On the feast of St. Joseph, Pope Francis invited the entire world to pray the rosary at 9pm Rome time, in union with him, for the current pandemic situation we find ourselves in.
The rosary is a powerful prayer. In Fatima, Our Lady said pray the rosary every day for peace in the world. I’m certain Our Lady wants us to pray the rosary everyday now for the end to global health crisis. In these rosary meditations, you will discover how we can pray with and around the current situation, by using the life of Jesus and Mary. I hope these meditations enrich your prayer life and prove fruitful for the world.
Joyful Mysteries
Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays.
Annunciation
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary
her role in salvation history. Mary
cooperates with God’s plan and obediently renders her yes to Almighty God. During these days of quarantine, we pray for
the grace to be humble and obedient to what others ask of us, so that the virus
may be contained in a timely manner.
Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and
offers the aged woman help during the last weeks of her miraculous
pregnancy. Just as Mary immediately went
in haste to help, we ask for the grace to help others when their needs becomes
apparent. We also pray for those who
will attend to the sick and dying—for the clergy who will anoint; the first
responders who will transport; the medical professionals who will diagnose and
treat. Please protect them O Lord.
Nativity of our Lord
Mary accompanies Joseph to Bethlehem
for the census which must have been a difficult journey for her since she was
so close to giving birth. We entrust all
pregnant women to the Lord and Mary’s intercession; may they bring their child
safely and healthily to birth. May these
families rejoice as Joseph and Mary did when they adored their child for the
very first time.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Simeon tells Mary that a sword of
sorrow will pierce her heart. The
evangelist Luke adds that this happens so that the thoughts of many hearts
might be revealed. Mary, as our mother,
understands our sorrows, anxieties, and emotions. Let us pray for those who now mourn and are
filled with sorrow, may the Lord console them and comfort them in this
hour.
Finding of Jesus in the Temple
During these days of quarantine and
pandemic, we seem lost ourselves. We are
unable to worship on Sundays as a Christian community. In these trying times, we turn to our faith and
find hope. Let us pray for people who
had previously turned away from God, that in this moment of trial, they find
Jesus once again, and in Him find their comfort and peace.
Luminous Mysteries
Prayed on Thursdays
Baptism of the Lord
Jesus begins his public ministry by
going to John the Baptist and asking for him to baptize him, even though John
confesses that he is not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal. John prayed, “He must increase, I must
decrease.” During this time of quarantine,
we pray for growth in the virtue of humility and our dependence on God for all
that we have.
Wedding at Cana
In the prayer of Pope Francis
entrusting the world to Mary’s intercession during this troubling time, he
said, “You know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in
Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting.” Let us ask Mary to notice the needs of our
lives, families, communities, and world.
May she intercede for us now, so we can return to joy and feasting of
ordinary life.
Proclamation of the Kingdom
Jesus often proclaimed the Kingdom
of God saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Let us ask the Lord to give us true sorrow
for our sins. May this time of prayer, penance,
and fasting help us repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
Transfiguration
Peter exclaimed to the transfigured
Christ that it is good to be with Jesus.
In his exclamation, he expressed his desire to remain with Jesus in that
moment. Let us pray for the same grace
now, to remain with Jesus in prayer so that we might know Him all the
better.
Institution of the Eucharist
Public celebration of the Eucharist
has been suspended throughout the world.
The Faithful are unable to receive the Eucharist—Christ’s very body,
blood, soul, and divinity. As Jesus
instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, he gave His body to the disciples to
eat and commanded them to do this in memory of Him. Let us pray for our priests, who celebrate
the Eucharist, continuing Christ’s mandate, but do so alone without a
congregation. And let us pray for all
the faithful, that this time in which we make spiritual communions, may deepen
our appreciation for the Eucharist, so we no longer will take Christ’s gift for
granted.
Sorrowful Mysteries
Prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and
Sundays of Lent
Agony in the Garden
After celebrating the Last Supper
with His apostles, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays before
being arrested. In that prayer, He
prayed that all might be one. During
this time, we are united as a community in our suffering and isolation. But as believers, we are united in our prayer
to Almighty God for the containment and eradication of the corona virus. As we suffer our own agony now, let us ask
for the grace to pray as Jesus did, and as we pray, may it fulfil Jesus’ prayer
for unity.
Scourging at the Pillar
During the Passion, Jesus was beaten
and tortured. We are mindful of those
who are immunocompromised and susceptible to disease. For them, any illness can be another
scourging, another blow to their health.
During this time of pandemic, we pray for their health, safety, and
protection from the virus. Please Lord
spare them in this moment.
Crowning with Thorns
While earthly rulers have crowns
made of gold, the crown of our savior was that of thorns. Jesus is the King of Life and the King of our
lives. During this time, let us pray for
the grace to put Jesus at the center of our lives and allow him to be the King
and Lord of all that we do.
The Carrying of the Cross
During this time, we all have been
asked by our Lord to carry new and unexpected crosses. May our experience of the cross, help us to
know suffering in a new way. Let us walk
with Jesus and from his example find our strength and courage to carry our
cross.
The Crucifixion
Jesus Christ became incarnate to be
our savior. He saves us from our sins
and let us ask him to save us now from the coronavirus. Jesus’ death on the cross defeated death. Let us also pray for those who will die this
day, especially from the coronavirus, by the blood of Jesus may they find their
forgiveness and redemption. Just as
Jesus said to the Good Thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” may they
hear similar words when they go forth to meet Christ our Lord. *
*Please note, I do not dismiss particular
judgement or the need for Purgatory but pray with hope that they will see God
this day in eternal life.
Glorious Mysteries
Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays
Outside of Lent
The Resurrection
The empty tomb on Easter Sunday is a
sign of hope for all believers. Let us
pray for all who will die during this time, whether from the coronavirus or
from a different illness. May God grant
consolation to their family and friends, as the Lord Jesus consoled Mary
Magdalene, and may God protect and bless funeral directors and grave
diggers.
The Ascension
Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus
tells the apostles to go forth and baptize, making disciples of all
nations. Let us pray for the Holy Church
of God, that during this difficult time, she may strive to live this command of
Jesus. Let us pray for ourselves, that
we may strive to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descended upon the
Apostles while gathered in the upper room.
Many symbols are associated with the Holy Spirit—wind, fire, and
breath. Knowing the coronavirus affects
the lungs, let us pray for those unable to breathe on their own right now, that
the Holy Spirit will fill their lungs with the gift of breath, life, and
healing.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
At the end of Mary’s life, God chose
to bring her body and soul into eternal life.
Now, Mary prays for us at the hour of our death as we ask her so often
in the Hail Mary. Let us ask Mary to
pray for those who are at the hour of their death.
The Queenship of Mary
Each year we celebrate Jesus as King of the Universe. It is quite fitting for us, to call upon Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. So many are devoted to Mary, her titles, and shrines. In this time of pandemic, we turn to Mary’s intercession, asking her to obtain from her son the grace of healing for the sick and the containment of the coronavirus. Mary, pray for us, pray for the sick and the dying, pray for our clergy and medical professionals, pray for those who are most in need.
✠
Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash
