Pray the Rosary, meditate on the mysteries.
Listen to the Word of God spoken in them.
Love each other.
Forgive each other.
Make peace. Don't ask for peace without making peace; because if you don't make it, it does no good to ask for it.
Fulfill your obligations.
Put into practice the Word of God.
Seek ways to please God.
Serve your neighbor as that way you will please Him.
~ Blessed Mother, Nicaragua, 1980

Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary

Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Humility

Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Charity / Love toward My Neighbor

Luke 1:39-56
39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lordshould come to me?
44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed are you who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
46 And Mary said:"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

The Birth of Our Lord

Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God, Poverty, Rejection of Worldly Comforts and Honors, Detachment from Worldly Desires, Contempt of Riches, Love of Poor

Luke 2:1-21
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat the whole world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son.She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
10 The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision,he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The Presentation of Our Lord

Fruit of the Mystery: Spirit of Sacrifice, Obedience, Purity

Luke 2:22-38
22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,"
24 and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."
33 The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce)so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

Fruit of the Mystery: Joy of Finding Jesus, Zeal for the Glory of God

Luke 2:41-52
41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,
47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50 But they did not understand what he said to them.
51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden

Fruit of the Mystery: Repentance for My Sins, Submission to Will of God, Sorrow for Sins

Matthew 26:36-56
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks,and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you,
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father."
30 Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken,for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed';
32 but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter said to him in reply, "Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be."
34 Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times."
35 Peter said to him, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you." And all the disciples spoke likewise.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37 He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.
38 Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me."
39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father,if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will."
40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!"
43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.
44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.

Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar

Fruit of the Mystery: Spirit of Mortification, Purity

Matthew 27:26
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns

Fruit of the Mystery: Moral Courage, Contempt of World

Matthew 27:27-31
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
28 They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.
29 Weaving a crown out of thorns,they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
30 They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.
31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary

Fruit of the Mystery: Patience in Trial

Matthew 27:32
32 As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.

The Crucifixion of Our Lord

Fruit of the Mystery: Final Perseverance (in Self-Sacrifice), Salvation

Matthew 27:33-56
33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull),
34 they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
35 After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots;
36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there.
37 And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left.
39 Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads
40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, (and) come down from the cross!"
41 Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,
42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
44 The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
45 From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
47 Some of the bystanders who heard it said, "This one is calling for Elijah."
48 Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink.
49 But the rest said, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."
50 But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
51 And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split,
52 tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
53 And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54 The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
55 There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Glorious Mysteries

The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord

Fruit of the Mystery: Strong Faith

John 20:1-29
1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."
3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first;
5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial clothes there,
7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
9 For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples returned home.
11 But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.
13 And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him."
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni,"which means Teacher.
17 Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me,for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
18 Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and what he told her.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
28 Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

The Ascension of Our Lord

Fruit of the Mystery: Hope, Desire for Heaven

Luke 24:36-53
36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
38 Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?
39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."
40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
42 They gave him a piece of baked fish;
43 he took it and ate it in front of them.
44 He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
46 And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
50 Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
52 They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Fruit of the Mystery: Zeal for the Glory of God, Love of God, Holy Wisdom

Acts 2:1-41
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly out of the sky came a sound like a strong rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared
3 tongues as if of fire which parted and came to rest upon each one of them.
4 All were filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 Staying in Jerusalem were religious Jews from every nation under heaven.
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered, all excited because each heard them speaking in his own language.
7 Beside themselves with amazement and wonder, they said, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 How is it that we hear them in our own native language?
9 Here are Parthians, Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
11 both Jews and foreigners who accept Jewish beliefs, Cretians and Arabians; and all of us hear them proclaiming in our own language what God, the Savior, does.
12 They were amazed and greatly confused, and they kept asking one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others laughed and said, "These people are drunk."
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.
15 These people are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
16 Indeed what the prophet Joel spoke about has happened:
17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on every mortal. Your sons and daughters will speak through the Holy Spirit; your young men will see visions and your old men will have dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants, both men and women, and they will be prophets.
19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and wonders on the earth below.
20 The sun will be darkened and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.
21 And then, whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.
22 Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know.
23 You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed, and in this way the purpose of God from all times was fulfilled.
24 But God raised him to life and released him from the pain of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death.
25 David spoke of him when he said: I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is by my side, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body too will live in hope.
27 Because you will not forsake me in the abode of the dead, nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life, and your presence will fill me with joy.
29 Friends, I don't need to prove that the patriarch David died and was buried; his tomb is with us to this day.
30 But he knew that God had sworn to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne and,
31 as he was a prophet, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah. So he said that he would not be left in the region of the dead, nor would his body experience corruption.
32 This Messiah is Jesus and we are all witnesses that God raised him to life.
33 He has been exalted at God's right side and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit he has just poured upon us as you now see and hear.
34 And look: David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right side
35 until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.
36 Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."
37 When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"
38 Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call."
40 With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
41 So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.
42 They were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 A holy fear came upon all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44 Now all the believers lived together and shared all their belongings.
45 They would sell their property and all they had and distribute the proceeds to others according to their need.
46 Each day they met together in the Temple area; they broke bread in their homes; they shared their food with great joy and simplicity of heart;
47 they praised God and won the people's favor. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Fruit of the Mystery: Greater Love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, Trust in Mary's Intercession

Revelation 12:1, Psalms 45:14-16
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and in the head of her a crown of twelve stars.
14 All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters, her raiment threaded with gold;
15 In embroidered apparel she is led to the king. The maids of her train are presented to the king.
16 They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim; they enter the palace of the king.