MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Joyful Mysteries Annunciation Humility. Visitation Fraternal Charity. Birth of Our Lord Esteem Of spiritual values . Presentation In the Temple Purity and Obedience. Finding of Our Lord Fidelity to one's duties . Sorrowful Mysteries Agony of Our Lord Sorrow for sin. Scourging at the pillar Mortification of the senses. Crowning with thorns Love Of humiliations. Carrying of the Cross Bearing Of tria/.'J . Crucifixion Forgiveness of iniurles. Glorious Mysteries Resurrection Faith and Hope. Ascension Into heaven Desire Of heaven. Descent of the Holy Ghost The Gifts Of the Holy Ghost. Assumption Devotion to Mary. Crowning of Our B. Lady Perseverance. Deacfdlffec:f \MY ROSARY MeditatIon on t"e f ' , Mpteri~s! of ~~, Rourv " ,I BY REV. DANIEL A. LORD. S. J. Nihil Obstat Arthur J. Scanlan S. T. D: Censor llbrorum. Imprimatur t Francis ' J. Spellman, D. D. Archbishop, New York 3 THE GREATEST STRING OF BEADS Often we call the Rosary our "beads" Almost every Catholic carries these beads in his )Socket or in her purse. Little children love to say them with their parents. When Catholics die , usually their beads are twined through their fingers and they are bur- ied with them. Great saints have called their beads a ladder leading up to heaven. But simple, uneducated people loved them too. Today, good Catholics say them when they walk, in street cars, while they wait for friends, at night in their rooms, driving their autos, wherever they have a minute to think of Jesus and talk to Mary. 4 THE WAY THE ROSARY IS SAID Most beads are only one third the full Rosary. The beads starts with a cru- cifix. On this, we recite the Apostles Creed. Then on all the large beads we say the Our Father. At the beginning of the Ro- sary there is one of these large beads. Following it are three small beads. On each bead we say the Hail Mary. The beads are connected with a chain. When we come to the big space that follows each group of Hail Marys, we say the Glory Be to the Fattier. The beads are grouped in decades called Mysteries; one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be. On a small set of beads, there are five decades. On a complete Rosary, there are fifteen decades. 5 THE MYSTERIES So when we start the Rosary, we ask ourselves what day of the week it is. If it is Monday or Thursday, we say, "For the five decades of my beads, I will think of the things that filled Mary's heart with joy". These are the Joyful Mysteries. If it is Tuesday or Friday, we say, "Today I will think of the things that made the heart of our Mother sad". These are the Sorrowful Mysteries. If it is Wednesday or Satur- day, we say, "This day I will think only of those things which made Mary deeply hap- py". These are the Glorious Mysteries. If it is Sunday in Advent and up to Lent, we think of the Joyful Mysteries. During Lent on Sunday we think of the Sorrowful Mys- teries. The rest of the year on Sun- days we think of the Glorious Mysteries. 6 PRAYING THE ROSARY Sometimes, when we pray to Mary, we--talk to her. Sometimes, when we pray to Mary, we just think about her and her Son. When we use the Rosary, we talk to her and think about her and Jesus at the same time. For our vocal prayers we use the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be to the Father. For our mental prayers, we think about the great events in the life of Mary and her divine Son called Mysteries. So when we use the Rosary, we talk to the Blessed Trinity, to Our Father in Heaven, and to Mary herself. And all the while we keep thinking about the great events that filled the life of Jesus and Mary on earth. 7 THE EJRST JOYFUL MYSTERY The Annunciation When Adam and Eve sinned in Paradise, they lost their right to happiness. But God promised to send His only Son to regain this happiness for them. Out of all the world, God chose Mary to be the Mother of His Son. One day the Angel Gabriel from heaven appeared to her. "Hail, full of grace!" he cried. And he told her that she was to be the Mother of the Most High. Mary answered. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord! " At that moment the Second Person" of the Blessed Trinity, God's Son, entered the world. This is called the Incarnation. 8 The Annunciation 9 THE SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY The Visitation The Angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, though an old lady, was to have a little son. This son was st. John the Baptist. So immediately Mary hurried over the hills to take care of her cousin. When Elizabeth saw her, she cried, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb". Mary answered by singing the Magnificat. Mary stayed with her cousin until John the Baptist was born. She was Elizabeth's little nurse and maid servant. When John was born and Elizabeth was strong again, Mary returned to her own home to wait for the birth of her own dear Son, Jesus. 10 The Visitation 11 'THE THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY The Nativity The proud Roman Emperor ordered all his citizens to pay their taxes in their home cities. So Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary travelled to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was so full of vis- itors they could not find a place to sleep. So they went out to a little stable in a hill. And there Je- sus, the Savior of the world, was born. A glorious star shone in the heavens. Angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest anq on earth peace to men of good will!" Shepherds came to adore the newborn King. Wise Men fr()m the east brought Him lovely gifts. Mary was deeply happy. She lifted Him high for the world to see. This was the first Christmas. 