Nicole Berlucchi, Writer on a Mission

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s reflections on how to imitate each of the mysteries. Today, I am including some reflection points and questions for you to dive more deeply into each of the mysteries, considering how you might imitate it and obtain the fruits of each mystery.

How are you being called to imitate the mystery of the Annunciation:

• Recognize Mary in her unique role as Mother of God and our Mother.
• Be humble and ponder what certain affirmations might mean more deeply for your life. Avoid thinking about them to feed your ego.
• Accompany others in their vocations. Remind others that we have all be chosen by God. He created us to be his sons and daughters.
• Say yes to God by believing and fully participating in the sacraments. Believe in the power of the Holy Spirit working through those sacraments to support your own fiat and vocation.
• Is there another way you are being called to imitate this mystery?
• Let us ask Mary’s intercession for all the ways we might be called to imitate this mystery.

How are you being called to imitate the mystery of the Visitation:

• Walk with those who are more vulnerable than ourselves, especially those older than us.
• Greet others first, whether at Church, in a store, at a game, if you see a person you know, greet them like Mary greeted Elizabeth.
• Listen for Mary’s nudges to pray the rosary or meditate on God’s greatness; respond with meditation, a Hail Mary, Mary’s Magnificat or a rosary.
• Focus on Jesus coming to you in the Eucharist just as Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth; let your soul leap for joy over this gift of Jesus’ visitation with you, this communion with you.
• Affirm your friends who keep the faith in the midst of impossible circumstances or whose faith encourage you in your own faith journey.
• Develop your own Magnificat and pray your own prayer of praise to God for His goodness and unceasing mercy and love in your life.
• Is there another aspect of this mystery that has drawn your attention for imitation?
• Let us ask Mary’s intercession for all the ways we might be called to imitate this mystery.

How are you being called to imitate the Mystery of the Birth of Jesus:

• Consider how you can put someone else’s good ahead or your own, especially to acknowledge the dignity of the other person.
• Recognize that God does not always excuse you from normal life even when He gives you big tasks to handle. Participate as a citizen, even when inconvenient, Mary and St. Joseph did not take their very important role as an entitlement to be excused from what everyone else was required to do.
• Care for Jesus like Mary did when there was no room for Him. Mary was not thinking of herself; she was making sure her baby boy was snug, secure and warm in her watchful care. Swaddle Jesus in your heart so he feels your loving attention when you receive Him in the Eucharist.
• Allow yourself to be shaken out of your daily routine and overwhelmed by the Good News of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection like the shepherds who ran in search of Him after the angels’ appearance.
• Seek Him in the Eucharist, in books, in prayer. Jesus is always waiting for us to seek Him. He is always waiting for us, like a baby waiting in the manger, trustfully waiting to be held and loved.
• Walk away from Mass glorifying and praising God for the opportunity to partake in a miracle and to receive Him in the Eucharist.
• Is there another aspect of this mystery that has drawn your attention for imitation?
• Let us ask Mary’s intercession for all the ways we might be called to imitate this mystery.

How are you being called to imitate the Mystery of the Presentation in the Temple:

• Practice obedience and consider sacrificial offerings of thanksgiving for God’s providence.
• Ask, like Simeon, for something that requires great faith that God will answer.
• Be looking for Jesus so that you might recognize Him whenever He decides to reveal Himself to you.
• Never cease to be amazed at God becoming man, suffering, dying and rising for us. Like Mary and Joseph, hear about the Good News as if it is the first time.
• Share Jesus with others and thank God for the gift of His Son like Anna.
• Pray to have the opportunity to have the willingness like Mary to suffer with and for Jesus so that you might draw closer to Him.
• Is there another aspect of this mystery that has drawn your attention for imitation?
• Let us ask Mary’s intercession for all the ways we might be called to imitate this mystery.

How are you being called to imitate the Mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple:

• If you feel far from Jesus, go and find Him at Church; don’t keep trying to forge ahead without Him. Be like Mary and Joseph and turn around if you have to. Search for Him and you will find Him.
• Ask Jesus hard questions when you are confused about what is happening in your life or you are feeling unclear. He might not answer as clear as you want Him to, but telling Him what is on your heart will help you understand and feel His love and be assured of how He has everything under control.
• Jesus and the Father are one, but Jesus still takes the time to study scripture, listen to others and have discussions to establish and live in relationship with the Father. Let us take time to read more for spiritual growth and find communities to study scripture and discuss our faith so that we might grow in understanding and relationship with the Trinity.
• Think about Jesus, think about God the Father, think about the Holy Spirit, think about the Trinity, think about the many ways God works in your life, what He is doing, just like Mary did.
• Don’t let the “big” Church seasons like Christmas and Easter be the only time to be with our Lord in extra ways. Consider this year to use Ordinary time in an extraordinary way. Stay behind to visit with God, after Mass offer a prayer of thanksgiving or make time to pop into Church more often than only for Sunday Mass.
• Is there another aspect of this mystery that has drawn your attention for imitation?
• Let us ask Mary’s intercession for all the ways we might be called to imitate this mystery.

I hope through imitating and praying these mysteries of the Rosary, you will see the fruits they promise for your life: humility, charity, poverty of spirit and attachment from worldly things, wisdom and purity of heart, and conversion. These fruits can only multiply God’s good works on earth and draw you near to Him. I look forward to Monday, when we will begin the Sorrowful Mysteries. I have chosen to save the Luminous Mysteries for last since they came much later in the history of the Rosary than the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries. I believe God designed it that way, and so want to follow His designs. God bless you!