A Joyful Celebration

Beads of Joy 08-03-10

A Joyful Celebration
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Today is a "JOYFUL" day. I love the Rosary so much. I can't keep all of its JOY to myself. No matter what I do, I find myself either praying, thinking or writing about the Rosary. Today I really want us to really get into the full essence of the scriptures that surround the mysteries. maybe some of you will read all the scriptures with each mystery, maybe you won't. Either way I present them to you, all the scripture with each mystery so you to can capture the JOY I get everyday from my Rosary. This is to also show how much the Rosary is ALL about Jesus, always was and always has been about Him.

Joyful Mysteries

1.Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38 )

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. © Revised Standard Version 1973

Mary is without a doubt, thee Mother of God and our mother. She has set an example for us, one that we can grab hold of and follow with confidence. God made a wonderful choice in Mary; so if God can chose her, so can we. We have saints, we have popes, we have bishops, priests and nuns. We have a Father in Heaven, so we need a mother to. Mary is truly the one woman, all women should emulate and all men should adore.

2.Visitation (Luke 1:39-45)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." © Revised Standard Version 1973

Our Blessed Mother is so tender-hearted, and sweet in her concern for others; that even while she was in no condition to take care of anyone but herself, she put others before herself. Embrace Mary, follow her lead, she leads us to her Son with such love and care for us. She is undoubtedly the Queen of Heaven. Her heart is the kind of heart every man, woman and child should have. The more you get to know Mary the more you will love her. She is one who cared for Jesus, and she fed Him and taught Him to walk and talk. She spent all those years with Him, nurturing Him through His childhood. What a truly Blessed Mother she is.

3.Nativity (Luke 2:1-20)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.© Revised Standard Version 1973

Who are the first people Jesus is in contact with as He comes into this world? Mary and Joseph, are the first to love and adore Him. In their poverty they had so much love and adoration for their Son. We know both Mary and Joseph both were obedient to God. Their obedience is something we can learn from. We must drop to our knees in humility before Him, loving Him with all of our heart. Stop adoring this world we live in, that house is just a house, that car is nothing, and a bank roll never got anyone to Heaven. We must be humble before our Lord, giving to all. Let us be like Joseph and Mary and humble ourselves before our Lord.

4.Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-40)

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. © Revised Standard Version 1973

In his mothers arms Jesus is brought to the Father. Jesus, thee absolute splendor of the chosen people. Two people are noted in scripture that knew of His coming and literally waited for His arrival. Our Lady must have felt such Joy to see the love so many had for her Son. Do you realize how much Mary must have hugged, embraced, and snuggled up with Jesus when He was little. Mary is no doubt thee Mother of God.

5.Finding of the young Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. © Revised Standard Version 1973

We can see why so many are urged to immitate Jesus. He always spent time learning and giving and doing that which His Father, our Father wishes of Him. Spending time not only in prayer but also in some sort of a bible study session is a fantastic idea. I do it all the time. You don't need to make it formal. Just get some really great books,, including a very detailed commentary. Pray and take your time, do all the cross references. Ask priests if you have questions, when can't answer your questions. It is so much fun, it's like finding little diamonds each time you learn something or connect the dots of something you never knew before. Try it..

Thank you all so much for taking the time to not only mediate on these mysteries, but to reflect on them with me. The mysteries of the Rosary, fill my heart with so much Joy, I just can't contain it.. Nor will I. I have to share everything I feel in heart with my love for my Lord through this most exciting, insightful, blessed Rosary. I have so much more about the Rosary to share with everyone. You know I will.

"Jesus, I trust in You"


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO