Scriptural Rosary

A Good Response to the Flying Spaghetti Monster

2011-09-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Via podcast (audio), Jimmy Akin provides a good response to the Flying Spaghetti Monster (pastafarianism).

A Novena of Meditations on Truth

2011-08-07T07:13:00.001-07:00

First Day - Matthew 5:33-37

Second Day - John 8:31-47

Third Day - John 14:1-7

Fourth Day - John 16:1-15

Fifth Day - John 17:6-19

Sixth Day - John 18:33-40

Seventh Day - Ephesians 4:7-25

Eighth Day - Colossians 1:1-8

Ninth Day - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:7)

A Novena of Meditations on Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace

2011-01-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Peace does not come about necessarily by the absence of problems, but by the presence of Christ.

First Day - Isaiah 9:2-7

Second Day - Isaiah 42:1-4

Third Day - Micah 5:1-4 or Zechariah 9:9-10

Fourth Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Fifth Day - Mark 4:35-41

Sixth Day - John 14:22-31

Seventh Day - John 20:19-29

Eighth Day - Ephesians 2:11-22

Ninth Day - Colossians 1:11-23

Let your hearts not be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:6)

A Novena of Meditations on God's Mercy

2010-12-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

Though we are sinners, God still loves us and seeks us out.

First Day - Psalm 51

Second Day - Psalm 130

Third Day - Matthew 6:7-15

Fourth Day - Matthew 9:9-13

Fifth Day - Matthew 18:23-35

Sixth Day - Luke 15:1-10

Seventh Day - Luke 15:11-32

Eighth Day - John 8:2-11

Ninth Day - Romans 5:1-11

"The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

A Novena of Meditations on God's Protection

2010-12-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

First Day - Psalm 27

Second Day - Psalm 62

Third Day - Psalm 91

Fourth Day - Psalm 121

Fifth Day - Psalm 141

Sixth Day - Isaiah 43:1-7

Seventh Day - Daniel 6

Eighth Day - Matthew 10:24-31

Ninth Day - John 10:27-30

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. (Psalm 121:9)

A Novena of Meditations on Obedience

2010-11-27T08:34:00.000-08:00

First Day - Genesis 22:1-19

Second Day-1 Samuel 15:17-31

Third Day - Psalm 81

Fourth Day - Acts 5:27-32

Fifth Day - 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Sixth Day - Phillipians 2:1-11

Seventh Day - Hebrews 3:1-19

Eighth Day - Hebrews 4:1-13

Ninth Day - 1 John 5:1-5

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (1 John 5:2)

To Know Christ Jesus

2010-11-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

We can't love whom we don't know. In compiling the following list of passages I have tried to find ones rich with revelation about who Jesus is, so that forming a relationship with him may be made easier.

First Day - John 1:1-18

Second Day - Matthew 1:18-25

Third Day - John 1:19-34

Fourth Day - Luke 4:16-24

Fifth Day - Matthew 16:13-20

Sixth Day - Mark 9:2-8

Seventh Day - John 14:1-11

Eighth Day - Philippians 2:1-11

Ninth Day - Colossians 1:9-20

In compiling the next list of passages, I tried to capture the essence of what it means to know Jesus Christ, namely, the development an intimate, personal relationship with him.

First Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Second Day - John 6:35-59

Third Day - John 10:1-15

Fourth Day - John 14:18-24

Fifth Day - John 15:1-17

Sixth Day - John 17:1-8

Seventh Day - Ephesians 3:14-21

Eighth Day - Philipians 3:1-11

Ninth Day - 1 John 1:1-4

"I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14)

Robots Discuss Baptism by Fire

2010-11-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Renewal of Your Mind

2010-10-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

This novena of meditations aims to inform the individual of the role of the mind in the spiritual life as conveyed by Scripture.

First Day - Psalm 77

Second Day - Mark 12:28-31

Third Day - Romans 8:1-11

Fourth Day- Romans 12:1-3

Fifth Day - 1 Corinthians 2:9-16

Sixth Day - Ephesians 4:17-24

Seventh Day - Philippians 2:1-11

Eighth Day - Philippians 4:4-9

Ninth Day - Colossians 3:1-10

As in water face answers to face, so the mind of man reflects the man. (Proverbs 29:17)

To Know Christ Jesus

2010-10-20T07:50:00.001-07:00

In compiling this list of passages, I tried to capture the essence of what it means to know Jesus Christ, namely, the development an intimate, personal relationship with him.

First Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Second Day - John 6:35-59

Third Day - John 10:1-15

Fourth Day - John 14:18-24

Fifth Day - John 15:1-17

Sixth Day - John 17:1-8

Seventh Day - Ephesians 3:14-21

Eighth Day - Philipians 3:1-11

Ninth Day - 1 John 1:1-4

"I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14)

Robots Discuss John 6

2010-10-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

A Novena of Meditations on Mary

2010-10-01T13:46:00.001-07:00

Here are nine gospel passages which one may prayerfully read for nine days in order to form a sort of novena of meditations on the Blessed Virgin Mary. May the following passages lead you to come to know our Blessed Mother better, and thus to love her more.

First Day - Luke 1:26-38

Second Day - Luke 1:39-56

Third Day - Matthew 1:18-25

Fourth Day - Luke 2:1-21

Fifth Day - Luke 2:22-40

Sixth Day - Luke 2:41-52

Seventh Day - John 2:1-11

Eighth Day - Luke 11:27-28

Ninth Day - John 19:25-27

A Novena of Meditations on Spiritual Warfare

2010-09-22T07:40:00.001-07:00

First Day - Matthew 10:24-31

Second Day - Matthew 17:14-20 or Mark 9:14-29

Third Day - Luke 10:17-20

Fourth Day - Luke 11:14-26

Fifth Day - John 8:31-47

Sixth Day - Ephesians 4:25-32

Seventh Day - Ephesians 6:10-20

Eighth Day - 1 Peter 5:6-11

Ninth Day - Revelation 12:7-12

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph. 6:11)

A Novena of Meditations on Jesus, The Lion of Judah

2010-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Within two consecutive verses (5:5-6), the book of Revelation portrays Jesus as both a lion and a lamb. I have already posted a novena of meditations on gentleness, in many of which reflections the word of God holds Jesus himself before us as a model of gentleness. In the below set of passages, Jesus is portrayed as a "lion".

We cannot love whom we don't know. We don't have complete knowledge of Jesus if we only know him as a "lamb", although his being our "paschal lamb" (1 Cor 5:7) is central to the Paschal Mystery (the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ). (The two identities of "lion" and "lamb" are intimately complementary, too, and not opposed, for it is by Jesus' sacrificial offering as the Lamb of God that he displays his triumphal power in defeating Satan by the cross.) Developing a relationship with Jesus the "lion" - or, as the book of Revelation puts it, the Lion of the tribe of Judah - helps us to know the serious, or "tough guy", side of Jesus. So we come to know, and thus love, him more completely. I also think such relational knowledge of Christ helps us take our own faith and faith life more seriously.

First Day - Genesis 49:8-12

Second Day - Psalm 2 or Psalm 110

Third Day - Matthew 10:34-39

Fourth Day - Matthew 12:22-32

Fifth Day - Mark 9:42-50

Sixth Day - Luke 3:15-18

Seventh Day - Luke 20:9-18

Eighth Day - John 2:13-22

Ninth Day - Revelation 19:11-21

The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered. (Rev. 5:5)

A Novena of Meditations on Christ Crucified

2010-09-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

First Day - John 3:13-17

Second Day - John 12:27-36

Third Day - Mark 15:1-15

Fourth Day - Matthew 27:32-47

Fifth Day - Luke 23:32-43

Sixth Day - John 19:25-37

Seventh Day - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, 2:1-5

Eighth Day - Galatians 3:1-14

Ninth Day - Phillipians 2:1-11

"When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he." (John 8:28)

A Novena of Unusual Animal Bible Stories

2010-08-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

Of course, this isn't a novena in the strict sense of the word - just a list of passages I put together for fun.

1) Frogs in your food - Exodus 8:1-15

2) A talking donkey (way before Shrek) - Numbers 22:21-35

3) Really obedient cows - 1 Samuel 6:1-16

4) Ravens' free delivery - 1 Kings 17:1-7

5) History's most savage bears- 2 Kings 2:23-25

6) That bird got him right in the eye - Tobit 2:7-10

7) A dragon's bad indigestion -AND-Daniel's lions get to eat some more- Daniel 14:23-42

8) We all know this one - Jonah 1:17, 2:1-2:10

9) Another fish swallowing something unusual - Matthew 17:24-27

A dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. (2 Peter 2:16)

A Novena of Meditations on Dependence on God

2010-08-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

First Day - Deuteronomy 32:1-14

Second Day - Psalm 37:1-11

Third Day - Psalm 46

Fourth Day - Psalm 127

Fifth Day - Isaiah 41:8-13

Sixth Day - Matthew 6:24-34

Seventh Day - Matthew 13:24-43

Eighth Day - Mark 4:26-29

Ninth Day - John 15:1-11

Know that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. (Psalm 100:3)

Scriptural Rosary

2010-03-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

There are two versions of a scriptural rosary posted along with this entry - both including all four sets of mysteries.

While praying a scriptural rosary, one reads a short verse or passage from scripture before praying a vocal prayer. I have composed those following to where one would read a short passage (in most cases, as short as a single verse) before praying each Hail Mary. Each passage from scripture is to provide and idea - or 'point' - on which to meditate while one vocally prays each Hail Mary. For information on how to pray the rosary in general, see this helpful guide.

There are two scriptural rosaries posted here; the first provides scriptural verses which focus more directly on the events in the lives of Jesus and Mary on which the rosary's meditations are based, while the second provides more varied scriptural meditations by providing, for example, more Old Testament connections to the mysteries or adding devotional scriptural passages to the meditations. God bless!

Scriptural Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

Scriptural Rosary with Varied Scriptural References

Joyful Mysteries

Luminous Mysteries

Sorrowful Mysteries

Glorious Mysteries

A Novena of Meditations on Self-Control

2010-03-17T10:34:00.001-07:00

First Day - Mark 9:42-50

Second Day - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 10:1-13

Third Day - Galatians 5:13-26

Fourth Day - Ephesians 4:17-32

Fifth Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Sixth Day - 2 Timothy 1:3-7, 2:1-7

Seventh Day - Titus 2

Eighth Day - James 3

Ninth Day - 1 Peter 2:1-11

Self-control and prudence; justice and courage;
nothing in life is more profitable than these. (Wisdom 8:7)

Meditation and God's Word

2009-12-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

I have been encouraged by a friend to write down what I have learned about how to meditate. Much of what I know about and practice with meditation is Ignatian, or a style of meditation developed and formulated by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Though I have not done too much reading about lectio divina, I think the style of meditation I describe is also very much like that, too. Exactly where what I write here, Ignatian meditation, and lectio divina overlap, I couldn't tell. But, here it is.

Meditation begins in prayer: asking the Spirit of God to guide your mind and heart so that what you perceive in meditation is exactly what God wills. I find the following prayer extremely helpful in beginning meditation:

V. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
R. And enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And you will renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. Lord, you instruct the hearts of your faithful by the light of your Holy Spirit. In the same Spirit, help us to relish what is right, and always rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Though not absolutely necessary, meditation is aided by the written word, most especially by God's own word - Holy Scripture - whose essence is the Divine Word Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Another phrase I sometimes use for meditation is to "prayerfully read" a passage from scripture or other spiritual work. By prayerfully reading it is meant that not only do we expose our intellect to the face-value content of what we are reading, but that we also come to open our hearts and souls to the idea - or "word" - which the Holy Spirit wills to speak to us through the spiritual reading. Finely tuning and utilizing our mental and spiritual faculties to listen to and incorporate into our spiritual lives what the Holy Spirit means to tell us is for the most part what meditation is.

The first point I would explore here involves the individual's developing a sensitivity to identifying when the Holy Spirit means to point out an idea, or "word", out to us as we are spiritually reading. I can describe what I do sense and know about this experience which is comparable to when a certain word or phrase "jumps out" at you when your are spiritually reading, most likely with Scripture.

A brief note: related to phenomenon of an individual's detection of an idea or message coming from without, is the Ignatian concept of discernment, whereby the individual puts to the test as it were the idea, in order to determine whether this idea is from God, oneself, or the evil one. I will attempt with my amateur ability to elaborate a bit further on this concept of discernment in a later post.

The essence of sensing when the Holy Spirit means to point out a certain word or phrase to me can be a combination of two things.

First, I would describe it as an intuition that there is more to be had from the meaning of the word, phrase, or passage I just read; this is to mean that though I know I have a firm enough intellectual grasp of the literal or general idea behind what is read, that somehow I "missed something". And, the Holy Spirit is drawing me back toward this "something" I missed in order for me to get more out of it. The idea or "word" to which I then retrace my steps and intend to delve more deeply into would be what's called in Ignatian meditation a "point" of one's meditation. However, beside being an idea which the Holy Spirit points out, a point can also be an idea the individual predetermines and brings with him or her to meditation. Examples of such points of mediation are:

1) A thelogical mystery which one wishes to understand better or simply gaze upon with the mind's eye in adoration.

2) A truth of the faith which one wishes to intellectually grasp more fully. (One does well to complement such mediation by reading Church teaching on the point.)

3) An attribute of God or our Lord Jesus with which and individual better familiarizes oneself in order to know, and thus love, our Lord better.

4) A virtue or characteristic of the spiritual life which one is inspired to learn more about in order to emulate it better.

Returning to the phenomenon of an idea "jumping out" at the individual in meditation, I would second describe the essence of this experience as an intuition that God intends to speak to me personally about the idea. With or without my knowing, this word is something I need to come to know better and incorporate into my life in order to grow. Upon reading, for example, a verse from Scripture, its message carries with it the impetus of God's voice speaking intimately to my soul. In addition, my personal sensitivity to the importance for me to internalize whatever point was just conveyed to me is all the keener when it lays bare an area of my spiritual life in which I know in my heart of hearts I need to grow. This idea from Scripture awakens a dormant area of my conscience which in turn bears me witness an area in which I need to even more fully conform how I perceive and live out my relationship with Christ to the truth of word he is speaking to me.

How one develops this sensitivity to identifying the Holy Spirit's indication of a "word" upon which he intends us to reflect comes about mainly through prayer and practice. This sensitivity for me personally is stimulated within the mind as I use the mind's faculties to delve more deeply into a point of meditation. The utilization of these faculties for me is as a movement of the mind's eye as it attempts to perceive more clearly and profoundly the meaning of the point.

I would describe this utilization of the faculties of the mind as combination of three elements:

1) - exercise of the intellect which analyzes the theological point in the attempt to articulate its meaning back to the intellect in a fashion which clarifies the point for the individual, thus making him or her more familiar with the point in question; the individual's intellect and the point of meditation become better friends.

Sometimes simple clarification of the meaning of a theological mystery is virtually impossible in light of the fact that such mysteries of the faith are infinite in their scope and identity. That being said, one can become more familiar with the mystery by attempting to intellectually analyze and learn more about it. Even as the individual comes away from meditation staggered by the understanding that he or she can barely drink a drop in the ocean of the mystery's meaning, it can be said that he or she is then paradoxically more familiar with and has a better grasp of the sublimity of the nature of theological mystery.

2) - an openness of the "mind's eye" and the "ear of the heart" to whatever the Holy Spirit would tell the individual about the meaning to be had from a point in meditation. This attempt at listening with the "ear of the heart" I would describe as an exercise of simultaneously listening for and listening to the Holy Spirit. In listening for the Holy Spirit, one does well to silence or slow down the constant movement of the mind from jumping around from one thought to another. Physical silence is also essential for this. The Holy Spirit speaks the the soul in varied ways: with images within the imagination; thoughts from without; and inclinations of the emotion which console or convict the individual in movements to guide the him or her into an experience of God's loving care, or toward better acknowledgment of an area of the spiritual life needing improvement. Listening for such movements of the mind and heart require attentiveness in meditation. The exercise itself of taming one's mind into silence can even be an act of meditation - of preparing "good soil" in which God may implant His word (cf. Mk 4:20, Jas 1:21).

This second element of using the faculties of the mind relates to the first in that it is the Holy Spirit himself who clarifies or reveals to the intellect the deeper meaning to be had from a point of meditation. So, the effort to intellectually understand better a point is aided by simultaneously listening to the Spirit of God.

