THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1- The Annunciation of Mary

By announcing his plan to Mary,
God the Father sends forth his Word,
but in secret.
The Annunciation, By Giotto
Mary: I believe in God. He now speaks to me through his messenger and declares his intention to send the longed-for Messiah. I am to be his mother. Of course I am willing to serve him in anything, but this is a marvel beyond my imagination: the Word of God made flesh in my womb. Fiat, let it be!

A prayer: Blessed Mother, help me to understand something of this wonder through your eyes, and pray for me to be a willing instrument of God in my life. I compare myself with Mary, who says a complete and eternal 'yes', while I often want to say 'maybe', or 'not yet'. I pray for the grace to change, to be renewed. I know that it is only through my being a person of prayer that God will do this in me; otherwise I shall not be ready when he calls.

Our Father...
(each verse of Scripture is followed by a Hail Mary)

  1. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)
  2. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you!" (Luke 1:28)
  3. But she was much perplexed by his words, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. (Luke 1:29-30)
  4. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (Luke 1:31)
  5. 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 ancestor David, (Luke 1:32)
  6. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:33)
  7. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34)
  8. 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 holy, he will be called Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
  9. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:36-37)
  10. Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

Glory be to the Father...

Fatima prayer
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