“You must live clean lives – live the Ten Commandments.  They are
not impossible to live up to as some of you seem to think.  God does
not make laws that are impossible.
     “Don’t hide and do evil things in the darkness of the basement,
then come up and pretend to your neighbors that you are holy.  You
must keep the Commandments of God.  God would not have given them to
you, if you could not keep them.  You can, and you must!
     “You children of God who are sick and crippled, you must pray
with your hearts; have wholehearted faith and you will be helped.  You
must not only try to pray, but you must pray the Rosary daily, do
penance, make sacrifices daily to convert Russia.  You must pray
yourself.  Get on your knees and pray hard yourself, and you will be
heard.”

MEDITATIONS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

JOYFUL MYSTERIES 

FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY, “The Annunciation”
The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that God wishes Her to become the Mother of His Son.  Mary obeys with humility and joy.  Ask for an increase in the Virtue of Humility.
SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY, “The Visitation”
Mary visits St. Elizabeth, who is to be the Mother of St. John the Baptist.  She remains and assists Elizabeth lovingly for three months.  Ask for an increase in the Virtue of Charity.
THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY, “The Nativity”
Jesus Christ, The Son of God, is born in a stable.  His mother places Him in a manger.  He is visited by the Shepherds and Wise Men.  Ask to better understand the true value of spiritual things; the shortness of time, the length of eternity and the greatness of heaven.
FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY, “The Presentation”
In obedience to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph take the Infant Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present Him to His Heavenly Father.  Ask to better understand and appreciate the privilege we now have to receive each day, Our Lord Himself, into our very hearts and souls in Holy Communion.
FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY, “The Finding of the Christ Child in the Temple”
Having lost Jesus, Mary and Joseph seek Him.  After three days they find Him in the Temple talking with the learned men.  Ask for the grace never to separate ourselves from Our Lord through sin.

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES 

FIRST SORROWFUL MYSTERY, “The Agony in the Garden”Jesus prays in the Garden of Olives.  The vision of the sins of the world, for which he was to make atonement thru His Suffering and Death on the cross caused Him so anguish much and grief that He sweat blood.  Ask for the grace to never commit serious sin.
SECOND SORROWFUL MYSTERY, “The Scourging at the Pillar”
Our Lord Jesus Christ is stripped and scourged, leaving scarcely a place to put a pin that was not bruised, torn and bleeding.  Ask for the grace to avoid sins of the flesh.  Our Lady of Fatima said, “More souls go to hell for the sins of the flesh than all the other sins.”
THIRD SORROWFUL MYSTERY, “The Crowning with Thorns”
A crown of thorns is pressed into the head of Jesus.  His eyes are filled with tears and blood.  His executioners mock and spit upon Him.  Pope Pius XII    stated, “You live in a world that attacks your faith and purity in a thousand ways.  You must fight vigorously against a hostile world penetrated by paganism.”  Ask for the grace to guard against all dangers to our faith.
FOURTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY, “The Carrying of the Cross”
Jesus walks the road to Calvary, weighed down by the heavy cross and the sins of the world.  Mary suffers with Him and tries to console Him.   Ask for the grace to accept trials and persecution, to carry your cross with patience and resignation to God’s will.
FIFTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY, “The Crucifixion”
Jesus hangs in agony for three hours on the Cross.  Ask to better understand and appreciate the great gift we have in the Mass, as it is the Walk to Calvary and the Suffering and Death of Our Lord on the Cross.

 

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES 

FIRST GLORIOUS MYSTERY, “The Resurrection”
Jesus rises from the dead, glorious and immortal, on Easter Sunday.  He conquers death and opens the gates of heaven.  Ask that we may always be mindful that living for and with Christ here on earth will merit for us the grace to rise gloriously and to be with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

SECOND GLORIOUS MYSTERY, “The Ascension”
Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus ascends, in the presence of His Mother and His disciples, into Heaven.  Before His Ascension Our Lord promised to send the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, to guide them.  Let us ask the Blessed Mother to intercede with Her Divine Son, to send the Holy Ghost to guide our Country and our Church in the severe crisis ahead.
THIRD GLORIOUS MYSTERY, “The Descent of the Holy Ghost”
Ten days after the Ascension, the Holy Ghost descends in tongues of fire upon Mary and the Apostles.  Let us beg The Holy Ghost to give us full knowledge of the requests of Our Holy Mother, confident that carrying them out to the best of our ability we will assist Her to obtain the Peace the World is seeking.  The “Peace” that Her Divine Son alone can give.
FOURTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY, “The Assumption”
The apostles go to the tomb of the Blessed Mother.  They find it filled with flowers.  The angels had taken Their Queen to Heaven.  Let us ask for the grace of final perseverance.
FIFTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY, “The Crowning of Mary”The entire Court of Heaven, in all its Majesty and Splendor, is present to take part in Mary’s Glorious Crowning by Her Divine Son.  She now reigns as Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Rosary and Peace.  Let us live so we may join the Heavenly Court to sing the praises of Her Divine Son for all eternity.