3) - use of the imagination. St. Ignatius of Loyala encouraged this method. He explained that one can meditate by simply imagining oneself in the presence of the Lord in one event or another recorded in the gospels. Here are three such events I can offer in which it may be fruitful for one to imagine oneself taking part:

a) Sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus, as did the sister Mary (Luke 10:39), simply taking in all he has to speak to you.

b) To "stay with" Jesus, like the disciples in John 1:38-39, internalizing the experience of simply being with him. With regard to the idea of simply "being with" our Lord, I am reminded of something St. John Vianney said when asked what he did while spending so much time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament: "I see Him; and he sees me."

c) Lying close to the breat of Jesus, as did the disciple John in John 13:23,25, enjoying the closeness to the heart of our Lord, the source of divine love.

The source of the point which the Holy Spirit leads an individual to meditate upon can vary; it may consist of an idea behind a single word, a phrase, a verse or two from Scripture, or even the overarching idea behind a whole passage of several verses. Especially when one reads a whole passage of scripture and captures the main concept behind it to serve as a context or support when then going back over and more slowly delving into more specific ideas in the passage, then this practice would more closely come to reflect an element of lectio divina. That being said, it is not necessary to identify a "point" of meditation from Holy Scripture or other reading material. One may approach meditation with a predetermined point on which to meditate, for example, on God's goodness or mercy. If such desired points meditation are too broad so as to make one feel he or she doesn't know where to start in beginning to meditate a on point, then he or she may go about finding material on their desired point of meditation. For this reason, I have many other postings on this blog about virtues or attributes of God, each post providing various Scripture passages which illustrate each specific virtue or attribute.

Furthermore, it is not guaranteed when coming to prayer with a scripture passage upon which one wishes to reflect that anything will necessarily "jump out" at the individual. One may even consider this experience as a sort of consolation in prayer. Sometimes God does not provide us with consolation in prayer to avail us of the opportunity to make the act of faith in Him as, with the help of seemingly unbeknown grace, we convict ourselves of His presence and love without needing to depend on the occurrence of consolation. Such an act of faith also trains us to direct our faith toward God, and not toward ourselves in the effort of seeking out consolations in prayer which God may or may not allow us to experience. It has been said, "We must seek the God of consolations, rather than the consolations of God."

So, in the event that one does not have any particular idea from Scripture strike one personally, or for that matter sense God speak to one a certain word in prayer, it is important to remember that God sees the effort one makes to commune with and listen to Him in prayer. Even the most seemingly dry meditation or prayer experience to the individual can give glory to God given the time and effort God sees the individual devote to Him in love. In addition, when one is meditating upon Scripture, it is also important to remember that the very words one is reading are God's. Having one particular verse or word from Scripture "jump out" at the individual may not be necessary when one could simply benefit from spending time reading and understanding a passage from Scripture. A crucial step to God's word bearing fruit in one's life is that one understands it. "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit." (Mt 13:23) If one attempts to meditate upon a passage from Scripture and does not expreience any consolation of the sense of God pointing out one verse or another, the time for meditation may simply be an opportunity God is giving to lead the individual to read and understand His word. Sitting back and opening the mind and heart to recognizing the experience of reading God's word, as one of God speaking to the soul with the very words from Scripture, bears much import indeed for the spiritual life. The word of God may take root and sprout within the soul, even without the individual's knowing it (cf. Mk 4:26-27), leavening the very depths of his or her being (cf. Mt 13:33). By taking in and retaining God's word, one internalizes the Divine Word himself, Jesus Christ, who said, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23)

If one is unsure from where in Scripture to begin drawing the content of his or her spiritual reading, I would recommend one of the four gospels as a good starting point. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the gospels "the heart of all the Scriptures" (125).

As the time devoted to God in meditation begins in prayer, so it ends. The individual responds to whatever idea or word was conveyed by God by talking to Him about it, for example, by thanking him for the word, and asking him to help in the individual's effort to understand or live it out better in his or her own life.

I hope these thoughts about meditation help you in any way possible. God bless.

A Novena of Meditations on Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

First Day - Psalm 30

Second Day - Psalm 50

Third Day - Psalm 136

Fourth Day - Isaiah 12

Fifth Day - Luke 10:21-24

Sixth Day - Luke 17:11-19

Seventh Day - Luke 22:14-23

Eighth Day - 2 Corinthians 9

Ninth Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to thy name, O Most High. (Psalm 92:1)

A Novena of Meditations on Compassion

2009-11-20T15:34:00.001-08:00

First Day - Numbers 14:13-19

Second Day - Psalm 103

Third Day - Psalm 145

Fourth Day - Isaiah 49:13-23

Fifth Day - Hosea 11:1-8

Sixth Day - Mark 6:30-44

Seventh Day - Luke 10:25-37

Eighth Day - Luke 15:11-32

Ninth Day - John 8:1-11

The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9)

A Novena of Meditations on Patience

2009-11-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

First Day - Psalm 37

Second Day - Psalm 130

Third Day - Isaiah 40:27-31

Fourth Day - Matthew 13:24-43

Fifth Day - Luke 8:4-15

Sixth Day - Romans 2:1-8

Seventh Day - Romans 8:18-25

Eighth Day - 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Ninth Day - James 5:7-11

You also be patient.
Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:8)

A Novena of Meditations on Gentleness

2009-11-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

First Day - Genesis 18:22-33

Second Day - 1 Kings 19:9-18

Third Day - Psalm 23

Fourth Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Fifth Day - Matthew 12:15-21

Sixth Day - Luke 9:51-56

Seventh Day - Luke 13:6-9

Eighth Day - James 3:13-18

Ninth Day - 1 Peter 3:8-17

"Learn from me;
for I am gentle and lowly in heart." (Matthew 11:29)

A Novena of Meditations on Courage

2009-11-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

First Day - 1 Samuel 17:31-58

Second Day - Jeremiah 1

Third Day - 2 Maccabees 7

Fourth Day - Matthew 10:16-33

Fifth Day - Luke 21:20-36

Sixth Day - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Seventh Day - Ephesians 3:13-21

Eighth Day - Ephesians 6:10-20

Ninth Day - 1 Timothy 6:11-16

My Spirit abides among you; fear not. (Haggai 2:5)

A Novena of Meditations on Righteousness

2009-11-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

First Day - Genesis 15:1-6

Second Day - Psalm 15 or Isaiah 33:13-22

Third Day - Psalm 24 or 112

Fourth Day - Matthew 5:1-20

Fifth Day - Romans 3:19-31

Sixth Day - Romans 4:13-25

Seventh Day - Romans 5:12-21

Eighth Day - Romans 6:12-23

Ninth Day - Phillipians 3:1-11

Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the skies rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth,
and let it cause righteousness to spring up also. (Isaiah 45:8)

A Novena of Gospel Meditations on Peace

2009-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

First Day - Matthew 6:24-34

Second Day - Matthew 10:26-33

Third Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Fourth Day - Mark 4:35-41

Fifth Day - Luke 10:1-9

Sixth Day - John 14:1-6

Seventh Day - John 14:25-31

Eighth Day - John 16:25-33

Ninth Day - John 20:19-23

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.
(Luke 2:14)

A Novena of Meditations on Peace

2009-11-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

First Day - Genesis 8

Second Day - Psalm 85

Third Day - Isaiah 2:1-5

Fourth Day - Isaiah 9:1-7

Fifth Day - John 14:25-31

Sixth Day - John 20:19-23

Seventh Day - Ephesians 2:11-22

Eighth Day - Phillipians 4:1-9

Ninth Day - Colossians 1:15-20

And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. (Isaiah 32:17)

A Novena of Meditations on Justice

2009-11-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

First Day - 1 Kings 3

Second Day - Psalm 96

Third Day - Psalm 99

Fourth Day - Isaiah 42:1-4

Fifth Day - Matthew 25:31-46

Sixth Day - Luke 1:46-55

Seventh Day - John 5:19-29

Eighth Day - Hebrews 10:19-39

Ninth Day - James 2:1-13

A Novena of Meditations on Confidence

2009-10-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

First Day - Psalm 31

Second Day - Psalm 37

Third Day - Matthew 9:18-26

Fourth Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Fifth Day - Hebrews 4:13-16

Sixth Day - Hebrews 10:32-39

Seventh Day - 1 Peter 1:13-21

Eighth Day - 1 John 2:28-3:3

Ninth Day - 1 John 4:13-21

A Novena of Meditations on the Cross

2009-10-15T21:03:00.001-07:00

First Day - Matthew 7:13-14

Second Day - Matthew 11:25-30

Third Day - Mark 10:35-45

Fourth Day - Luke 9:23-27

Fifth Day - Luke 14:25-33

Sixth Day - John 3:13-17

Seventh Day - John 12:20-26

Eighth Day - John 15:12-17

Ninth Day - John 19:17-37

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains alone;
but if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24

A Novena of Meditations on Mortality

2009-10-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

First Day - Genesis 3:16-24

Second Day - Psalm 39

Third Day - Psalm 90

Fourth Day - Luke 12:13-34

Fifth Day - Romans 14:5-9

Sixth Day - 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Seventh Day - 1 Corinthians 15:42-57

Eighth Day - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Ninth Day - Phillipians 1:19-26

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come...
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Eccl. 12:1, 7)

I Think My Son May Be a Little Saint

2009-10-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Of course, all parents think much of their own children, but I have to share this.

