Reflections on the Mysteries of the Rosary

Excerpt from The Rosary, My Treasure

Blessed First Saturday of November. As a reminder of why we keep the First Saturday Devotions and what are the requirements to receive the graces promised by Mary to all those who keep this devotion —

We keep the devotion because it is what Mary requested of Sister Lucy:

“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the rosary, and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”

What is required of us to receive our Lady’s promise:

1. Spirit of reparation
   The spirit of reparation is a loving desire to make reparation to and console the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Our Mother. It considers the offenses which the Immaculate Heart of Mary now receives from those who reject her maternal intervention and despise her prerogatives.

   1. One should make this intention before carrying out Our Lady’s requests. A renewal of the actual intention at the time is best.

2. Confession in the spirit of reparation
   If one cannot go to confession on the first Saturday of the month, one can go within eight days. Even one’s monthly confession would be sufficient, which would need the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

3. Reparatory Communion
   This is the essential act of this devotion. If a just reason prevents the Communion on a First Saturday, with the priest’s permission it may be received the following Sunday.

4. Recitation of the rosary
   The rosary is a vocal prayer said while meditating upon the mysteries of Our Lord’s and Our Lady’s lives. To comply with the request of our Blessed Mother, it must be offered in reparation for the offenses committed against her Immaculate Heart and said properly while meditating.

5. 15-minute meditation
   Also offered in reparation, the meditation may embrace one or more mysteries; it may include all, taken together or separately. This meditation should be the richest of any meditation because Our Lady promised to be present when she said “...those who keep me company....”

(Taken from The Fatima First Saturdays)

In order to help you meet the requirement to meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary, I present the following meditations.

Yours in Jesus and Mary.

Excerpt from the booklet, The Rosary, My Treasure by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (1950, Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, pages 48-56).

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Reflections on the Mysteries of the Rosary

A good method of praying the Rosary with meditation, and therefore with profit, is to make as it were, a “moving picture” of each mystery considering a new detail with each Hail Mary. Before each decade, pause for a few moments to fix the mystery in mind; then follow it step by step as you pray the Hail Marys. For this, the following condensed narratives of the various mysteries will be helpful. Each sentence presents a “word-picture” to your imagination, upon which you may dwell while reciting the Hail Mary. If one point holds your attention, dwell on it during several Hail Marys. The recitation of the Rosary in this way will mean a quarter of an hour spent with Jesus and Mary — a quarter of an hour of faith and love.

When we speak of praying the Rosary, we generally refer to the recitation of five decades. The complete Rosary consists of fifteen decades, divided into three parts, honoring the Joyful, the Sorrowful and the Glorious mysteries in the lives of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.

Joyful Mysteries

I. The Annunciation

Incarnation of the Son of God

The holy Virgin has longed most ardently from her very infancy for the coming of the Messiah. The angel salutes her as “full of grace” and announces to her that she is to be the Mother of the Redeemer. Having consecrated her virginity to God, Mary hesitates; then the angel dispels her doubts, saying, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee.” Full of love, and obedient to the will of God, Mary responds, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” The incarnation takes place. . . Oh, the great joy of the Blessed Trinity, of the angels, and the just in limbo!. . . Mary is in constant adoration of the Son of God incarnate in her bosom. How great is the dignity of the Blessed Virgin and the abasement of the Son of God dwelling within her.

II. The Visitation

Mary hastens to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Adoring angels accompany her. Consider the deep recollection and adoration of Mary during this journey. The Virgin-Mother arrives in Hebron. Elizabeth salutes her and little John leaps for joy and is sanctified in his Mother's womb. Elizabeth praises Mary, “Blessed art thou among women.” Mary sings the Magnificat. Mary is full of kindness and charity toward Elizabeth. St. John the Baptist is born. Zachary chants the Benedictus.

III. The Nativity of Our Lord

St. Joseph with his blessed Spouse goes to Bethlehem. Consider the fatigues and hardships of the long, weary journey for Mary in her blessed condition; also, her interior union and recollection with Jesus. Mary and Joseph find no shelter in Bethlehem. The miraculous birth of Jesus takes place in the stable. Mary remains a virgin before and after childbirth. Mary and Joseph adore the Heavenly Infant. The angels adore Jesus and announce the good tidings to the shepherds. The Wise Men also come to adore the new-born Savior. The Holy Family lives a hidden life in the grotto for forty days.

IV. The Presentation in the Temple

Mary humbly and obediently submits to the law of purification. Mary and Joseph journey to Jerusalem and enter the temple, praising and adoring. Mary presents her Child. The Most Holy Trinity looks with complacency on the offering of Jesus. Mary is willing to sacrifice her Divine Babe. Simeon receives the Infant from Mary and recognizes his Redeemer. He offers the Child and foretells to Mary that the sword of sorrow shall pierce her heart.

V. Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Jesus, Mary and Joseph glorify and praise the Heavenly Father in the temple. Jesus remains in the temple and His parents know it not. Mary and Joseph seek Him for three days with great sorrow of heart; they return to Jerusalem and find Him in the temple amidst the doctors. Mary and Joseph are filled with joy. Mary asks, “Son why hast Thou done so to us?” Jesus answers: “Didst thou not know that I must be about My Father's business?” Mary keeps the words of Jesus in her heart. Jesus returns with His parents to Nazareth and is subject to them.

