| As we focus on
each mystery we should also focus on the little words at the end of each
one. To pray a Spiritual Rosary we can include a piece of Scripture and
each Mystery of the Spiritual Rosary can be found from the links above.
The
Joyful Mysteries - with the introduction of the new Mysteries
of Light the Joyful Mysteries are now said on Mondays and Saturdays and
for those who say a single mystery a day, focus on the joyful occassion
of the birth of Christ and His childhood:
1. The
Annunciation -
The angel of God appears
to Mary and tells her she is to be the Mother of God - humility.
2. The
Visitation -
Mary, on hearing of Elizabeth's
own preganancy goes to visit with Her cousin - charity.
3. The
Birth of Our Lord -
Away from home and with
no where to stay Mary and Joseph welcome Jesus into the world - poverty.
4. The
Presentation -
Mary and Joseph present
Jesus to His Heavenly Father in the temple 40 days after His Birth - obedience.
5. The
Finding in the temple -
After searching for three
days Mary and Joseph find the 12 year old boy sitting among the learned
doctors of the temple - piety.
The
Mysteries of Light - Now said on a Thursday
and with a focus on the life of Christ during His ministry on earth.
1.
The
Baptism of Our Lord -
As Christ descends into
the waters the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him
the beloved Son, while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the
mission which he is to carry out.
2.
The
Wedding Feast at Cana -
The first of the signs,
given at Cana, is when Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts
of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first
among believers.
3.
Jesus
Proclaims the Kingdom of God -
Jesus proclaims the coming
of the Kingdom of God, calls to conversion and forgives the sins of all
who draw near to him in humble trust, the inauguration of the ministry
of mercy which He continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly
through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
4.
The
Transfiguration -
During
the Transfiguration the glory of the Godhead shines forth from the
face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to “listen
to him” and to prepare to experience with Him the agony of the Passion,
so as to come with Him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured
by the Holy Spirit.
5.
The
Last Supper -
At the Last Supper we see
the the institution of the Eucharist, in which Christ offers his body and
blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies “to the
end” his love for humanity, for whose salvation he will offer himself in
sacrifice.
The
Sorrowful Mysteries - generally said on Tuesdays and Fridays
for those who say a single mystery a day, focus on the suffering and death
of Jesus.
1. The
Agony in the Garden -
The thought of our sins
and His impending, horrible death make Jesus sweat tears of blood - contrition.
2. The
Scourging at the Pillar -
Jesus is stripped of His
clothing and dignity and is lashed repeatedly leaving His body a mass of
bloody wounds - purity.
3. The
Crowning of Thorns -
Jesus is ridiculed for claiming
Kingship when they place a crown of thorns on His head - courage.
4. The
Carrying of the Cross -
Jesus shoulders His own
cross, carrying it and dragging it to Golgotha, our sins were the weight
of that cross - patience.
5. The
Crucifixion of Our Divine Lord -
After three hours of agony,
watched by His Beloved Mother, Jesus dies - self-denial.
The
Glorious Mysteries - now said on Wednesdays and Sundays for
those who say a single mystery a day, focus on the whole purpose of the
life and death of Jesus, His glorious resurection and our redemption from
sin and the place of honour accorded to His Blessed Mother, Mary.
1. The
Resurection -
Jesus rises from the dead
three days after His cricifixion as He had said He would - faith.
2. The
Ascension -
40 days after His Resurection
Jesus ascends into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father, there
to judge the living and the dead at the end of the world - hope.
3. The
Descent of The Holy Spirit -
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit
on His apostles and disciples in the form of fiery tongues - love.
4. The
Assumption -
Our Lady's soul returns
to God and her glorified body is assumed into heaven - eternal happiness.
5. The
Coronation -
Mary is crowned Queen of
Heaven and Earth, of Angels and Saints, to rule over our lives forever
and into eternity - devotion to Mary.
A Spiritual Rosary includes
a Bible passage relevant to each decade of the four Mysteries and can be
found below:
Joyful
Mysteries;
Mysteries of Light;
Sorrowful
Mysteries;
Glorious Mysteries
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