After Mass today at the socialization and snack time, my son, Joseph, who is 19-1/2 months old, approached a little girl of about eight years who held three crackers and extended his hand toward her crackers, uttering a beseeching grunt. She told him, "No," hiding the crackers behind her back. My wife consoled him, "It's OK, Joseph, we have more crackers here," and walked him over to the snack table and got him one. Joseph then walked back over to the same little girl and held out his cracker, offering it to her.

A Novena of Meditations on Goodness

2009-09-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

First Day - Luke 6:27-38

Second Day - Romans 12:9-21

Third Day - Ephesians 4:25-32

Fourth Day - Phillipians 2:1-18

Fifth Day - Phillipians 4:4-13

Sixth Day - Colossians 3:1-17

Seventh Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Eighth Day - James 3:13-18

Ninth Day - Matthew 12:33-36

A Novena of Meditations on Life in the Spirit

2009-09-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

First Day - Ezekiel 36:22-28

Second Day - John 3:1-8

Third Day - John 7:37-39

Fourth Day - Acts 2:1-21

Fifth Day - Romans 8:1-17

Sixth Day - Romans 8:18-27

Seventh Day - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Eighth Day - 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

Ninth Day - Galatians 5:12-26

He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:4)

A Novena of Meditations on Life in Christ

2009-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

First Day - Romans 6:1-11

Second Day - 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Third Day - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Fourth Day - Galatians 2:15-20

Fifth Day - Galatians 3:23-27

Sixth Day - Ephesians 1:3-23

Seventh Day - Ephesians 3:14-4:16

Eighth Day - Colossians 1:24-29

Ninth Day - John 15:1-11

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? (2 Cor. 13:6)

A Novena of Meditations on Poverty of Spirit

2009-09-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

First Day - Job 1:20-22

Second Day - Matthew 5:1-12

Third Day - Matthew 10:5-15

Fourth Day - Mark 10:17-33

Fifth Day - Mark 12:41-44

Sixth Day - Luke 9:57-62

Seventh Day - Luke 12:13-31

Eighth Day - Phillipians 3:1-11

Ninth Day - James 2:1-5

A Novena of Meditations on Simplicity

2009-09-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

First Day - Psalm 62

Second Day - Psalm 84

Third Day - Psalm 131

Fourth Day - Micah 6:6-8

Fifth Day - Matthew 22:34-40

Sixth Day - Matthew 23:23-26

Seventh Day - Luke 3:7-14

Eighth Day - Luke 10:38-42

Ninth Day - Luke 17:7-10

A Novena of Meditations on Love for God

2009-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

First Day - Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Second Day - Deut. 10:12-22

Third Day - Psalm 63

Fourth Day - Hosea 6:1-6

Fifth Day - Matthew 22:34-40

Sixth Day - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Seventh Day - 1 John 2:1-6, 15-17

Eighth Day - 1 John 4:13-21, 5:1-5

Ninth Day - John 21:15-19

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned. (Song of Songs 8:7)

A Novena of Meditations on Being Children of God

2009-08-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

First Day - Genesis 1:26-31

Second Day - Mat. 5:43-48

Third Day - Luke 11:5-13

Fourth Day - Luke 15:11-32

Fifth Day - John 1:1-18

Sixth Day - Romans 8:12-17

Seventh Day - 1 John 3:1-10

Eighth Day - 1 John 5:1-12

Ninth Day - Matthew 6:7-13

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1)

A Novena of Meditations on Prudence

2009-07-12T12:02:00.001-07:00

First Day - Matthew 5:33-37

Second Day - Matthew 10:16-23

Third Day - Matthew 11:16-19

Fourth Day - Matthew 12:33-37

Fifth Day - Matthew 25:1-13

Sixth Day - Luke 12:35-48

Seventh Day - Luke 12:54-59

Eighth Day - Luke 14:25-35

Ninth Day - Luke 16:1-15

"Self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable than these." (Wisdom 8:7)

A Novena of Meditations on God's Love

2009-06-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

First Day - Deuteronomy 7:6-13

Second Day - Hosea 11:1-9

Third Day - Luke 15:1-10

Fourth Day - Luke 15:11-32

Fifth Day - John 3:13-21

Sixth Day - John 14:18-24

Seventh Day - John 19:28-37

Eighth Day - Romans 5:1-11

Ninth Day - 1 John 4:7-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

A Novena of Meditations on Love of Neighbor

2009-06-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

First Day - Matthew 18:21-35

Second Day - Matthew 25:31-46

Third Day - Luke 6:27-38

Fourth Day - Luke 10:25-37

Fifth Day - Luke 16:19-31

Sixth Day - John 13:1-15; 31-35

Seventh Day - John 15:9-17

Eighth Day - 1 John 3:11-18

Ninth Day - 1 Corinthians 13

A Novena of Meditations on Saint Joseph

2009-05-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

First Day - Matthew 1:1-17

Second Day - Matthew 1:18-25

Third Day - Luke 2:1-7

Fourth Day - Luke 2:15-21

Fifth Day - Luke 2:22-40

Sixth Day - Matthew 2:13-23

Seventh Day - Genesis 39:1-6

Eighth Day - Luke 2:41-52

Ninth Day - Matthew 13:53-58

The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord,
they flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalms 92:12-13)

A Novena of Meditations on the Word of God

2009-04-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

Prayerfully read the following Scriptural passages for nine days in order to form a sort of novena of meditations on the Word of God (that is, "Word" with either a capital or lower case "w"). May your meditations be fruitful.

First Day - Deuteronomy 8:1-10

Second Day - Isaiah 55:6-13

Third Day - Luke 8:4-21

Fourth Day - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13

Fifth Day - Hebrews 4:1-13

Sixth Day - James 1:16-27

Seventh Day - 1 Peter 1:13-25

Eighth Day - Revelation 19:9-16

Ninth Day - John 1:1-18

A Novena of Mediations on Fasting

2009-03-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Reinvigorate fasting in your spiritual life by meditating for nine days on the following Scripture passages about the practice. While you're at it, read Pope Benedict XVI's Message for Lent on the same topic.

First Day - Genesis 2:4-17

Second Day - Isaiah 58:1-9

Third Day - Jonah 3

Fourth Day - Matthew 4:1-11

Fifth Day - Matthew 6:14-21

Sixth Day - Mark 2:18-22

Seventh Day - Mark 9:14-29

Eighth Day - Luke 16:19-31

Ninth Day - John 4:31-38

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34)

A Novena of Meditations on Joy in the Midst of Suffering

2009-01-20T14:02:00.000-08:00

Pope John Paul II wrote of joy in the midst of suffering in his Apostolic Letter, Salvifici Dolores:

"The individual...does not discover [the salvific meaning of suffering] at his own human level, but at the level of the suffering of Christ. At the same time, however, from this level of Christ the salvific meaning of suffering descends to man's level and becomes, in a sense, the individual's personal response. It is then that man finds in his suffering interior peace and even spiritual joy.

Saint Paul speaks of such joy in the Letter to the Colossians: "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake"[Col 1:24]. A source of joy is found in the overcoming of the sense of the uselessness of suffering, a feeling that is sometimes very strongly rooted in human suffering." (No. 26-27)

So that one may better incorporate into the spiritual life this resolve to rejoice in the midst of life's sufferings, here are nine days of scriptural passages which one may prayerfully read in order to form a novena of meditations on this subject. May it help you find joy in the midst of suffering.

