From The Pastor’s Desk
Our Catholic Church is rich in our traditions. We have many forms of praying and outside of the Seven Sacraments I do not believe one is better than the other. Whether we are reading the Bible, Walking in the footsteps of Christ with the Stations of the Cross, Spiritual Reading, celebrating a Novena, praying the Rosary or any of the other form of devotionals, all are leading us closer to Jesus Christ.
During the 1980’s through 2000, many devotionals fell by the wayside, however in the last decade they are once again finding a place in our prayer life as people are searching for ways to strengthen their relationship with Christ.
For centuries, many popes, saints and spiritual leaders have strongly encouraged all to pray the Rosary. The
Blessed Mother has urged us to pray the Rosary. We see that especially in the events which occurred in the early 1900’s at Fatima, witnessed by thousands of believers and non-believers. In the apparitions of our Blessed Mother who asked that the Rosary be prayed daily. She said, “That reparation made via the Rosary holds back the hand of God from striking the world with His just punishments. She concluded her apparitions by a ‘miracle of the sun’ that was witnessed by tens of thousands of people, many who were critics.
Throughout the Rosary’s history it has been considered a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. It has been associated with countless miracles of all types. The saints have called the Rosary a “ladder to heaven”. Those who pray the Rosary on a regular basis can tell you of the spiritual benefits it brings them.
……………………….The Joyful Mysteries
1. Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel
Gabriel
2. Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
3. Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
4. Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple
5. Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph
………………………...The Luminous Mysteries
1. Christ's baptism in the Jordan River
2. The self-revelation of Christ at the marriage of Cana
3. Christ's announcement of the kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration of Christ
5. The institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper
………………………..The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony of Christ in the Garden
2. Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar
3. Placing of the crown of thorns on the head of Jesus
4. Carrying the Cross by Jesus
5. Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ
…………………………The Glorious Mysteries
1. Resurrection of our Lord from the dead
2. Ascension of our Lord into heaven
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost
4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven
5. Coronation of the Virgin Mary
(The Church suggests praying the Joyful Mysteries on Monday & Saturday, the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, The Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday & Friday, and The Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday & Sunday)