1,2 The Nativity 13 THE FOURrH JOYFUL MYSTERY The Presentation All men and women are the. children of God. The holy Jews carried each first born son to the Temple and offered him to God. Then in his place, they gave God a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair of pure white doves. So Mary carried her Son to the Temple. She offered Him to God. Then, because she was poor, she offered in His place two white doves. But a great prophet called Si- meon saw the Baby and knew this was the Savior of the world. He cried aloud in his joy. And a wise old lady named Anna blessed Him and His dear Mother. Then Mary home again. beloved nurse protector. carried her Son She was His and teacher and 14. The Presentation 15 THE FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY The Finding in The Temple The Jewish Temple was God's house on earth. When Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem where the Tem- ple stood. Jesus loved His Father's house. So when Mary and Joseph re- turned to Nazareth, their home town, He stayed behind. He knew that God wished Him to stay longer in His Father's house. Soon Mary 'and Joseph found that Jesus was lost. They hur- ried back to the Temple. For three days and nights they looked everywhere for Him. Finally, they found Him seated among the doctors and priests. He was· asking them wise questions and teaching them about the Savior. He did this because this was "His Fa- ther's business". Then quietly He returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary and for the rest of His youth, He was perfectly obedient to them. 16 The Finding in The Temple 17 THE FIRST SORROWFUL MYSTERY The Agony in The Garden Everyone who commits a sin is a criminal against the good God. So he should be pilnished. But Jesus, our Savior, came to take the sinner's place. He asked God to punish Him in- stead of us who really are the guilty ones. This suffering of Cnrist we call His Passion. On Holy Thursday after He gave us the Blesced Sacrament, He went into a lonely garden called Gethsemane. He looked ahead and sawall He was going to suffer. He sawall our sins, ugly, filthy, evil. And the thought of His Pas- sion and our sins made Him sweat blood. This blood poured down upon the ground in His agony. Then Judas came with the sol- diers. Like a traitor he kissed Jesus. The soldiers led Him away to death. 18 The Agony in The Garden 19 THE SECOND SORROWFUL MYSTERY The Scourging Pilate, the Roman Governor, knew that Jesus was not guilty. But all the people cried out for His death. And because Jesus had taken our place, God, His Father, was willing to let His Son die. Pilate ordered Him to be whipped. The soldiers fastened Him to a stone column. Then with heavy whips, they beat His back. Jesus suffered terribly from this scourging. But He did ' not cry out. For He knew how many people commit sins with their bodies. We sometimes call these the sins of the flesh. So He wanted to suffer for their sad sins. He wanted us to be strong against this kind of ugly sin. 20 The Scourging 21 THE THIRD SORROWFUL MYSTERY The Crowning With Thorns Jesus was the King of Kings, the King of the Jews. But the Roman soldiers thought this was funny. "still, let's pretend that He is", one of them cried. "For a joke let's make Him a crown". So they picked up a branch of cruel thorns, and made it into a crown. They pushed it into the head of our Savior. It hurt Him terribly. The blood ran down into His eyes. The thorns tore His skin and reach- ed toward His brain. Then the soldiers put a reed in His hand. They threw a dirty red cloak over His should- ers . . They laughed at Him and cried, "Hail to the King!" Jesus suffered all this because of our sins of thought and pride. 22 The Crowning With Thorns 23 THE FOURTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY The Carrying of The Cross Pilate heard the people cry out, "Crucify Him!" So Pilate ordered Him to be nailed on a cross. But . first He had to carry His own cross up to the top of Calvary. The croSs was very heavy. The soldiers put it on His should- er and it rubbed against His torn flesh. They dragged Him through the city and up the hill to die. The people laughed at Him and threw rocks and mud. When He fell, the soldiers kicked Him to His feet . Once along the way, He met Mary, His Mother. . But she could do nothing to help her dear Son. Veronica ran out of the crowd and wiped His face with her veil. Some good women wept for Him. And Simon was forced to help Him carry the cross. 24 The Carrying oj The Cross 25 THE FIFTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY The Cruciji3!ion For three hours our dear Lord hung on the cross. He was taking on Himself the punishment for our sins. He prayed to His Father in heaven, "Father, forgive them". He forgave the terrible sinner who became the Good Thief. He . gave us His own dear Mother. He cried out because He was thirsty for our love. At length, He knew that God had forgiven our sins. Once more, we had the right to enter heaven. So He dropped His head and died. "Greater love than this no man hath than to lay down his life for his friends". 