The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY WITH REFLECTIONS

Last Updated: November 2024

By meditating on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, we accompany Mary and Joseph as they learn that Mary will bring the Son of God into the world, and we journey with them through Christ’s birth and childhood.

Just like Mary and Joseph left their home to protect their child from King Herod, millions of our sisters and brothers around the world have been displaced due to conflict, lack of job opportunities and poverty.

Along with your personal intentions, please offer the Rosary for the safety of displaced families around the world. Click on each of the audio files below to listen to and pray along with each decade of the Rosary.

  

 

FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD

SCRIPTURE 
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26–33, 38)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Humility

 

 

 

 

SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE VISITATION

 

SCRIPTURE 
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,

"Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:39-45) 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Love of neighbor

 

 

 

 

THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE NATIVITY OF JESUS

 

SCRIPTURE 
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." (Luke 2: 6-12) 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Poverty of Spirit

 

 

 

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FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE

 

SCRIPTURE
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." (Luke 2:25-32)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Purity of Mind and Body

 

 

 

 

FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE

 

SCRIPTURE 
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was 12 years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking 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. (Luke 2:41-50)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Obedience

 

 

 

 

REFLECTION ON THE FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD

We can only imagine how overwhelmed and scared Mary must have been when she learned she would welcome a child into a situation she never would have planned. Mary was betrothed to Joseph but knowing the child wasn’t his put them both in a difficult spot. He was asked to humbly support her despite his own uncertainty.

Today, parents doing their best to care for their children may also wonder if they will lose their home, livelihood and more, and how they will support their family when that happens.

PRAY: Mary and Joseph, we ask for your intercession for all parents experiencing uncertainty, especially those struggling to provide for their families due to forces beyond their control.

 

REFLECTION ON THE SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE VISITATION

Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth after learning Elizabeth, thought to be past childbearing age, was pregnant. Even though Mary was pregnant herself, she made the trip to spend time with her cousin and share Elizabeth’s joy.

It can be difficult for us to voluntarily go outside of ourselves and be present to the needs of our neighbors, especially given all we carry in our own lives. But Mary models this for us.

Despite facing their own challenges and risks, families often ensure their friends, neighbors and loved ones are surviving and thriving in the face of crisis.

PRAY: We pray that even when our hearts are filled with our own joys and hardships, we will remember to reach out to and love our neighbors.

 

REFLECTION ON THE THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE NATIVITY OF JESUS

Mary gave birth to Jesus not only without modern-day comforts, but without even the limited comforts of her own day.

She gave birth outside in a barn. She laid her newborn in straw. They had their baby in a manger because they had to make do with what they could find.

Many families facing crisis also create makeshift shelters for their children and family.

PRAY: We ask for the Holy Family’s intercession for all parents who are raising their families without the basic necessities, comforts or homes they once had.

 

REFLECTION ON THE FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE

When Simeon saw the child Jesus, he immediately recognized he was God. Sometimes we hope for this in our own faith lives: that Christ will appear before us and we will have no doubt it’s him. Though we may not see Jesus in this life in the way that Simeon did, his story reminds us that children can lead us to Christ.

As Jesus says later in his public ministry, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:5)

We think especially of the little ones who, like the child Jesus, have had to leave their homes during this time.

PRAY: Children are our hope for the future. We pray that we may recognize Christ in these little ones and work to ensure that all children can grow and develop to reach their God-given potential.

 

REFLECTION ON THE FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE

During the three days Joseph and Mary looked for Jesus, they must have felt fear, sadness and worry. Being separated from your children, or from any loved one, is difficult.

Families today face many conflicts and have similar fears, especially those who must leave their children behind while they journey to find a better livelihood.

PRAY: We pray for all parents who are separated from their children, especially for those who are doing everything they can to keep their children safe and provide them a better life.

Thank you for praying with us! Your prayers are a powerful way to support our sisters and brothers around the world. Continue to lift up the needs of our global family by joining our prayer chain.