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" d\$""rs 'Hu $. .F"r,* \ has made 15 minutes of meditation necessary for proper recitation of the on the mysteries of the a Rosary: major condition in promising her Preparation special aid at the hour of death to First, we should place ourselves those who make the five First Satur­ in the presence of God, wherever days. we may happen to be, and renew our Simply to recite the prayers on consecration to Mary's Immaculate each bead is not the proper way to Heart. pray the Rosary. That is one reason We begin by kissing the crucifix, why those who merely parrot the making the , and individual prayers find them monoto­ reciting the Apostles' . The nous. No wonder it is so difficult for introductory prayers, an Our Father them to make the Rosary part of and three Hail Marys, should help their daily lives. us to remember our utter dependence According to Leo XIII, the on God's mercy and our need for the 15 mysteries of the Rosary "com­ virtues of faith, hope, and charity. prise all the essential mysteries of The Joyful Mysterie5 Christianity." These mysteries are The first mystery: the Annunci­ broken into three groups of five: the ation. Joyful Mysteries (the birth and child­ Told that she is to be the Mother hood of Our Lord) ; the Sorrowful of God, Mary asks the angel, "How Father in heaven, whether teaching Mysteries (Our Lord's Passion and can this be done?" She thinks first in the temple or living in obedience death); and the Glorious Mysteries of her vow of virginity. Let us ask to His parents. Let us beg for the (the Resurrection, birth of the Our Lady as we say the first decade grace to offer all for God, even the Church, and triumph of Our Lady). for an appreciation of the importance most menial tasks. Although they can be the subject of purity according to our state in The Sorrowful Mysteries of our Rosary meditation at any life. The first mystery: the Agony time, the Joyful Mysteries are usually The second mystery: the Visita­ in the Garden. commemorated on Monday and tion. So stricken by the thought of His Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries Our Lady hastens to the aid of her sufferings that He sweats blood, Our on Tuesday and Friday, and the cousin Elizabeth, who is with child. Lord subjects His will to that of His Glorious Mysteries on the other days Think of the times we have spoken Father. How often, when trials afflict of the week. sharply to someone in the family or us, do we complain to God. Let us Each of the 15 events is called a neglected a chance to be kind. Ask ask for the grace to be completely "mystery" because it is not possible Mary for fraternal charity. resigned to His will. for the human mind to comprehend The third mystery: the Birth of The second mystery: the Scourg­ its full meaning. Therefore, the Christ ing at the Pillar. St. Joseph, anxious for his wife, riches of each event are inexhausti­ Our Lord could have redeemed provides her with shelter. Mary cares ble as food for thought. us with the shedding of but one drop for her Infant and bathes the crude Here is a suggested brief outline of His blood. Yet He submitted to a cave with a Mother's love. Jesus, containing the kind of thoughts cruel beating because of His great the all-powerfull God, is obedient to love for us. Beg Our Lady to teach LEO XlU, POPE OF THE ROSAllY the point of total dependence. Let us to subject our bodies and to deny each of us beg the grace to imitate ourselves all sinful and immoderate chis Holy Family. pleasures. The fourth mystery: the Pre­ The third mystery: the Crown­ sentation. ing with Thorns. Although not bound by the Old To teach us the great virtue of Law, Mary submits to the ritual of humility, Our Lord permitted pagan purification. She and Joseph offer soldiers to mock their Redeemer, to the divine Infant to God. Let us spit in His face, and to place upon consider the importance of a respect His head a crown of thorns. Let us for law, both divine and human. ask for the grace not to make our­ The fifth mystery: the Finding selves seem to be more than we are of Jesus in the Temple. and to accept indignities graciously. Mary's Boy shows us that all He The fourth mystery: the Carry­ • does is for the greater glory of His ing of the Cross. • • 24 •• • •• • DISTRACTIONS "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Let us strive to remove the ill-will we Upon finishing the Rosary, a bear toward our relatives and friends. holy Carmelite nun was disturbed The Glorious Mysteries because her thoughts had not re­ The first mystery: the Resur­ mained upon the mysteries. rection. But Our Lady, who saw only The very thought of Christ's re- Is it absolutely necessary to pray the rosary moving the lips? That tires me very the nun's intention to meditate turn from the dead should fill our much. I like to pray mentally. upon them, reassured her that the hearts with hope in God, with faith involuntary distractions that often in all that Jesus taught us, and with It is not absolutely necessary. To gain the it ought to be a vocal creep in during the Rosary no love toward Him who gave us Him­ prayer. However, there is such a thing as more hinder the worthiness of our self in the Blessed Sacrament and inner speech, which is a movement of the praise than the flies that buzz made it possible for us to have ever­ articulatory organs so restrained as to be around us on a country walk lasting life. inaudible either to yourself or to any other person. This inner speech, if it be prayer, hinder us from reaching our The second mystery: the Ascen­ is still true vocal prayer. But pray mentally, destination. sion. if you prefer. The prayer itself is always Our Lord, having accomplished more valuable than the indulgences attached His mission on earth, returned to thereto. heaven and left a little band of apostles to make known His doctrines The fourth mystery: the As­ As we see Our Lord carrying His to all men. Let us ask Mary, whom sumption. cross and remember the meeting Christ left with us to be our Mother Our Lady's body, never the instru­ with His anguished Mother, let us and our inspiration, to give us the ment of sin, was not left to the cor­ consider that the great sorrow that same apostolic spirit. ruption of the grave, but reunited burdened their Hearts was caused by The third mystery: the Descent with her soul in heaven. Let us ask our sins. Let us ask for true con­ of the Holy Ghost. for the grace of a happy death. trition and the grace to carry our The third Person of the Blessed The fifth mystery: the Coro­ daily crosses in reparation for our , in baptizing the Church, nation. sins. gave the apostles His seven gifts: Think of the great joy when all The fifth mystery: the Cruci­ wisdom, understanding, counsel, the holy souls who had preceded fixion. knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear Mary were united with their heavenly "Father, forgive them, for they of the Lord. Let us ask Our Lady, Queen and Co-Redemptrix. Let us know not what they do." With this to give us great love and respect for ask her to deepen the love in each prayer from the cross, Our Lord the Church and the fulness of those member of our family so that we will gives us the example of His precept, seven gifts. one day be reunited in heaven.