- First Meditation,
(St. Luke 1:28) The
Archangel Gabriel announces to St. Mary the Virgin that God is filling
her with grace and she shall, as an holy virgin, bring forth the Savior
of the world.
- and
-
- "Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is
now and ever shall be, World without end, Amen."
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Lord, grant me that same
precious humility that Thou didst grant unto Christ's mother at the word
of the angel and ready me this day to happily do Thy will as I find it
in the Holy Gospels. Amen. "
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of the
living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Then,
-
- "Oh my Jesus, forgive
us; save us from the fire of Hell;
take all souls to Heaven,
especially those most in need. Amen."
-
- Then,
-
- Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning, is
now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
- Second Meditation:
-
- (Luke 1:41) St. Mary,
being informed by the Archangel Gabriel hat her cousin St. Elizabeth is
with child, though past her child-bearing years, travels north to greet
Elizabeth and rejoices with her. When the Virgin comes to that home her
cousin embraces her and tells her that the child in her womb leapt in
her that he might worship the Christ now in Mary's womb. Mary sings, "My
heart doth magnify my Lord......"
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- Grant also unto me, my Lord
that with Mary of old I may hasten to love others and rejoice always
with them in their happiness, weep always with them in their pain.
Particularly Lord do I pray to be used by Thee this very day to bring
Thy dear light to all those I greet, to all those I work with, and to my
own family. Amen."
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of the
living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Third Meditation.
-
- (Luke 2:7) The birth of
Christ at Bethlehem and all the wondrous things that happened that first
Christmas!
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Dearest Savior, Thou didst
come to embrace the poverty of the poor and to deliver us all from greed
and sin and envy. Thou has blessed us with much, Thou dost provide for
our tables, but never let us forget the poor for Thou wast poor and had
not where to rest Thy hold head. Give unto me this day the gift of
compassion that I may at the least pray for the poor, the sick, the
homeless and though, in this wicked world I dare not trust all who ask
my help for demons lurk all about often, bringing evil down upon those
who would be good Samaritans, let my prayers and the help I can give be
mighty in their heavenly effects here upon the earth. Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Fourth Meditation.
-
- (Luke 2:22-28)
St. Mary and St. Joseph present the Christ child at the great Temple in
Jerusalem, as is the law of the ancient Jews. There two precious
old saints rejoice to see the one they've waited all their lives
to behold. St. Anna rejoices mightily and St.
Simeon takes the child in his arms as he sings, "Lord, lettest now
thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have just beheld my
Salvation!"
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Holy Savior, as Mary and
Joseph brought Thee to the Temple in humble obedience to the ancient
laws of Moses, cause me day by day and this day to bring unto the
Temple of holy prayer all that pertains to my mortal existence and the
lives of those who look to me for love and care. Keep me obedient
to all that is right and good for Thou hast written them upon my heart
and deep within my conscience since the day of my baptism. Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
-
- Fifth Meditation.
-
- (Luke 2:41-52)
St. Mary and St. Joseph frantically searched for the boy Jesus in
Jerusalem finding Him discussing with the scholars the meanings of the
Holy Scriptures. After Mary told Him how it had frightened her and
her husband, Jesus spoke as God the Son to her great wonderment: "Did
you forget that I must be about My Heavenly Father's business?"
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Thou didst set the example
for Mary and Joseph of reverence and devout worship of the Father there
at the Temple. Thou dost set that example as well before me. Let
me learn with them the precious meaning of being about our Father's
business more and more and ever more until, like Mary and Joseph, at
last I fall asleep in peace at the end of my life's journey. Amen.
