so small! And her heart cannot help but wonder at the majesty of God, who takes delight in appearing as a helpless child. Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

4 - The Presentation ... “What is this coming up form the desert like a column of smoke, breathing of myrrh and frankincense and every perfume the merchant knows?” (Sg 3:6) Jesus is brought into the temple to be consecrated to the Lord. And His presence there becomes a most fragrant offering to the Father. Here is the Light of the world. Here is the glory of Israel. Here is the New Moses who will lead all people out of the bondage of sin. And here is the Lamb of God, whose sacrificial death upon the cross will one day pierce the Immaculate Heart of His Mother with profound sorrow. Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

5 - The Finding of Jesus in the Temple ...“Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I sought him but I did not find him” (Sg 3:3; 5:7). Jesus, who has come to seek out what is lost—fallen mankind—permits Mary and Joseph to lose sight of Him for three days. In the joyful reunion which follows Jesus shows that He is fully aware of His mission and totally accepts it. Mary believes her Son is divine and therefore knows what He is about; still, such a painful, frightening three day loss is something she cannot help but ponder over and over again in her Heart. Her determination to follow her Son in His mission, to always be there for Him, grows, as she renews, over and over again, her fiat to the Father’s will. Mary, Queen of families, pray for us.