11th May - The Joyful Mysteries - www.saintmarysoswaldtwistle.co.uk

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The Joyful Mysteries
 
Monday 11th May 2020

 
 
 


 
 
As I mentioned in the last reflection, this week we will be praying the Rosary together as a family, albeit virtually through the power of the internet! In this St. Mary’s Parish Family Rosary let us pray for each other during this pandemic.

 
 
Holding the Crucifix we begin by making the sign of the cross +
 

 
The Crucifix

 
There in our hands is the image of the Lord on the Cross. Maybe the crucifix on your rosary is like mine, scuffed and worn. Maybe it has scratches or the metal plate has flaked off. No matter how it looks this imperfect image of Jesus raises our minds, our thoughts and our hearts to him ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life.’ It is only through him, with him and in him that we will find completeness and happiness. As St. Augustine once wrote, ‘Our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in You.’ The whole purpose of the Rosary is, with Mary’s prayers and guidance, to draw us closer to Jesus who is the only one who can give meaning to our lives.

 
 
 

 
 
 
As we hold the image of the Lord in our hands we profess our faith. This is the same faith our brothers and sisters in the early church professed. It is not just the mere empty recitation of doctrine. It is the public witness of our belief in the One God who has revealed Himself to us. By praying the Apostles Creed we are remembering what we believe and how it unites us as the Church. Not just today with people we know, but with the saints and faithful people who have gone before us.

 
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
 
 
First Single Bead.

 
We now pray those words that Jesus taught us. As we begin the Rosary already we are not alone. Not only have we prayed those words that countless Christians have professed before us but now the Lord himself joins us in this prayer. He gives us the perfect words and sentiments to guide and direct our minds.

 
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 
 


 
The Three Beads

 
Faith. On the first bead we pray for faith. Faith is the expression of our belief in God. It is not a mere intellectual exercise but the concrete reality of our belief shown in thought and deed. Faith is not and can never be private, it is always public and must give witness. Faith is believing in Jesus, the Son of God, and each day wanting to know him more, love him more and serve him more.

 
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
    
 
Hope. On this second bead we pray for the virtue of hope. Hope is that desire within us that wants to attain a greater good despite difficult circumstances and apparent impossibilities. Hope is certain and full of confidence because it knows with God all things are possible.

 
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 
 
Charity. On this third bead we pray for charity. Charity is that virtue that allows us  to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Remember the Lord’s actions at the Last Supper:

 
‘When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done...’’ (Jn 13:12-15)  

 
Charity is that call to love our brothers and sisters, to love the stranger and the foe. To be merciful, forgiving and compassionate. To give and never to count the cost. Our Teacher not only preached the commandment of love but he practised it  - The cross!

 
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 
 
Single Bead

 
On this bead we give praise and honour to the Holy Trinity. One God in Three persons. God the Father loves us so much that he gave us His only Son. The Son promised that he would never leave us as orphans and so he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit we are never distant from Jesus but always close to him. It is the Spirit who draws us ever closer to the heart of God in His Son, Jesus.

 
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.  

 
 
 
 
Tomorrow we will meditate on and pray the First Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation.

 
 
God Bless and keep praying
 
Fr. O’Brien






St Mary's RC Parish
Catlow Hall Street
Oswaldtwistle
BB53EZ
Parish Priest : Fr S D O'Brien  sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
All rights reserved © St Mary’s Oswaldtwistle April 2020
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