26 The Crucifixion Z7 THE FIRST GLORIOUS MYSTERY The Resurrection Christ died on Good Friday. He was buried in the Holy Se- pulchre. For three days He lay dead. Soldiers guarded the tomb. The Roman Governor, Pilate, placed on the heavy door the seal of Rome. Then Sunday morning dawn- ed. Beautiful light appeared in the sky. The soldiers saw light pouring from the grave where Jesus lay. The great, heavy stone rolled away of itself. And Jesus, glorious, strong, beautiful, and alive, came forth from the tomb. He visited His dear Mother and thanked her. He showed Himself to Mary Miagdalen who was weeping for Him. He ap- peared to His Apostles. He proved to us that we shall live forever. This was the first Easter. 28 The Resurrection ~ THE SECOND GLORIOUS MYSTERY The Ascension For forty days Jesus remain- ed on earth after His resur- rection. He established His Church and gave it wonderful powers. He talked to His friends, tel- ling them about heaven, and about the work they must do first for God and souls. Then one Thursday, He took them all up on Mount Olivet. He gave them His last in- structions and said goodbye. Slowly by His own power, He began to rise from the earth. He stretched out His hands to bless them. He smiled down for the last time upon His Mother. At last a cloud covered Him, and He entered the joys of heaven. An angel then came to the Apostles and told them to go back and begin to work for souls. Some day they too would enter heaven and be happy forever. The Ascension 31 THE THIRD GLORIOUS MYSTERY The Descent of The Holy Ghost Christ had promised the Apostles, "I will send you the Holy Spirit. He will be your Comforter." After Jesus left them, the Apostles were afraid. So they hid themselves in the little apartment of Mary. They prayed and waited for nine days. This was the first Novena. Then on Pentecost, over their heads, the Apostles saw parted tongues of fire . A tongue set- tled on each of their heads. The Holy Spirit had come. At once, they went out and began to tell everyone about Jesus. They spoke so strongly that thousands believed and were baptized. This was the birthday of the Catholic Church. 32 The Descent of The Holy Ghost 13 THE FOURTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY The Assumption For a long time, Jesus left His Mother on earth. He want· ed her to take carp. of His Apostles, and be the Mother of the new Church. Then one day He quietly sent for her, and with a smile she died. The Apostles came from all over the _ earth to be at her deathbed. They carried her body to her grave and laid it gently in the ground. Saint Thomas came late, after the burial. When the Apostles took him to the grave, they .found it empty and open. Where Mary's body had rested, beauti- ful lilies were growing. Jesus had sent His angels to bring the body of His Mother to heaven. It was too pure to rest in the earth. It had served Him so well that it must at once enjoy the happiness of heaven. 34 The Assumption 35 THE FIFTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY The Coronation Mary had served Jesus all her life. She had loved and served God with her whole heart and soul. She had never committed the slightest sin. So in heaven she was .to have her reward. Body and soul" Mary entered heaven. Her Son, Jesus, met her and took her in His grateful arms. The Heavenly Father said, "This is My dear devoted daughter" The Divine Son said, "This is My dear faithful Mother'! The Holy Spirit said, "This is My sweet, pure bride". And the saints and angeis all cried, "This is our Queen!" So Jesus, the King of Kings, seated her on her throne. On her head He placed a glorious crown of stars. But Mary looked down to see her children on earth. For now she could help her sons and daughters to reach heaven. Mary is the Queen of Heaven. But she is our loving Mother who protects us with her power. 36 The Coronation 37 SAINT DOMINIC Like all the great saints, Saint Dominic deeply loved God's Mother, Mary. He dedicated his splendid priests, the Dominicans, to her. Dominic taught men to love the name of Jesus. He longed to make them know and love the sweet Mother of Jesus. He wanted them to pray to her, to think of her, to recall the wonderful life of Jesus and Mary. Mary loved her son, Dominic. So she gave him a string of beads like a necklace. She taught him how to use it. She asked him to give it to the world. And from that day on, men and women have used the Ro- sary when they pray to God's Mother. 38 THINKING AND PRAYING We like to say important things over and over again. . Our mother loves to hear us say repeatedly. "Mother, I love you!" When a hero passes, the crowds keep shouting, "Hooray! Hooray!" So in the Rosary we repeat the beautiful Hail Mary. Mary loves to think we greet her over and over again. But while we do this, we keep thinking about her and her Son. We pick a scene from her life and the life of our Lord. We think . of that while we say one decade. So with our voices we praise and love God and M,ary. And all the time, we keep thinking about the things that made her happy, the cruel Passion of Our Lord that made her sad, the glorious events that made her Queen of Heaven. 39 NO, 2498 NEW ROSARY BOOKLET BY FATHER LORD PER 100 $10.00 ORDER FROM WILLIAM J , HIRTEN CO . , INC, N.22!tl:tRCLAY ST. 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