Sorrowful Mysteries

I. The Agony in the Garden

With the Apostles Jesus leaves the room of the Last Supper. By the institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament He has just given us the greatest proof of His love. He goes to Mount Olivet to pray and endure His agony of death. He prays, “Father, not My will, but Thine be done.” His disciples fall asleep. . . Jesus reproaches Peter: “Couldst thou not watch one hour with Me?. . . Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. . .” Jesus prostrates on the ground and sweats blood. An angel consoles and strengthens Him. Judas betrays Him; the Apostles forsake Him; Peter denies Him. Jesus is bound and taken before the high priest and council.

II. Jesus is Scourged

Jesus is brought before Pilate, unjustly accused and condemned to the scourging. He is stripped and bound to the pillar. For our sins of impurity, Jesus suffers this humiliation of being deprived of His garments. Our Savior is torn and lacerated by the cruel scourging. He suffers most intensely during this terrible chastisement. Streams of Blood from His open Wounds flow down and redden the ground.

III. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns

The mantle of derision is thrown around the shoulders of Jesus. A crown of thorns is cruelly pressed upon His sacred head. He is given a reed for a mock sceptre. The soldiers ridicule Him, give Him blows, spit upon His adorable Countenance and cry out: “Hail, King of the Jews.” With the Blessed Virgin, let us adore Jesus as the true King of glory. Pilate presents Jesus to the Jews, saying: “Ecce Homo! Behold the man!” The people cry out: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate washes his hands and condemns Jesus to death.

IV. Jesus Carries His Cross

The heavy Cross is thrown at Our Lord's feet. Jesus willingly offers Himself to the Heavenly Father as a victim for sins. He embraces and kisses the Cross as the altar on which our Redemption is to be accomplished. Jesus, weighed down by His heavy Cross, walks the painful road to Calvary. . . Several times He falls beneath its crushing weight. . . Veronica wipes Our Lord's sacred Countenance with her veil. Mary meets her cross-bearing Jesus. Only one word passes between them: “My Son!” “My Mother!” Oh, the intense suffering of Jesus and His Virgin Mother!. . . The holy women console Our Lord.

V. Jesus is Crucified and dies on the Cross

Jesus is deprived of His garments and barbarously stretched out on the Cross. Large nails are painfully driven through His blessed hands and feet. He is raised on the Cross between two criminals. For three hours our Savior hangs on the Cross, every moment of which is an agonizing death for Him. Jesus offers His life to reconcile us with the Father. Mary, standing beneath the Cross compassionating Jesus, suffers untold woe. Jesus is derided by His enemies. He prays for them and promises paradise to the good thief. Jesus is abandoned by His Father in heaven. He cries out, “I thirst!” “It is consummated!” “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” Jesus dies on the Cross. The Heart of Jesus is transpierced with a lance. His Body is taken down from the Cross and laid in His Mother's arms.

Glorious Mysteries

I. Resurrection of Our Lord

Jesus rises gloriously from the tomb and appears to His Mother. She adores Him with unspeakable joy. Jesus is seen by Mary Magdalen, then by the other holy women. Mary Magdalen tells St. Peter and St. John what she has seen at the grave. Jesus meets the disciples going to Emmaus. He appears to the eleven, then to all the Apostles, with Thomas, who adores Him, saying: “My Lord and my God!” For forty days Jesus frequently manifests Himself to the Apostles and disciples.

II. Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven

Jesus, with Mary, the Apostles and disciples, goes to Mount Olivet. All adore Him. Jesus promises to remain with His own to the end of the world. He once more blesses His Mother and His disciples and before their eyes ascends into heaven. Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father. Angels appear to His disciples and instruct them. Mary and the Apostles gather in the cenacle; Mary consoles and sustains the Apostles.

III. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

For ten days, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles have prepared for the descent of the Holy Spirit. Suddenly the whole house is shaken as by a mighty wind, and fiery tongues come upon those assembled. The Holy Spirit teaches the Apostles all truth and inflames their hearts with the fire of Divine love. The Apostles receive the gift of tongues. Mary prays for them and for the first Christians.

IV. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

The end of Mary's life is near. By heavenly inspiration the Apostles gather around their dying Mother. Mary assists at Holy Mass with inexpressible fervor and with great devotion receives Holy Communion for the last time. Mary is consumed by the desire to depart from this life to be united with Jesus in heaven. Her soul separates from her body and is united with Jesus. . . The Apostles place her holy body in the grave. Mary is taken up into heaven with body and soul, and exalted above all angels and saints

V. Coronation of Mary in Heaven

Mary is crowned as the august Queen of heaven. God the Father crowns her as His beloved Daughter. God the Son crowns her as His dearest Mother. God the Holy Spirit crowns her as His chosen Spouse. Mary is crowned on account of her perfect love of God and man; she is crowned on account of her perseverance in the perfect practice of every virtue. In heaven Mary is the most perfect adorer of the Blessed Trinity, where she pleads our cause as our most powerful and merciful Mother, as the Mediatrix of all graces. Mary is the joy of all the angels and saints through eternity.

Prayer at the Conclusion of the Rosary

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, Death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, that whilst meditating on the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary, we may both imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.