First Day - Matthew 5:1-12

Second Day - J0hn 16:16-33

Third Day - Romans 5:1-5

Fourth Day - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Fifth Day - Colossians 1:24-29

Sixth Day - James 1:2-4, 5:7-11

Seventh Day - 1 Peter 1:3-9

Eighth Day - 1 Peter 4:12-19

Ninth Day - Acts 5:27-42

A Scriptural Rosary with Varied Scriptural References

2008-07-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

This is a new Scriptural Rosary I've composed which, instead of focusing extensively on the events on which each mystery is based, pulls from many varied, allusive Scriptural references to each mystery.

Joyful Mysteries

Luminous Mysteries

Sorrowful Mysteries

Glorious Mysteries

A Novena of Gospel Meditations on St. John the Baptist

2008-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist is a Solemnity (the most solemn class of feast day) and is celebrated on June 24 - six months before Christmas ("In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God..." Lk 1:26). It is traditional to begin praying a novena in honor of a saint so that the it ends the day before his or her feast day, or by beginning the novena on the feast day itself. In light of St. John the Baptist's upcoming feast day, here is a list of nine gospel passages which may be daily prayerfully read, or meditated upon, in his honor. They follow the life and ministry, from beginning to end, of this great saint, of whom our Lord said "among those born of women, none is greater than John" (Luke 7:28). At the core of his message is how to receive Christ in a spirit of repentance and poverty of spirit, that we may be forgiven and become children of God through "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn. 1:29, cf. 36). I'm sorry that this is posted too late for a novena which would end on the day before his feast day.

First Day - Luke 1:5-25

Second Day - Luke 1:39-56

Third Day - Luke 3:1-18

Fourth Day - Matthew 3:13-17

Fifth Day - John 1:19-34

Sixth Day - John 3:22-30

Seventh Day - Luke 7:18-35

Eighth Day - Mark 6:14-29

Ninth Day - Luke 1:57-80

The voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3)

Glorious Mysteries - Varied References

2008-01-26T22:48:00.000-08:00

The Resurrection

Our Father

1- "My flesh will dwell in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy holy one see corruption." (Acts 2:26-27) Hail Mary

2- When he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days. (Is 53:10) Hail Mary

3- On the third day he will rise us up, that we may live before him. (Hos 6:2) Hail Mary

4- They put him to death on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest. (Acts 10:39-40) Hail Mary

5- Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. (Jn 20:11) Hail Mary

6- Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (Jn 20:16) Hail Mary

7- Jesus our Lord...was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Rom 4:24-25) Hail Mary

8- God, who is rich in mercy...made us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with him. (Eph 2:4-6) Hail Mary

9- You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God. (Col 2:12) Hail Mary

10- If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Cor 15:14) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Ascension

Our Father

1- Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (Mt 28:16) Hail Mary

2- And lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Lk 24:50-51) Hail Mary

3- As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) Hail Mary

4- He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. (Eph 4:10) Hail Mary

5- The Lord Jesus...was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mk 16:19) Hail Mary

6- When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sin, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. (Heb 10:13) Hail Mary

7- God...raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:6) Hail Mary

8- Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:1) Hail Mary

9- Christ has entered...into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Heb 9:24) Hail Mary

10- He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Our Father

1- When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1) Hail Mary

2- And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2) Hail Mary

3- The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit. (Jn 3:8) Hail Mary

4- And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. (Acts 2:3) Hail Mary

5- And they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) Hail Mary

6- God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:5) Hail Mary

7- A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ez 36:26) Hail Mary

8- When you send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. (Ps 104:30) Hail Mary

9- To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6) Hail Mary

10- It is God who establishes us with you in Christ...he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Cor 1:21,22) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Assumption

Our Father

1- She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. (Wis 7:26) Hail Mary

2- “When I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (Jn 14:3) Hail Mary

3- Arise, O Lord, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might. (Ps 132:8) Hail Mary

4- My beloved speaks and says to me, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone.” (Song 2:10) Hail Mary

5- The woman was given two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to a place where she is to be nourished. (Rev 12:14) Hail Mary

6- Draw me after you. Let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. (Song 1:4) Hail Mary

7- Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem…The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. (Zeph 3:14, 15) Hail Mary

8- “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High above all women on earth.” (Jud 13:18) Hail Mary

9- “Behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48) Hail Mary

10- “For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Lk 1:49) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Our Father

1- The Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. (Ps 149:4) Hail Mary

2- He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. (Is 61:10) Hail Mary

3- Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me. (2 Tim 4:8) Hail Mary

4- Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you. (Zech 9:9) Hail Mary

5- A great portent appeared in the heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet. (Rev 12:1) Hail Mary

6- And on her head a crown of twelve stars (Rev 12:1) Hail Mary

7- The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right. (1 Kg 2:19) Hail Mary

8- You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the greatest pride of our nation! (Jud 15:9) Hail Mary

9- Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army with banners? (Song 6:10) Hail Mary

10- I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope. (Sir 24:18) Hail Mary

Glory be

Luminous Mysteries - Varied References

2008-01-20T13:55:00.001-08:00

The Baptism of the Lord

Our Father

1- Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Mt 3:13) Hail Mary

2- "I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished." (Lk 12:50) Hail Mary

3- John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (Mt 3:14) Hail Mary

4- But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. (Mt 3:15) Hail Mary

5- So they took up Jonah and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from raging. (Jon 1:15) Hail Mary

6- "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Mt 12:40) Hail Mary

7- We were buried therefore with him in baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4) Hail Mary

8- And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. (Mt 3:15) Hail Mary

9- The heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove. (Lk 3:21-22) Hail Mary

10- And a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased". (Mk 1:11) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Changing of Water into Wine at Cana in Galilee

Our Father

1- There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. (Jn 2:1-2) Hail Mary

2- When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." (Jn 2:3) Hail Mary

3- Now six stone jars were standing there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." (Jn 2:6-7) Hail Mary

4- When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine... [he] called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first...but you have kept the good wine until now." (Jn 2:9, 10) Hail Mary

5- Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. (Mk 2:19) Hail Mary

6- And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev 21:2) Hail Mary

7- And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Rev 21:5) Hail Mary

8- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17) Hail Mary

9- This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (Jn 2:11) Hail Mary

10- I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go. (Song 3:4) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Our Father

1- Moses summoned all Israel and said to them..."The Lord said to me...'I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren.'" (Deut 5:1, 18: 17, 18) Hail Mary

2- "'I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.'" (Deut 18:18) Hail Mary

3- "The Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know his commandment is eternal life." (Jn 12:49-50) Hail Mary

4- "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted." (Is 61:1) Hail Mary

5- Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." (Mk 1:14-15) Hail Mary

6- "Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mk 1:15) Hail Mary

7- God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31) Hail Mary

8- He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14) Hail Mary

9- Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (Jas 1:21) Hail Mary

10- "As for those in good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Lk 8:15) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Transfiguration

Our Father

1- Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. (Mk 9:2) Hail Mary

2- And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. (Mt 17:1-2) Hail Mary

3- His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. (Dan 7:9) Hail Mary

4- His brightness was like the light, rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power. (Hab 3:4) Hail Mary

5- His face [was] like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches. (Dan 10:6) Hail Mary

6- "The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you." (Num 6:24-25) Hail Mary

7- "The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Num 6:26) Hail Mary

8- We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (Jn 1:14) Hail Mary

9- A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Mt 17:5) Hail Mary

10- We heard this voice from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Pet 1:17) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper

Our Father

1- "The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening...They shall eat the flesh that night." (Ex 12:6, 8) Hail Mary

2- Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Cor 5:7) Hail Mary

3- "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (Jn 6:53) Hail Mary

4- As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." (Mt 26:26) Hail Mary

5- And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt 26:27-28) Hail Mary

6- "Do this in remembrance of me." (Lk 22:19) Hail Mary

7- Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. (Gen 14:18) Hail Mary

8- The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps 110:4) Hail Mary

9- From the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering. (Mal 1:11) Hail Mary

10- For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1 Cor 11:26) Hail Mary

