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LISTEN TO THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES.

In these five mysteries, we meditate on the joy that the coming of the Son of God as the Incarnate Word brings to us through the humble and obedient cooperation of Mary his Mother. We reflect on the events in the hidden youthful life of Jesus under the care of Mary and Joseph her husband at their home in Nazareth. Before these mysterious events, Mary kept all things in her heart. In turn, Jesus grew with his parents in wisdom, age and grace before God and men.

First Joyful Mystery:  The Annunciation 
  1. The Word of God: (Lk 1:28, 31-32)
    “The angel Gabriel said to Mary: “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women….You shall conceive and bear a son and will give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High.”

  2. Meant for us:
    We rejoice with Mary as she received this great news in her life: to become the Mother of God’s Son. Imagine, she, a lowly girl from an obscure Galilean town, was exalted for our sake too!  Her humility and obedience were most pleasing to God.  Joy is a sign of humble recognition of who she was, yet she was ready to do as the Lord pleased.

  3. Our Word to God:
    “Almighty God, thank you for initiating the steps to save us as you promised. Thank you for choosing Mary to be your instrument. Through her intercessions, may we also joyfully fulfill your plans for us. May your will be done with our eager Yes. Amen.”

Second Joyful Mystery:  The Visitation 

  1. The Word of God (Lk 1:39, 42)
    “Mary set out…into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she greeted Elizabeth. Elizabeth cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb.’”

  2. Meant for us:
    By its nature, good news is meant to be shared. The experience of God is a joyful event. We want to let others know how God works in our lives. With faith-sharing, there is also faith-deepening.  Shared joy is a double joy.

  3. Our Word to God:
    “Loving Father, you visit us through the daily events of our lives. May we have that enthusiasm to share this good news to others! In this way, you visit them too. In turn,   may we also gladly discern and see how you act in others’ lives. You are ever present to us. May we stay with you always. Amen.”

Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity or Birth of Jesus 

  1. The Word of God (Lk 2:4-7)
    “Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem…to register with Mary. While they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and lad him in a manger”

  2. Meant for us:
    The birth of a child is a cause for great joy in the family. There is the excitement of new life in it and new hope in the family.  It manifests God’s creative hand anew.  The birth of the very Son of God brings us anxious joy and awe. Now God is right with us and among us, like any man. Yet we wonder in gratitude, how immense is the love of God for us that He should come down lowly in our midst! Like the angels, we could only give praise saying, “Glory to God in the highest!”

  3. Our Word to God:
    “Ever-living God, you reached out to us through your beloved Son Jesus under the maternal care of Mary with Joseph her husband. In the lowliest way, he was born into this world so that in the most exalted way, we could be born to eternal life in you. Speak to us through him. Help us respond with love through him also. Amen.”


Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
  1. The Word of God (Lk 2:22, 24)
    “When the day came to purify Mary and her son, the couple brought him up to Jerusalem so that he could be presented to the Lord. They came to offer in sacrifice a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accord with the dictate in the law of the Lord”

  2. Meant for us:
    The presentation of the child Jesus in the temple signifies the parents’ recognition of their stewardship role on him. They are his guardians on earth. To God, they need to lead Him back. All parents have this key role in the lives of their children. The God-given life and gift of children have been entrusted to them. They need to trust in God and entrust them back to Him anytime.  Joy and unity come by through family prayer such as praying the rosary.

  3. Our Word to God:
    “Dear God and Father, thank you for the gift of life through the children. Help us to appreciate their life. You care for them a lot too.  They teach us how to be childlike so that as one family, we may enter your kingdom and enjoy life in its fullness. We ask this through your Son our Lord. Amen.”


Fifth Joyful Mystery:  The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
  1. The Word of God (Lk 2:42-43, 45-46, 48-49)
    “When he was twelve, the parents of Jesus went up for the celebration of the feast of Passover as was their custom. As they were returning, the child Jesus remained behind unknown to his parents….Not finding him, his parents returned to Jerusalem in search of him. On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us?’…He said to them, ‘Did you not know I had to be in my Father’s house?’”

  2. Meant for us:
    In this mystery, Jesus the Son of God leads his parents to the heavenly Father. Mary and Joseph keep discerning in the Spirit their sacred mission. Parents must know their role on their children before God. In such manner, they could face with calm and glee the critical age of adolescence and young adulthood confronting their kids. They must lead them to the Lord by proper education and good examples.  The Holy Family is a sure model to emulate.

  3. Our Word to God:
    “Father in heaven, your Son teaches us that while we live under the guidance of our fathers and mothers and all rightful authority, we all fall under your loving care and protection. May we heed your will through those you send to assist us. May we also exercise proper authority on those you send to us. Like Jesus, may we pursue your saving plan for us. Amen.”