"
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Meditations II,
The Mysteries of Sorrow
-
- First Meditation
-
- (Mark 14:32-36) In the
Garden of Gethsemane our good and hold Savior is in such inward agony
that he sweats droplets of blood and cries out, "If it be possible,
Father, take this cup of suffering (the coming cross) from Me: but
nevertheless, not My will be done, but Thy will be done!" He is
here betrayed by Judas and all His followers flee into the night with
only young St. John, St. Mary herself, and a few of the women disciples
keeping near him through what was ahead.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "thou didst suffer all for
me, dear Jesus, and there in the Garden Thou didst bear upon Thy sinless
soul all the sins of this poor old world. Teach me always to
confess my sins unto Thee and trust Thy blood which first Thou didst
shed at Gethsemane to cover them from the sight of God. Trusting
in Thy suffering I repent day by day, hour by hour, until at last Thou
shalt take me home covered not in my shame but in Thy holy
righteousness. Amen. "
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
-
- Second Meditation
-
- (Mark 15:15) Jesus is whipped
mercilessly while tied to a pillar. The beating is so terrible
because of the broken bones and glass fragments tied at the ends of the
whips' many lashes. Again, His blood is shed for us sinners.
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Thou alone art pure and holy
from Thy very conception, Thou alone art innocent of all
wrongdoing yet they treated Thee as a criminal and scourged Thy hold
back until thou didst nearly faint from the pain and loss of blood.
Then, my Savior, I must seek to live a pure and good life, to not
adopt the crudities of this present age, to be modest, O Savior, cleanse
me day by day. Amen.
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
-
- Third Meditation
-
- (Mark 15:17)
Jesus is mockingly crowned with a crown of thorns by the soldiers and a
reed placed in His hands. His head now bleeds profusely.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Dear Savior, Thy head
was sorely wounded, Thy brow bled in crimson floods, and for all
us sinners. Let my head by crowned with Thy Salvation, cause my
mind to think Thy holy thoughts and my life to live Thy holy ways.
Cleanse my intellect with Thy shed blood I pray Thee this day and ever
more. Amen"
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
-
- Fourth Meditation
-
- (John 19:17) Jesus
carries His cross to His place of execution on the Hill of Golgotha.
Upon that way of the cross He heard the cries of the scoffing crowd and
the cries of those who loved Him as well. None could know, neither
the tormentors nor the friends, that by the cross He carried that Friday
He was about to save the world.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Even as Thou didst carry Thy
cross patiently unto Calvary, grant unto us Lord Jesus that we learn
holy patience in accepting from Thee whatever crosses we must yet carry
here below. Grant unto us that grace that maketh the cross of
whatever suffering into the ladder up to heaven itself. Amen. "
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of the
living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Fifth Meditation
-
- (Luke 23:33)
Christ is crucified for our sins. The sky grows as
dark as midnight though it is mid-day, the earth quakes, the veil before
the Temple's holy of holies is rent from top to bottom. He cries
out in victory: "It is accomplished!"
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Thou didst suffer beyond
agony of all agonies for 'twas not only Thy body that was wracked with
the suffocating death of crucifixion but Thy holy soul itself. Thou who
knew no sin had taken upon Thyself the sins of the whole world, Thou who
art God the Son became for our sake as one forsaken by heaven itself.
Oh grant then unto us, dearest Savior, the grace to persevere in Thy
goodness and at the end of our lifetimes let us persevere by the eternal
power of Thy Perseverance upon the cruel cross the very shadows of death
itself. This is our trust, this is our hope, this is our Faith.
Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Meditations III, The
Mysteries of Glory
-
-
- First Meditation
-
- (Mark 16:9-18)
On the third day Christ arose victorious from the grave, He crushed
forever the sway and power of death. In Him we live now forever
for even death cannot boast over us mortals, Christ's resurrection
hath given us of His blessed immortality.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "I ask of Thee, my Savior,
the daily gift of faith, for in Thy resurrection Thou didst win for
Thy church the heaven-inspired life while we are yet here upon the
earth. And grant that in whatever faith Thou shall send this day
the life I live by its hold power might draw all who know me, all who
see me, all who hear me unto Thee, the Resurrection and the Life,
Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Second Meditation
(Mark 16: 19-18)
And the gospels declare unto us that having risen from the dead, having
left behind His grave clothes and an empty tomb, Jesus appeared in the
midst of His followers and blessed them. He hath promised most solemnly
that where there are two or thee gathered in His name He will be in our
midst. Alleluia!
