The Joyful Mysteries
As I am trying to learn more about God I have started to ponder more about the Mother of God, our Blessed Lady. She gave us the rosary, which is suppose to be one of the most powerful prayers. It is to be said daily (or as many times throughout the day, as you'd like). I have caught myself saying it several times throughout the day in the thought of trying to stay in constant prayer. It also helps me keep my mind off of vain things of the world. My life has greatly improved since saying the rosary. As my name is on my blog 'Learning More About God', I am only a lay person trying to learn. Nothing I write is scripture but just my interpretation along with the help of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Someone who I like to listen to on a daily basis to help me understand the little things that I ponder and wonder about. So here is a description of the joyful mysteries, how to pray the joyful mysteries, and the virtue associated with each mystery. I did this to the best of my ability. If anyone is trying to learn more, like I am, I hope this helps. Also, if you have more to offer please leave a comment. Thanks and God Bless!
Think: In the joyful mysteries God sends out an Angel. The Angel passes over the planes of Israel. He comes to a Virgin kneeling in prayer and says "Will you give God a human nature? God wishes to become a man." And the Blessed Mother after being told it was going to be done through the Holy Spirit, submitted and agreed to giving God a human nautre. Now something like that has all happened to us. God asks, will you give me your human nature? Mary gave me hers. And that human nature that Mary gave God was united substantially with God's divinity. Now yours won't be united in the same way but it will be united with Grace. So if you give God your human nature, He will work through you.
That is how God works through human nature, that Mary gave God. The human nature Mary gave God is much like a pencil in your hand. Here you have a personality. Of course a pencil couldn't have a personality because it not a person it is a nature. When God 's person, second person of the Blessed Trinity, came down and took that human nature. That human nature that our Blessed Lord took, was so flexible in his hand that it did everything in accordance to the Will of the Father. So when God asks you, as he did, for your human nature. He wanted you to be like a pencil in your hand. If you want it to write the word God it will write the word God. It is that flexible. Suppose that pencil had a will of its own and said I want to do my thing. And you tell the pencil to write the word God and suppose it writes the word flee. You couldn't do anything with it, useless pencil. So if we are perfect Christians like Our Blessed Mother gave her human nature to the Lord, we give our human nature to the Lord and he uses us.
To Begin:
Sign of the cross saying "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Apostles Creed, 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory be and 1 Fatima Prayer
1) The Annunciation: (for the virtue of Humility)
God sends out the Archangel Gabriel to a Virgin kneeling in prayer. Coming with tidings saying "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee." Asking "will you give God a human nature, God wishes to become a man". The Virgin Mary when told it would happen through the Holy Spirit said "yes" she would give God a human nature. Stating "behold the handmade of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word."1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer
2) The Visitation: (For the virtue of Charity)
When at news of her cousin Elizabeth she went in haste to see her. Upon greeting Elizabeth, she greeted her with the prophetic utterance "Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." And Mary answered with the canticles of canticles The Magnificat.1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer
3) The Birth of Jesus: (For the virtue of Detachment from the World)
When the time had come Mary brought forth the Reedemer of the world, Jesus Christ. He was born in a clean stable at Bethlehem; where upon the choirs of angels filled the Heavens with their exultant song of praise "Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace to men of good will."1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer
4) Presentation at the temple: ( For the virtue of Purity)
When in obedience to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple. Where the Holy prophet Simeon, taking Jesus into his arms, offered thanks to God for sparing him to look upon his Savior and foretold of Mary's sufferings by the words "thy soul also a sword shall pierce..."1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer
5) Finding of Jesus in the Temple: (For the virtue of Obedience to the will Of God)
This is where the Blessed Mother became the Mother of Sinners. Sin is the loss of God. The Blessed Mother lost her son for 3 days, sorrowing looking for him and during that time she found out what sin was during that time. So if we ever get off the road to Heaven she comes and seeks us out. When finding Her blessed Jesus in the temple with all the scholars and teachers she was overcome with Joy. After Jesus explained to Mary that he wanted to stay and do what His Father (God) wanted Mary stated it was not time. Jesus listened and went home with Mary.1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatime Prayer
At the end of the rosary say "Hail Holy Queen".
I usually also say The Memorare and a prayer to St. Michael. (optional)
Then end with the Sign of the Cross. "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
