1st mystery – the Annunciation
“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word’” (Lk 1,38).
Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus (EG 288).
Our Father – 10 Hail Mary – Glory be
2nd mystery – the Visitation
“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Lk 1,44-45).
Filled with Christ’s presence,
you brought joy to John the Baptist,
making him exult in the womb of his mother.
Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of life
which triumphs over death.
Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty
may reach every man and woman (cf EG 288).
Our Father – 10 Hail Mary – Glory be
3rd mystery – the Birth of Jesus
“… the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger” (Lk 2:15-16).
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love;
to you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic churches. (cf AL 325).
Our Father – 10 Hail Mary – Glory be
4th mystery – the presentation of Jesus in the temple
“Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, he took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples’ ” (Lk 2,27-31).
Teach us Lord to hold you ‘in our arms’ like Simeon;
not only in our heads and in our hearts, but also “in our hands”,
in all that we do: in prayer, at work, at the table,
on the telephone, at school, with the poor, everywhere.
Help us to allow ourselves to encounter Jesus and to be encountered by him,
because it is the secret to fanning the flame of our spiritual life (cf Homily, 2.2.2018).
Our Father – 10 Hail Mary – Glory be
5th mystery – finding of Jesus in the temple
“When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart”. (Lk 2,48-51)
Mother, help our faith!
Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call.
Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps.
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love,
especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross,
when our faith is called to mature.
Remind us that those who believe are never alone.
Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path.
And may this light of faith always increase in us,
until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!
Our Father – 10 Hail Mary – Glory be
Conclusion
Haily Holy Queen….
For the intention of the Holy Father
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory be
Concluding Prayer
Mary, woman of listening, open our ears; grant us to know how to listen to the word of your Son Jesus among the thousands of words of this world; grant that we may listen to the reality in which we live, to every person we encounter, especially those who are poor, in need, in hardship.
Mary, woman of decision, illuminate our mind and our heart, so that we may obey, unhesitating, the word of your Son Jesus; give us the courage to decide, not to let ourselves be dragged along, letting others direct our life.
Mary, woman of action, obtain that our hands and feet move “with haste” toward others, to bring them the charity and love of your Son Jesus, to bring the light of the Gospel to the world, as you did.
Amen.
– (Prayer to Mary, Woman of Listening, 31.5.2013)