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Lord Jesus Christ, be
present in the midst of my parish church and throughout all places where
Thy people assemble in this world. Be present as well in my home and in
the homes of all Christian people. Thou didst console those disciples of
old who faced a pagan world. And overcome in us all that is
wrongheaded and sinful that, in Thy Name, Thy church may overcome the
darkness by the proclamation and living of Thy resurrection, Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of the
living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Third Meditation
-
- After sojourning with His
followers in His glorious resurrected presence our Savior ascended
into God's Heaven and there He is seated at the right hand of the
Father interceding for his people, the church. He is our
Mediator, our Advocate, our Intercessor, and in our Humanity
which He hath raised
unto the heavenly of heavenlies, He is our Man, our Savior.
Amen.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Our Ascended Lord, Thy
wounds are forever gleaming forth in glory before the throne of Thy
Father God! In Thee is our hope for this life and the next, it is Thy
righteousness alone that maketh us Thy people, Thy church both on
earth and in paradise. Pull our hearts, our minds, our immortal
souls heavenward this day for it is with Thee that we long to be and
it is for Thee that we ask the grace to live. Oh Jesus, our Hope, our
Peace, our Righteousness, and our Salvation. Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Fourth Meditation
-
- (Acts 2:4) Because He
ascended in victory over our sins, because He is at the right hand
side of His Eternal Father, because we are His flock yet here below,
Christ has asked His Father and the Hold Spirit of God hath descended
upon the church from that first and ancient Christian Pentecost.
It was at this wondrous moment in history that the church was truly
born and the powers of evil fled before her saints and martyrs, and
all of her faithful people.
Nothing has changed if
we dare move in that same Holy Spirit, if we dare trust in that same
Ascended One and His Father who have sent the Third Person of their
Holy Trinity to empower, fill, and lead us.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- "Come Thou Holy Spirit,
Comforter divine, come indwell Thy people and his Christian who prays
in Christ's Name. Oh Thou Lord and Giver of life who spake through the
prophets, breathe into the church and speak through her in these evil
times. Send forth her sons and daughters to proclaim the Gospel
in Thy power and convert souls for Christ's sake. Amen."
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Fifth Meditation
-
- (Acts 10: 1-11) "And He
shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, His
kingdom shall have no end! Alleluia!"
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- Hear Thy faithful church
throughout all ages, in heaven and upon the earth: "Come quickly, oh
Lord! Come quickly!" With Thy holy martyrs we cry as one,
"How long, O Lord? How long?"
For all nature awaits to see
Thy sons and daughters revealed, all of history awaits Thy righteous
judgment. Cause our hearts to long to see Thee in the clouds with Thy
holy saints and angels, and should we have to await our resurrection
from the dead, let us for now see Thee coming into our hearts and
after this life let us in paradise await Thee in constant praise and
rejoicing with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.
Amen.
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
-
- Sixth Meditation
-
- (Rev. 12 1-2, 5) And
there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve
stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained
to be delivered... ... And she brought forth a man child, who was to
rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto
God, and to His throne.
-
- The Lord's Prayer and also,
-
- Holy Saint Mary, Virgin
Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for the church on earth that it
may be more and more like unto thyself in thy love and devotion to the
Savior. The devout have often seen thee and have loved Him all
the more for it, the unbelievers have often seen thee and been
converted to Him inspite of themselves. With thy appearance thou
hast oft' brought healing at places like Lourdes and Walsingham and
thy words have been prophetic at Fatima turning hearts unto the Lord.
Oh pray for me and all Christians that we, like thee, may so proclaim
our Savior in our lives that conversion and healing attend all our
ways and all to thy Son's glory. Amen.
-
- Hail Mary's ten times,
-
- Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus!
-
- and
-
- Son of Mary, Son of
the living God, have mercy upon us, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