Glory be

Sorrowful Mysteries - Varied References

2008-01-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

The Agony in the Garden

Our Father

1- Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane…and taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (Mt 26:36, 37) Hail Mary

2- And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk 22:41-42) Hail Mary

3- "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mk 10:38) Hail Mary

4- "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother." (Mk 3:35) Hail Mary

5- “Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body thou hast prepared for me…Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God.’” (Heb 10:5, 7) Hail Mary

6- Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but thy commandments are my delight. (Ps 119:143) Hail Mary

7- [Judas] came up to Jesus at once and said, “Hail, Master!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” (Mt 26:49-50) Hail Mary

8- Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Ps 41:9) Hail Mary

9- Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. (Mt 26:50) Hail Mary

10- Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. (Mt 27:56) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Scourging at the Pillar

Our Father

1- Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. (Jn 19:1) Hail Mary

2- I gave my back to the smiters. (Is 50:6) Hail Mary

3- The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. (Ps 129:3) Hail Mary

4- We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (Is 53:4) Hail Mary

5- He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

6- Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him. (Is 53:10) Hail Mary

7- His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance. (Is 52:14) Hail Mary

8- Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

9- And with his stripes we are healed. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

10- Having scourged Jesus, Pilate delivered him over to be crucified. (Mk 15:15) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Crowning with Thorns

Our Father

1- The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. (Mt 27:27) Hail Mary

2- And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his hand. (Mt 27:28-29) Hail Mary

3- Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” (Mt 2:2) Hail Mary

4- And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mt 27:29) Hail Mary

5- And they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Mt 2:11) Hail Mary

6- And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. (Mt 27:30) Hail Mary

7- Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Jn 18:33) Hail Mary

8- Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world.” (Jn 18:36) Hail Mary

9- And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Mt 27:31) Hail Mary

10- Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (Jn 19:19) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Carrying of the Cross

Our Father

1- They took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross. (Jn 19:17) Hail Mary

2- Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. (Is 53:4) Hail Mary

3- He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Is 53:12) Hail Mary

4- They seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Lk 23:26) Hail Mary

5- “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23) Hail Mary

6- “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” (Mt 11:29) Hail Mary

7- “For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt 11:29) Hail Mary

8- There followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. (Lk 23:27) Hail Mary

9- But Jesus said turning to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Lk 23:28) Hail Mary

10- And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). (Mk 15:22) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Crucifixion and Death of the Lord

Our Father

1- Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Select lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover lamb.” (Ex 12:21) Hail Mary

2- When they came to the place which is called the Skull, there they crucified him. (Lk 23:33) Hail Mary

3- They have pierced my hands and my feet - I can count all my bones. (Ps 22:16-17) Hail Mary

4- As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:14-15) Hail Mary

5- “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29) Hail Mary

6- "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (Jn 10:11) Hail Mary

7- He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:8) Hail Mary

8- Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (Jn 12:24) Hail Mary

9- One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (Jn 19:34) Hail Mary

10- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (Eph 1:7). Hail Mary

Glory be

Joyful Mysteries - Varied References

2008-01-12T00:17:00.000-08:00

The Annunciation

Our Father

1- The angel Gabriel was sent from God, to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. (Lk 1:26-27) Hail Mary

2- And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” (Lk 1:28) Hail Mary

3- “You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31) Hail Mary

4- The Lord God said to the serpent, “…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen 3:15) Hail Mary

5- [Judith] took hold of the hair of [Holfernes’] head, and said, “Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!” And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body. (Jud 13:7-8) Hail Mary

6- Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) Hail Mary

7- “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Lk 1:35) Hail Mary

8- The cloud covered the tent of the meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Ex 40:34) Hail Mary

9- Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord. (Zech 2:10) Hail Mary

10- And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Visitation

Our Father

1- In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (Lk 1:39-40) Hail Mary

2- David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baalejudah, to bring up from there the ark of God. (2 Sam 6:2) Hail Mary

3- 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!” (Lk 1:41-42) Hail Mary

4- And Uzziah said to [Judith], “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all women on earth. And blessed be the Lord God…who has guided you to strike the head of the leader of our enemies.” (Jud 13:18) Hail Mary

5- “And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43) Hail Mary

6- David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9) Hail Mary

7- “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk 1:44) Hail Mary

8- As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord. (2 Sam 6:16) Hail Mary

9- And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. (Lk 1:56) Hail Mary

10- And the ark of the Lord stayed in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obededom and all his household. (2 Sam 6:11) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Birth of the Lord

Our Father

1- There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. (Is 11:1) Hail Mary

2- Joseph also went up...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. (Lk 2:4-5) Hail Mary

3- But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (Mic 5:2) Hail Mary

4- Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call him Immanuel. (Is 7:14) Hail Mary

5- And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son. (Lk 2:6-7) Hail Mary

6- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder.” (Is 9:6) Hail Mary

7- And his name shall be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". (Is 9:6) Hail Mary

8- The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined. (Is 9:2) Hail Mary

9- And [she] wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Lk 2:7) Hail Mary

10- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Presentation

Our Father

1- Every first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem. (Ex 13:13) Hail Mary

2- When the time came according to their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (Lk 2:22) Hail Mary

3- She shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean. (Lev 12:8) Hail Mary

4- You are all fair, my love; there is no flaw within you. (Song 4:7) Hail Mary

5- [Simeon] took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.” (Lk 2:29) Hail Mary

6- And the Lord said to [Moses], “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I shall give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes.” (Deut 34:4) Hail Mary

7- "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples." (Lk 2:31) Hail Mary

8- "A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." (Lk 2:32) Hail Mary

9- No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. (Jn 1:18) Hail Mary

10- And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, into their own city, Nazareth. (Lk 2:39) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Our Father

1- 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. (Lk 2:41-42) Hail Mary

2- And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. (Lk 2:43) Hail Mary

3- And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. (Lk 2:45) Hail Mary

4- In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. (Ps 77:2) Hail Mary

5- After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Lk 2:46) Hail Mary

6- And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Lk 2:47) Hail Mary

7- The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (Is 11:6) Hail Mary

8- I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them. (Is 3:4) Hail Mary

9- 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.” (Lk 2:48) Hail Mary

10- 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?” (Lk 2:49) Hail Mary

Glory be

Word and Wisdom

2008-01-01T02:00:00.000-08:00

I was searching for some commentary on Wisdom as its presented as a feminine personification in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament this evening, and I ran across this article by Irene Nowell, OSB. After reading it, I felt compelled to write her. I would like to share what I wrote her because commentary on this subject actually is actually quite sparse online.

Hi, Sr. Nowell,

I have been studying the passages on the feminine personification of wisdom - or "Woman Wisdom" - in the OT Wisdom literature and ran across your article. I thought it contained good scholarship, as when you elaborate on the Hebrew meaning of certain words to clarify the text. But have issue with the claim toward which you built in the article that the Word and Wisdom are one and the same.

I have also noted the similarities in literary device between the OT hymns about Wisdom. But I do not think such similarities point to the Word and Wisdom being the same being.

First of all, as John points out, the Word was God (1:1). Wisdom, wee see, is but a "reflection" of eternal light, a "mirror" of the working of God, and an "image" of his goodness (Wis 26:7). She did come forth from the mouth of God (Sir 24:3), but so did the spirit of life of people (Gen 2:7), and a distinction needs to be made as to whether or not this makes her the Word, who is God. Wisdom is not God, but an attribute of God: "A breath of the POWER of God, and A pure EMANATION of THE GLORY OF the Almighty" (Wis 7:25), as contrasted to THE Word. As an attribute of God, Wisdom is "eternal" (Sir 24:18), as every characteristic of God has existed in and with him eternally, but to say that she is God herself, as is the Word, betrays the vast majority of what is written of about her in the three OT passages in which she is personified. She is presented primarily as a virtue given by God (Wis 8:21) by which people are able to use right judgment and govern well (Ps 9:12) or to protect (Wis 10:1), rescue (Wis 10:6), and prosper (Wis 11:1) the works of God's people. That Wisdom primarily serves the particular function of the fostering of right judgment is highlighted by her contrast to "the reasoning of mortals" which "is worthless" and to "our designs" which "are likely to fail" (Wis 9:14). Wisdoms serves to help us use worthy reasoning and form successful designs. (To say that kings "king" by her and princes "prince" by her fits well into meaning that they are guided by Wisdom specifically in the function of judging rightly or governing.) The Word, on the other hand, encompasses much more than the function of a specific virtue, but in whom is "life" itself (Jn 1:4).

