The Litany of Loreto Rosary The First Sorrowful Mystery Matthew 26: 36-46
Our Father
Mary, pray for us that we may be watchful at all times, for the coming of the Lord, even if watchfulness brings suffering.
Hail Mary one
Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all you labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you find rest for yours souls.
Hail Mary two
Mirror of Justice
To be a mirror, Mary faces Christ in His suffering and reflects Him. Christ is Justice, the only Man Who can truly judge right and wrong. All of our actions, or decisions have consequences which follow naturally, as one season yields to another, and as lie yields to death. Mary reflects not only suffering, but the feminine nature of Creation God created before the Fall, as beautiful and virtuous. She reminds us of a world we ignore, or consciously attempt to destroy in the fury of "progress" and sin. Mary reflects Christ's hierarchy of goodness over all of creation. She reminds us of the natural processes of our lives, which leads to eternal life or death.
The Just One endured an illegal and unjust trial. Justice endured injustice and Mary did as well, enduring this suffering with her Son. We are freed from the supernatural consequences of our sins-eternal death. Mary, as the Mirror of Justice, reveals Truth to the world.
Hail Mary three
Have pity on us, Mirror of Justice, and lead us to righteousness, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Hail Mary four
Matthew 11:16-19
But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the market place, who call to their companions, and say "We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have sung dirges, and you have not mourned." For John came neither eating and drinking, and they say "He has a devil!" The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.
Hail Mary five
Seat of Wisdom
Christ referred to Wisdom in His address to the unbelieving crowd. He meant, among other things, that those who are wise reveal themselves by their actions. A wise person responds to the advice of spiritual persons, and responds to the grace of God. Mary, Sedes Sapientia, is the place where Wisdom rests. In her, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested as perfect. Her name Seat of Wisdom indicates a position of simplicity, humility, reason and peace. He Son lacked her comfort in the Garden of Gethsemane. We gain her presence and the comfort of Wisdom through His loss in this mystery.
Hail Mary six
Seat of Wisdom, who held the Divine Child in your lap, and who held the dead Christ, pray that we may become Children of Wisdom in this foolish generation.
Hail Mary seven
Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.
Hail Mary eight
Cause of our Joy
Did Christ recall His own words in the Garden of Gethsemane? He knew the long history of the rejection of the prophets of Israel. Yet, He told His disciples to rejoice. Anguish, at first, drives away promises of hope; all one can affirm in suffering is "The will be done." Mary's fiat let the Passion occur, Beyond the Garden of Gethsemane lies the empty tomb, unseen, yet hoped for in the promises of the prophets. Our joy, through Mary, is Christ's victory. But, He allowed Himself to take our anguish, our sorrows for that Cause. Mary's yes is Christ's yes.
Hail Mary nine
Cause of our Joy, intercede for us, that we may have grateful hearts. Pray for us, that we may be as generous in suffering as Jesus Christ was in the surrender of our wills, bodies, and spirits to the Father,
Hail Mary ten
Glory be
Fatima Prayer
(I cannot believe I wrote this in 1979-1984, but I did. This could have been written yesterday.)
To be continued....
