The Joyful Mysteries

(Mondays, Saturdays, & Sundays of Advent)

I. The Announciation

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary (Luke 1:26-27)

The angel said to her: "Mary, do not be afraid, you have won God's favor. Listen! You are conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High". (Luke 1:31-32)

Mary believed in the word of the angel, and she made this faith truly effective by a commitment, a complete gift of herself. (Fr. Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus)

II. The Visitation

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leapt in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!". (Luke 2:39-42)

The faith and hope of Mary bring her to the love of her neighbor. All existence draws its valor from the quality of love. Tell me what is your love and I will tell you who you are.

According to Pope John Paul II, "We ask Mary to guide our gaze, our heart, and our hands towards others as in the house of Elizabeth."

III. The Birth of our Lord

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manager, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

According to CCC 525, "Jesus was born in humble state, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty. heaven's glory was made manifest."

IV. The Presentation in the Temple

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons'. (Luke 22:24)

According to Pope John Paul II, "To offer her Son: this is to expose oneself freely to a dagger. Engaged by her "fiat" at the Annunciation and disposed to go until the end in the gift of herself to the work of redemption, Mary does not withdraw before the great suffering which has been announced to her".

V. The finding of Jesus in the Temple

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the by Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it..

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:41-47)

According to CCC 534, "In the finding of Jesus in the temple, Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from his divine sonship: 'Did you not know that I must be about my Father's work?'"