It is true that "he who finds" Wisdom "finds life and obtains favor from the Lord" (Prov 8:35) in a manner similar to how "life" (Jn 1:4) is in the Word "from whose fulness we have all received grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16). The life one finds with Wisdom, if we are to analyze its meaning within context in which it is mentioned, has to do with being "happy" as a result of keeping her ways, listening to her, "watching at" her "gates", and "waiting" beside her gates (Prov 8:32-34). This life as a happiness is given as a result of searching for her. The life as children of God given as a result of believing in the Word's name (Jn 1:12), is a life in which we become a totally new being, so much so that John notes we are born of God, in a new birth contrasted to being born of the flesh or by man's willing it (1:13). Given the elevated essence of this new birth, it not only entails the coming into being which the other kinds of birth (1:13) entail, but much more. The "life", "grace and truth" which come through the Word denote our becoming an entirely new creation in the life of God - BECOMING children of God (1:12). The happiness one gains by listening to Wisdom is indeed a benefit, but it refers to a condition of temporal life which results from internalizing the "prudence" in which she dwells and the "knowledge and discretion" she finds (Prov 8:12). The type of life one thereby gains, however, I do not think can be put on the same level as the life one finds in the Word.

The life effected by the Word brings about a whole new creation, affecting what we ARE. The life effected by Wisdom affects what we DO, THINK, or how we FEEL. What we are is more than what we do or think, or how we feel. This comparison is congruous to the fact that the Word is God, and Wisdom is an attribute of God, by which he inspires particular aspects of our life, but does not effect our very existence itself.

The different types of life given by Wisdom and the Word align also with the types of roles they have in creation. Though we may identify similarities in imagery between the passage from John and those referring to Wisdom, the essence of either role the Word or Wisdom plays is quite different. From the passage in John we first of all we see that the Word is God himself, and as such would play a role as Creator. As for his role as the one who was "with God" (1:1) and the "only Son from the Father" (1:14) we also see the intrinsic role as one "without [whom] was not anything made that was made" (1:3). The role of Wisdom in creation as it appears in Proverbs does not have this intrinsic quality to it, whereby she would be an absolute necessity in accomplishing the act of creation, as does that of the Word. She appears more as "an initiate into the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works" (Wis 8:4) as she is "beside him, like a master workman" (Prov 8:30), "rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men" (Prov 8:30-31). Whereas Christ functions with an intrinsic role in the act of creation, Wisdom functions to enhance what's already created, figuratively affirming God that what he has made is very good (cf. Gn 1:31).

I think it would also be safe, sticking with the gospel of John, to also compare Wisdom to the Word's identity as Jesus Christ. John reveals the Word made flesh's identity as Christ within the very passage referring to the Word (Jn 1:17). One contrast between Christ and Wisdom which should highlight the unlikelihood of their being the same being is when Christ uses words which, like the passage in the beginning of John, bear close resemblance to the language and style of the passages referring to Wisdom, but in which Christ identifies himself in a way opposite to how Wisdom is identified.

I refer to the passage in which Wisdom says of herself, "Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me thirst for more" (Sir 24:21). I am sure you are familiar with "'Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again'" (Jn 4:13). The water of which Christ speaks most certainly seems to bear close identity with Wisdom. Yet Christ continues, "'But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst'" (Jn 4:13) The contrast here between Wisdom and Christ may be taken further by considering that the hunger and thirst for Wisdom refers to that acquired by those who "eat" their "fill of" her "prudence" (Sir 24:19) and Christ's water refers to his Spirit (Jn 7:39). Again, this becomes a matter of comparing an attribute of God or, in this case, a virtue which comes from him, to God himself.

We may also note Christ's words which use similar style and structure, but by which a contrast between his and Wisdom's identities, based on the differing types of hunger and thirst they evoke in people, are drawn: "He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst" (Jn 6:35).

Another such comparison using similar linguistic tone and style can also be made by noting Wisdom's words, "Come eat of my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave simpleness and walk in the way of insight" (Prov 9:5). One may be tempted to use this verse to imply Eucharistic tones and further identify Wisdom's words with those of Christ's. Remaining with John and referring back to the words of Wisdom I used prior, such a comparison reveals a greater contrast: "This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died [as would those who "hunger for more"]; he who eats this bread will live forever" (Jn 6:58).

If we are to say the similarities between the language of the passages referring to Wisdom and those referring to the Word bear significance, these should all the more. For if Christ's words find some stylistic origin in Wisdom's, then it should be noted that the use of the same style implies an intent to directly juxtapose the two instances within one mold the single style provides. Such a juxtaposition would indicate a direct contrast between Christ and Wisdom - that Christ's words in effect take what was said of Wisdom and turns it on its head in respect to how he and she are identified.

Now, one may say there are differences between Wisdom (or, may I say, "Sophia") and the Word or Christ, but that in essence they may still be two sides of the same coin, two gender-specific manifestations of the same divine being. However, such a contrast between Christ or the Word and Wisdom, or between God and an attribute of God, point to essential distinctions in the very essence of being. There is an infinite difference between God and the habits or virtues we form in response to his grace, or between our total transformation into a new creation and our learning to use better judgment. Yet, taking the relevant passages from Scripture as a whole, such distinctions are revealed between the Word and Wisdom.

Thanks for reading this whole response if you did. I have been studying Wisdom for some time and have honestly attempted pairing her up to Christ as is done so often today and in effect have come to a conclusion essentially drawn out by this message.

May God bless you and I hope you have a Happy New Year,

Richard

UPDATE:

Sr. Nowell sent me the following response:

Thank you, Richard. I appreciate your work on this topic. I think it is very important. I know there are varying opinions on the relationship between Wisdom and Christ and I am glad to have your research on it as well.

Peace,
Irene

The Joyful Mysteries

2007-12-27T00:28:00.001-08:00

The Annunciation

Our Father

1- The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. (Lk 1:26-27) Hail Mary

2- He came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace!" Hail Mary

3- "The Lord is with you!” (Lk 1:28) Hail Mary

4- But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. (Lk 1:29) Hail Mary

5- And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Lk 1:30) Hail Mary

6- “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31) Hail Mary

7- Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (Lk 1:34) Hail Mary

8- 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.” (Lk 1:35) Hail Mary

9- And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) Hail Mary

10- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Visitation

Our Father

1- 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. (Lk 1:39-40) Hail Mary

2- And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. (Lk 1:41) Hail Mary

3- And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women!” (Lk 1:42) Hail Mary

4- “And blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1:42) Hail Mary

5- “And why is this granted me, that the mother of the Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43) Hail Mary

6- “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk 1:44) Hail Mary

7- “And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1:45) Hail Mary

8- And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” (Lk 1:46) Hail Mary

9- “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Lk 1:47) Hail Mary

10- And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. (Lk 1:56) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Nativity of the Lord

Our Father

1- Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 1:18) Hail Mary

2- And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. (Mt 1:19) Hail Mary

3- But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife." (Mt 1:20) Hail Mary

4- "For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Mt 1:20) Hail Mary

5- "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Mt 1:21) Hail Mary

6- When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife. (Mt 1:24) Hail Mary

7- Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. (Lk 2:4-5) Hail Mary

8- While they were there the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her firstborn son. (Lk 2:7) Hail Mary

9- And she wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Lk 2:7) Hail Mary

10- God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4-5) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Presentation

Our Father

1- 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. (Lk 2:22) Hail Mary

2- Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon…And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not taste death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Lk 2:25, 26) Hail Mary

3- When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to 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.” (Lk 2:27-29) Hail Mary

4- “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of the peoples.” (Lk 2:30-31) Hail Mary

5- “A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” (Lk 2:32) Hail Mary

6- And his father and mother marveled at what was said about him. (Lk 2:33) Hail Mary

7- Simeon blessed them and said to his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.” (Lk 2:34) Hail Mary

8- “And a sword shall pierce through your own soul also” (Lk 2:35) Hail Mary

9- And there was a prophetess, Anna…And coming up that very hour, she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. (Lk 2:38) Hail Mary

10- And when they had performed all according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. (Lk 2:39) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Finding of the Jesus in the Temple

