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The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION
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The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
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Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception
to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
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The Angel Gabriel announces: "Hail, full of
grace! The Lord is with thee."
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Mary wonders at this salutation.
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The Angel assures her: "Fear not . . . you
shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son."
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Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of
virginity.
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The Angel answers that she will conceive by
the power of the Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
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The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent.
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Mary answers: "Behold the handmaid of the
Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word."
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The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Spiritual Fruit: Humility
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The Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATION
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Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in
her old age . . . for nothing is impossible with God.
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Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth
in the hour of her need.
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The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty
miles requiring four or five days.
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Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous,
for Mary bears with her the Incarnate Word.
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At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is
sanctified in his mother's womb.
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Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among
women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
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"How have I deserved that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?"
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"Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's
words to her would be fulfilled."
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Mary replies: "My soul proclaims the greatness
of the Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."
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Mary serves her cousin in all humility for
three months until the birth of John the Baptist.
Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor
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The Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITY
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Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply
with the decree of Caesar Augustus.
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The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but
there is no room in the inn.
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In the stillness of the night, the Savior
is born in a cave, Mary remaining a Virgin.
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She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays
Him in a manger.
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In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom
the Flower of her virginity.
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Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach
the lesson of detachment from earthly things.
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The angel announces to the shepherds: "Today
there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord."
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The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in
the highest, and peace to His people on earth."
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The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage
to the Infant Jesus.
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The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and
offer Him gifts.
Spiritual Fruit: Poverty of Spirit
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The Fourth Joyful Mystery
THE PRESENTATION
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Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus
to the temple to present Him to the Lord.
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According to the Law the firstborn male child
of every family should be consecrated to the Lord.
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Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms
Him back at the price paid by the poor.
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Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses,
yet to teach obedience, submits to it.
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Mary is not subject to the law of purification,
yet in humility she submits to it.
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God had revealed to Simeon that he would not
see death until he had seen the Messiah.
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Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you
can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word."
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"This Child is destined to be the downfall
and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed."
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And to Mary Simeon reveals: "And your own
soul a sword shall pierce."
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After they fulfill all the Law requires they
return to Nazareth.
Spiritual Fruit: Purity of mind
and body
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The Fifth Joyful Mystery
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
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When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with
His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
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After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and
Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus.
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At the end of the first day's journey they
discover Jesus is missing.
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His parents return immediately looking for
Him.
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This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond
our understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
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On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple
among the Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom.
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Mary: "Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow."
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Jesus: "Why did you search for me? Did you
not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
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Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and
is subject to them.
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Mary keeps all these things in her heart.
Spiritual Fruit: Obedience
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