Mini Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries

Let’s face it. We love the rosary, but sometimes It’s hard to stay focused on contemplating the mysteries. There’s no point in mindlessly repeating the prayers while our thoughts wander somewhere else. (Well, the Blessed Mother, being such a merciful mother, probably still intercedes for us, even then). But ideally, we all want to direct our thoughts to the mystery we are praying. The following are some suggestions on topics to ponder as part of meditating on each of the Joyful Mysteries.

The Annunciation

What did the Angel Gabriel look like? 

Was the room filled with light? Perhaps the brightness described in the Transfiguration?

Mary was so afraid. (Mary never sinned, and yet she was afraid.)

Gabriel told her to not be afraid. The Lord, in His love, always reassures.

Mary asked how this could be. Zachariah asked the same question and was struck dumb. Mary’s question is sincere, from the heart. She really wants to know how.

Mary was then filled with the Holy Spirit. What did she feel? Maybe an indescribable joy? Peace?

Did Gabriel tell Mary about her cousin Elizabeth so she could confirm his words? Perhaps, so others could confirm?

Gabriel: “Nothing is impossible with God.” Indeed.

The Visitation 

Mary is an example of Christian charity. Pregnant herself, she goes to help her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth was, no doubt, exhausted and also lonely since Zechariah could not speak.

Was Zechariah unable to speak because his question to Gabriel had come, not from a sincere desire to know, but from doubting God’s power?

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when she saw Mary. 

Her unborn child, John the Baptist, was also filled with the Holy Spirit.

Both Elizabeth and John recognized Mary as evidenced by John’s leaping and Elizabeth’s Word of Knowledge, “Who am I that the mother of my Lord should visit me.” Did Elizabeth realize what she was saying?

Mary responds with the Magnificat:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior

For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

The Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

And has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things

And the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

For he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers,

To Abraham and his children for ever.

The Nativity

How did Mary and Joseph respond to the decree from Caesar Augustus that everyone must return to his own town. The timing could not have been worse for Mary. Did they wonder at all why this should happen right then? Perhaps, in their holiness, they were able to respond with a resignation and acceptance that would be beyond most of us. 

Did the riding so far on a donkey trigger Mary’s labor?

What could Joseph have been feeling when he could find no room for Mary in an inn? No doubt he was desperate in his desire to provide for her, to protect her and the child.

Imagine the smells of the stable—animals, straw. It was probably dark, lit only by a lantern. And yet there was surely a sweet peace.

The lowly shepherds received a personal announcement of the birth of the newborn King. Why did God grant them this favor?

 An angel spoke to the shepherds and  “the glory of the Lord shone round them.” What was that like? Was it that indescribable light?

The angel said to them: “You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you—tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people."

The sky was filled with angels.  “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.’”

What would a sky filled with angels look like?!

The Presentation

Mary and Joseph followed the Law of Moses

The Holy Spirit rested upon Simeon and he was “an upright and devout man.”

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that “he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.”

How long had Simeon been waiting? 

Scripture says that the Holy Spirit had prompted him to come to the temple at that time. When he saw the Baby Jesus, he knew that this was the Messiah. How sensitive Simeon must have been to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Simeon held the Baby Jesus in his arms. After having waited so long to be holding the Messiah in his arms, what joy must have been in Simeon’s heart.

Song of Simeon—

                         Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

                                  Your word has been fulfilled:

                                my own eyes have seen the salvation

                     which you have prepared in the sight of every people.                                 

                                a light to reveal you to the nations

                                 and the glory of your people Israel.

Simeon blessed the holy family and then said to Mary, “This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed—and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.” Imagine the feelings of protectiveness that would have been in the heart of the good St. Joseph. Perhaps he moved a little closer to Mary.

The prophetess Anna also recognized Jesus. She never left the temple, always serving God with fasting and prayer. At the sight of Jesus she praised God and “spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.”

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Holy Family went up to the temple every year to celebrate Passover. Surely, this was an time of great joy for them.

Did Jesus stay behind in Jerusalem intentionally? Could He have gone to the temple unbeknownst to Mary and Joseph and then lost track of time?

Mary and Joseph did not realize Jesus had been left behind. Might this be an encouragement to parents who occasionally lose track of their children’s whereabouts? The most perfect of parents accidentally, because of reasonable assumptions, left a child behind.

How frantically Mary and Joseph must have looked for the child Jesus.

Did they wonder if this might be the event that Simeon prophesized would pierce Mary’s heart?

Did Mary and Joseph shed tears?

Did Jesus stay because the teachers in the temple needed His Presence?

When Jesus asked Mary why they had been looking for Him and hadn’t they known that He must be in his father’s house, were his eyes filled with love and compassion for what they had just been through? I think surely they were.

The teachers were astonished at His wisdom and intelligence. This was a child of only 12 years.

I hope these thoughts may be of some help as you meditate on the Joyful Mysteries. Perhaps they will even trigger some additional ideas of your own.

Mary, Queen of Peace, please pray for us all.