The Joyful Mysteries

in Stained Glass

(Numbers other than the 10 Hail Marys refer to the numbers pointing to the beads in the above illustration.)

1) Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed.

2) Pray the Our Father.

3) Pray three Hail Marys for Faith, Hope, and Charity.

4) Pray the Glory Be.

5) Announce “The First Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation” and then pray the Our Father.

6) Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.

The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
The Angel Gabriel announces: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee.”
Mary wonders at this salutation.
The Angel assures her: “Fear not . . . you shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son.”
Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity.
The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
The Incarnation awaits Mary’s consent.
Mary answers: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.”
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

Spiritual Fruit: Humility

7) Pray the Glory Be

Optional: Pray the Fatima prayer Oh My Jesus.

8) Announce “The Second Joyful Mystery – The Visitation” and then pray the Our Father.

Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.

Mary’s cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age… for nothing is impossible with God.
Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her need.
The journey to Elizabeth’s home is about eighty miles requiring four or five days.
Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears with her the Incarnate Word.
At Mary’s salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his mother’s womb.
Elizabeth exclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
“How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
“Blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.”
Mary replies: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior.”
Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the birth of John the Baptist.

Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor

Pray the Glory Be

Optional: Pray the Oh My Jesus

Announce “The Third Joyful Mystery – The Nativity of Our Lord” and then pray the Our Father.

Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.

Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caesar Augustus.
The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in the inn.
In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a cave, Mary remaining a Virgin.
She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.
In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her virginity.
Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly things.
The angel announces to the shepherds: “Today there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”
The angelic chorus sing: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.”
The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant Jesus.
The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.

Spiritual Fruit: Detachment

Pray the Glory Be

Optional: Pray the Oh My Jesus

Announce “The Fourth Joyful Mystery – The Presentation” and then pray the Our Father.

Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.

Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord.
According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family should be consecrated to the Lord.
Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the price paid by the poor.
Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach obedience, submits to it.
Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility she submits to it.
God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah.
Recognizing the Child, he prays: “Now you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word.”
“This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed.”
And to Mary Simeon reveals: “And your own soul a sword shall pierce.”
After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth.

Spiritual Fruit: Obedience

Pray the Glory Be

Optional: Pray the Oh My Jesus

Announce “The Fifth Joyful Mystery – Finding Jesus in the Temple” and then pray the Our Father.

Pray ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.

When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus.
At the end of the first day’s journey they discover Jesus is missing.
His parents return immediately looking for Him.
This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
On the third day, they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom.
Mary: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for You in sorrow.”
Jesus: “Why did you search for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them.
Mary keeps all these things in her heart.

Spiritual Fruit: Perseverance

Pray the Glory Be

Optional: Pray the Oh My Jesus

Closing Prayers

Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us, the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Final Prayer
Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Back Home

Optional Additional Prayers

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us. (repeat after each line)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,

Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of Mercy,
Mother of Divine Grace,
Mother of Hope,
Mother Most Pure,
Mother Most Chaste,
Mother Inviolate,
Mother Undefiled,
Mother Most Amiable,
Mother Most Admirable,
Mother of Good Counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,

Virgin Most Prudent,
Virgin Most Venerable,
Virgin Most Renowned,
Virgin Most Powerful,
Virgin Most Merciful,
Virgin Most Faithful,

Mirror of Justice,
Seat of Wisdom,
Cause of Our Joy,
Spiritual Vessel,
Vessel of Honor,
Singular Vessel of Devotion,
Mystical Rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of Ivory,
House of Gold,
Ark of the Covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning Star,

Health of the Sick,
Refuge of Sinners,
Solace of Migrants,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,

Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without Original Sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,
Queen of Families,
Queen of Peace,

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray, Grant, we beseech you, O Lord God, that we your servants may enjoy lasting health of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow to delight in joy eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.