The Joyful Mysteries

Prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays in Advent and Christmas

The Joyful Mysteries recall the early years of Jesus’ life, from the Annunciation to the Finding in the Temple. They tend to be marked with a sense of great joy- Gabriel joyfully brings the message to Mary, John the Baptist leaps in his mother’s womb, the angels’ song resounds through the sky announcing Christ’s birth, Simeon and Anna rejoice to see the Messiah, and Mary and Joseph find the one that they lost.

1st Mystery: The Annunciation

OF: Hear then O house of David! The Lord himself will give you a sign.Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Is 7:13a, 14)

1. 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. (Lk 1:26-27)

2. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” (Lk 1:28)

3. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. (Lk 1:29)

4. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Lk 1:30)

5. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31)

6. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:32-33)

7. And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (Lk 1:34)

8. And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” (Lk 1:35)

9. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Lk 1:37)

10. And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Lk 1:38)

2nd Mystery: The Visitation

OF: And David danced before the LORD with all his might… So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn. (2 Sam 6:14a, 15)

1. 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. (Lk 1:39-40)

2. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb. (Lk 1:41a)

3. 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!” (Lk 1:41b-42)

4. “And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43)

5. “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk 1:44)

6. “And blessed is she who believed that there would bee a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1:45)

7. And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.” (Lk 1:46-48a)

8. “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Lk 1:48b-49)

9. “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.” (Lk 1:54-55)

10. And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. (Lk 1:56)

3rd Mystery: The Nativity

OF: For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command. (Wis 18:14-16a)

1. In those days a decree went out from Caesar August that all the world should be enrolled. (Lk 2:1)

2. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David… to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. (Lk 2:4-5)

3.And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. (Lk 2:6)

4. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Lk 2:7)

5. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Lk 2:8)

6. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and… the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for I bring you good news… for to you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Lk 2:9, 10, 11)

7. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” (Lk 2:13-14)

8. And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Lk 2:16)

9. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning the child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. (Lk 2:17-18)

10. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Lk 2:19)

4th Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple

OF: Lift up your heads O gates!  and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! (Ps 24:9-10)

1. 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. (Lk 2:22)

2.Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Lk 2:25)

3. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple.  (Lk 2:27a)

4. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God. (Lk 2:27b-28)

5. And he said, "Lord now let your servant go in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples." (Lk 2:29-31)

6. And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them. (Lk 2:33-34a)

7. He said to Mary his Mother, "Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against." (Lk 2:34b)

8. "A sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." (Lk 2:35)

9. And there was a prophetess, Anna; she was of great age.  She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. (Lk 2:36a, 36b, 37b)

10. And coming at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Lk 2:38)

5th Mystery: The Finding in the Temple

OF: The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple... for his is like a refiner's fire and like fullers soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord.

1. 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 the custom. (Lk 2:41-42)

2. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  His parents did not know it. (Lk 2:43)

3. But supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. (Lk 2:44)

4.  And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. (Lk 2:45)

5. And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Lk 2:46)

6. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Lk 2:47)

7.  And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." (Lk 2:48)

8. And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Lk 2:49)

9. And they did not understand the saying, which he spoke to them.  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. (Lk 2:50-51)

10.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. (Lk 2:52)