The Fourth Joyful Mystery The Presentation of Our Lord Luke 2:21-40
Our Father
Lady Mary, pray that we become humble enough, like you, to submit to rules which we think are inferior to our state of grace or position in life, an attitude which reveals pride. Help us to respect the weak, who are easily scandalized and to comfort the strong in the daily life of the Church. Help us to accept sorrow in grace and peace.
Hail Mary one
Psalm 8:4-6
For I behold the heavens, the works of Thy fingers; the moon and the stars which Thou has founded. What is man that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man that Thou visitest him?
Hail Mary two
Mother of Our Creator
A creature enfleshes the Creator, and a Daughter of Zion, a member of the People of God of the Old Testament, fulfills the Old Law. A Sister and Bride of the New Testament meets the representatives of the Old, Simeon and Anna. Only in Mary are all the prophecies fulfilled, all the possible roles of a creature met in grace, all relationships between God and Man find perfection. In this mystery, the Mother of Our Creator meets the creatures who have been waiting for the Creator, the Messiah. Mary, as co-creator with God of the Son of God made Flesh, reconciles the spirit and the flesh, the New Covenant with the Old.
Hail Mary three
Creation's Crown, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary four
Psalm 43:26
Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for Thy name's sake.
Hail Mary five
Mother of Our Redeemer
Another name of Mary, Our Lady of Ransom, reveals to us the glory of the Name of the Ransomer from death and the law. Christ came to ransom us, to pay back the debt mankind owed for Adam and Eve's sin. Christ delivered us from the bondage held by all His predecessors and the old people in the Temple recognized their Redeemer. Jesus was revealed to the Jews through the prophecies of Anna and Simeon. The Old Covenant gives way to the New. The Temple is now Mary, who holds Christ in her arms.
The Lord has finally come to His People. He has arisen to save them. Mary's assent to following the law and the prophets is their freedom and our freedom.
Hail Mary six
Redeem us, Christ, from our own darkness and the darkness of others, through the intercession of the Co-Redemptorix, Mary, Mother of Our Redeemer.
Hail Mary seven
Psalm 83:1-3, 11
How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the Living God. For better is one day in Thy courts above thousands. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.
Hail Mary eight
Mother most Prudent
Mary acted reasonably. She did not flaunt her exalted status as the Mother of the Living God in the Temple. Instead, she, on this appointed day, responded to a religious procedure. She chose to be one of the ordinary mothers of her people on her purification day, even though she was most pure. She was not afraid, nor intimidated by the regulations of her religion, but was prudent, wise, cautious and reverent in her actions to the priests and to Simeon and Anna.
Hail Mary nine
Mother most Venerable, who alone among women is worthy of our reverence, pray for us, that we may be use the virtue of prudence in this rash and irreverent society. You were given the prophecy of sorrows from Simeon. May we face all the sorrows of the increasing hatred of law and religion in our times.
Hail Mary ten
Glory be
Fatima prayer
To be continued...