Our Father

1- Now his parents went up to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. (Lk 2:41-42) Hail Mary

2- When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. (Lk 2:43) Hail Mary

3- His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. (Lk 2:43-45) Hail Mary

4- After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Lk 2:46) Hail Mary

5- And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Lk 2:47) Hail Mary

6- 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.” (Lk 2:48) Hail Mary

7- 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?” (Lk 2:49) Hail Mary

8- And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. (Lk 2:50) Hail Mary

9- He went with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. (Lk 2:51 Hail Mary

10- And his mother kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Lk 2:51) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Luminous Mysteries

2007-12-27T00:24:00.001-08:00

The Baptism of the Lord

Our Father

1- John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mk 1:4) Hail Mary

2- “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mt 3:11) Hail Mary

3- “For this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel” (Jn 1:31) Hail Mary

4- He saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (Jn 1:29) Hail Mary

5- John would have prevented him saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Mt 3:14) Hail Mary

6- But Jesus answered him and said, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (Mt 3:15) Hail Mary

7- When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. (Mt 3:16) Hail Mary

8- And behold, the heavens were opened. (Mt 3:16) Hail Mary

9- And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove. (Lk 3:22) Hail Mary

10- And a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” (Mk 1:11) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Changing of Water into Wine at Cana in Galilee

Our Father

1- On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galillee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited to the marriage, with his disciples. (Jn 2:1-2) Hail Mary

2- When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (Jn 2:3) Hail Mary

3- And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” (Jn 2:4) Hail Mary

4- His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Hail Mary

5- Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (Jn 2:6-7) Hail Mary

6- He said, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. (Jn 2:8) Hail Mary

7- The steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it had come from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew). (Jn 2:9) Hail Mary

8- The steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” (Jn 2:9-10) Hail Mary

9- This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. (Jn 2:11) Hail Mary

10- And his disciples believed in him. (Jn 2:11) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Our Father

1- Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk 1:14-15) Hail Mary

2- “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15) Hail Mary

3- “The seed is the word of God…And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Lk 8:11, 15) Hail Mary

4- “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of seeds, but when it is grown it becomes the greatest of shrubs and is like a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." (Mt 13:31-32) Hail Mary

5- “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt 13:45-46) Hail Mary

6- “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3) Hail Mary

7- And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2:5) Hail Mary

8- “Her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she has loved much.”…Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Lk 7:47, 48) Hail Mary

9- “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Mt 6:14) Hail Mary

10- He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (Jn 20:22-23) Hail Mary
Glory be

The Transfiguration

Our Father

1- Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and took them up a high mountain apart by themselves. (Mk 9:2) Hail Mary

2- And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered. (Lk 9:29) Hail Mary

3- And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. (Mt 17:2) Hail Mary

4- May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us. (Ps 67:1) Hail Mary

5- My heart says to thee, “Thy face, Lord, do I seek.” (Ps 27:8) Hail Mary

6- Two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. (Lk 9:30-31) Hail Mary

7- And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well we are here, let us make three booths, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he said. (Lk 9:33) Hail Mary

8- He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them. (Mt 17:5) Hail Mary

9- And a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mk 9:7) Hail Mary

10- And suddenly looking around they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:8) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper

Our Father

1- Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." (Lk 22:8) Hail Mary

2- And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer." (Lk 22:14-15) Hail Mary

3- And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you.” (Lk 22:19) Hail Mary

4- "The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." (Jn 6:33) Hail Mary

5- “If any one eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (Jn 6:51) Hail Mary

6- And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is the blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mt 26:27) Hail Mary

7- “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn 6:54) Hail Mary

8- “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (Jn 6:55) Hail Mary

9- “Do this is remembrance of me.” (Lk 22:19) Hail Mary

10- For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor 11:26) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Sorrowful Mysteries

2007-12-27T00:22:00.000-08:00

The Agony in the Garden

Our Father

1- They went to a place called Gethsemane…And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. (Mk 14:32, 33) Hail Mary

2- And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me.” (Lk 22:42) Hail Mary

3- “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk 22:42) Hail Mary

4- And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. (Lk 22:43) Hail Mary

5- And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. (Lk 22:44) Hail Mary

6- And his sweat became like great drops of blood falling upon the ground. (Lk 22:44) Hail Mary

7- And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So you could not watch with me one hour?” (Mt 26:40) Hail Mary

8- “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41) Hail Mary

9- While he was still speaking, Judas came…and with him a crowd with swords and clubs…And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. (Mk 14:45, 46) Hail Mary

10- Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. (Mt 26:56) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Scourging at the Pillar

Our Father

1- Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. (Jn 19:1) Hail Mary

2- I gave my back to the smiters. (Is 50:6) Hail Mary

3- The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. (Ps 129:3) Hail Mary

4- We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (Is 53:4) Hail Mary

5- He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

6- Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him. (Is 53:10) Hail Mary

7- His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance. (Is 52:14) Hail Mary

8- Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

9- And with his stripes we are healed. (Is 53:5) Hail Mary

10- Having scourged Jesus, Pilate delivered him over to be crucified. (Mk 15:15) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Crowning with Thorns

Our Father

1- The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. (Mt 27:27) Hail Mary

2- They stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him. (Mt 27:28) Hail Mary

3- And plating a crown of thorns they put it on his head. (Mt 27:29) Hail Mary

4- And kneeling before him they mocked him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mt 27:29) Hail Mary

5- And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him. (Mk 15:19) Hail Mary

6- I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Is 50:6) Hail Mary

7- Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter…so he opened not his mouth. (Is 53:7) Hail Mary

8- Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” (Jn 19:5) Hail Mary

9- When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Jn 19:6) Hail Mary

10- And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Mt 27:31) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Carrying of the Cross

Our Father

1- They took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross. (Jn 19:17) Hail Mary

2- Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. (Is 53:4) Hail Mary

3- He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Is 53:12) Hail Mary

4- They seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Lk 23:26) Hail Mary

5- “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23) Hail Mary

6- “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” (Mt 11:29) Hail Mary

7- “For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt 11:29) Hail Mary

8- There followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. (Lk 23:27) Hail Mary

9- But Jesus said turning to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Lk 23:28) Hail Mary

10- And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). (Mk 15:22) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Crucifixion and Death of the Lord

Our Father

1- When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified him. (Lk 23:33) Hail Mary

2- And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34) Hail Mary

3- The rulers scoffed at him saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” (Lk 23:35) Hail Mary

4- Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdelene. (John 19:25) Hail Mary

5- When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (Jn 19:26) Hail Mary

6- Then he said to his disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. (Jn 19:27) Hail Mary

7- After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst." (Jn 19:28)

8- Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46) Hail Mary

9- Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Lk 23:46) Hail Mary

10- One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (Jn 19:34) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Glorious Mysteries

2007-12-27T00:19:00.000-08:00

The Resurrection

Our Father

1- Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. (Mt 28:1) Hail Mary

2- And they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. (Lk 24:3) Hail Mary

3- Behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel and…said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Lk 24:5) Hail Mary

4- They departed from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Hail!” (Mt 28:8-9) Hail Mary

5- And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. (Mt 28:9) Hail Mary

6- After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking in the country. (Mk 16:12) Hail Mary

7- When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. (Lk 24:30-31) Hail Mary

8- On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) Hail Mary

9- He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” (Jn 20:27) Hail Mary

10- Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Ascension

Our Father

1- Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (Mt 28:16) Hail Mary

2- Jesus came and said to them, “…Go…and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:18,19) Hail Mary

3- “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (Jn 16:7) Hail Mary

4- “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) Hail Mary

5- And lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. (Lk 24:50, 51) Hail Mary

6- As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) Hail Mary

7- The Lord Jesus…was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mk 16:19) Hail Mary

8- Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:1) Hail Mary

9- “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn 14:2) Hail Mary

10- And while they were gazing up into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “…This Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10, 11) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles and Mary

Our Father

1- They returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet…All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:12, 14) Hail Mary

2- When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1) Hail Mary

3- And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2) Hail Mary

4- And there appeared tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. (Acts 2:3) Hail Mary

5- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) Hail Mary

6- And [they] began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4) Hail Mary

7- Now there were in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound they came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6) Hail Mary

8- And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Hail Mary

9- So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41) Hail Mary

10- And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42) Hail Mary

Glory be

The Assumption

Our Father