The Rosary for priests - all the mysteries - Fr Szymon Mucha
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1. The Annunciation
The Annunciation is the beginning of the work of redemption. „God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin and said: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. Behold, you will conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Lk 1, 26). The Son of God took flesh from Mary and became man. We must do God's will, as she did.
We ask you, Lord, for our families, that through faith and prayer they may be open to receiving God's call and vocation. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
2. The Visitation of Elizabeth
The angel said to Mary: „And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son” (Lk 1,36). Mary went to help her. Elizabeth greeted her: „And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Lord, increase in us the spirit of dedication and sacrifice for our neighbours.
A priestly vocation is not only God's personal gift to the man he has chosen. It is a gift for the whole community, which waits for the priest to bring it Jesus.
We ask you, Lord, for this gift, especially where priests are lacking. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
3. The Nativity of the Lord Jesus
„In those days… Joseph went up to Bethlehem…” There Mary gave birth to „her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger” (Lk 1, 1-7). Every baptised child is a manger for Jesus, who gives the hope of eternal life.
We ask you, Lord, for those who are indifferent and wavering in faith, that they may open themselves to the graces you bestow on us through the ministry of every priest. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
4. The Presentation of the Lord Jesus
The parents „brought the Child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Lk 2,22). Us too the Holy Spirit leads into the temple, to meet the Saviour with joy in his word and in the sacraments, and to grow in wisdom and in favour with God and with men.
The priesthood is inseparably bound up with sacrifice – with the sacrifice of Christ, but also with giving up for him one's own home, family and friends…
We ask you, Lord, that young people may not hesitate to renounce for you what the world offers, and to choose the path of a priestly vocation. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
5. The Finding of the Lord Jesus
When Jesus was twelve years old, during the feast of the Passover his parents lost him. „After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at the quickness of his understanding and at his answers” (Lk 2,46). In the same way we too seek Jesus and find him in the temple
The life of a priest cannot be like the life of lay people. A priest too must be about the things that belong to his Father.
We ask you, Lord, that through our prayer we may help priests to grow along the way of their vocation. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
„Jesus was baptised by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.” (Mk 1,9) Through baptism we become children of the light, beloved by God.
The faithful, looking at their shepherd, want to see Christ, who teaches and forgives.
We thank you, Lord, for every bishop and priest through whom you have given us the gifts of the sacraments. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
2. The First Miracle at Cana
At the wedding at Cana in Galilee the request of Mary proved effective: „They have no wine” (Jn 2,3)- Jesus changed water into wine, and by this „manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2,11). The miracle at Cana is a light of faith for us too.
The priest, after the example of Mary, cares for the community and never ceases to repeat: „Do whatever Jesus tells you”.
We thank you, Lord, for the care of every priest for the flock entrusted to him. May it bear fruit in the transformation of many human hearts. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
3. The Preaching of the Lord Jesus
Jesus „went on through cities and villages, teaching and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God” (Lk 8,1) His teaching and his call to conversion have this as their aim, that we may shine with his likeness.
A priest is to be a clear light and a legible signpost pointing towards God. He is to be the one who believes first, who takes the Gospel into his heart and proclaims it with faith.
We thank you, Lord, for the witness of the life of every priest. May it be for us an example of how to live according to the teaching of your Gospel. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
4. The Transfiguration of the Lord
Jesus took with him Peter, John and James and went up on a mountain, and as he was praying the appearance of his face was altered and his clothing became dazzling white. And a voice came out of the cloud: „This is my chosen Son, listen to him” (Lk 9,35). The brief experience of Christ's divine glory made the disciples so happy that they longed to remain there.
We thank you, Lord, for holy priests. May their example be an encouragement to other priests never to abandon the way they have chosen. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
At the Last Supper the Saviour instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice: „a sacrament of mercy, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the soul is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (SC 47). There is no Eucharist where there is no priest.
We thank you, Lord, that you have remained with us in the gift of the Eucharist, and that in our homeland priests are not lacking. If only we would come often to this table which you spread so abundantly for us. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
1. The Agony in the Garden
After the Last Supper Jesus „went out to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him… he said to them: Pray that you may not enter into temptation”. Then he prayed: „Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me! Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22, 43). Jesus redeemed the world. Our sufferings too have saving power for us and for our neighbours.
We like it when a priest leads prayer beautifully. It is a pity that we do not see him when, alone, he sometimes seasons it with a silent tear.
Thanking you, Lord, for the gift of priestly prayer, we ask: renew the spirit of prayer in the hearts of those priests who no longer pray. And may we on our part never fail in prayer for priests. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
2. The Scourging
„Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged” (Jn 19,1). „Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken” (Is 53,4). Jesus suffered the scourging for our sins of the flesh.
Suffering does not pass priests by either…
Thanking you, Lord, for the priests who – despite illness and the burden of years – serve you with their whole heart, we ask: strengthen those who have left the priesthood, discouraged by difficulties and failures. May our prayer and the suffering offered for them obtain the grace of their return. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
3. The Crowning with Thorns
„Plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying:Hail, King of the Jews” (Mt 27,28). Today it is above all our sins that are that crown. Forgive, Lord, our pride.
So many people today rejoice at priestly weaknesses made public.
Thanking you, Lord, also for that weak priest, whom after all you too chose and called, we do not cease to ask: tear him away from the power of evil and kindle in him anew the fire of your love. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
4. The Carrying of the Cross
„Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified” (Jn 19,16). Along the way of the cross his Mother suffered together with him. Jesus says to us: „If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9,23) Lord, give us strength to carry the cross of our duties.
A priest's cross is not only his personal duties and cares. It is taking on his own shoulders responsibility for the Church.
Thanking you, Lord, for the good shepherds who care for their sheep, we ask: forgive those priests who have become a cause of scandal. May they find in your Mercy the strength to rise from their fall. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
5. The Crucifixion
„And it was the third hour, when they crucified him” (Mk 15,25). „It is finished!” (Jn 19,30). By his obedience to the Father, Jesus made satisfaction for the disobedience of Adam and his descendants. Through his passion and death on the cross he delivered us from sin and eternal death. Our concern is to live in Christ and to journey with him to the Father in heaven.
Since Jesus by his death showed that he „loved us to the end”, a priest cannot act otherwise. He must remain faithful to his vocation, even when old age comes and his strength grows weak.
Thanking you, Lord, for the priests whom you have allowed to reach a great age, we ask that those who are only beginning their priesthood may persevere to the end, rejoicing in this great gift and sharing it with the people among whom they will work. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1. The Resurrection
„The angel said to the women: Do not be afraid! For I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Mt 28,5-6). His resurrection gives us the certainty that we too shall rise.
Before the community a priest is to be the first to believe that Christ is alive and present in his Church. He believes in the victory of good over evil.
We thank you, Lord, for every priest who is able to overcome evil with good, with love and with forgiveness. Teach us to win such victories in our own lives as well. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
2. The Ascension of the Lord
Jesus „led the disciples out as far as Bethany, 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). The angels said: „Why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1, 10). Jesus, ascending into heaven, give us the grace of longing for you.
In a priest's life there is no room for compromise, for an unwritten pact between good and evil. There is only one way – do good, avoid evil.
We thank you, Lord, for every priest who gives himself without reserve to his vocation, with his gaze fixed on heaven. Following such a priest, I will surely not go astray. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
„When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place… And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house… And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2,1). Holy Spirit, pour love into our hearts, give light to our minds and to our will the strength to persevere.
A priest who yields to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit will always unite people – not around himself, but around Christ, who has chosen and called him.
We thank you, Lord, for every priest who has God's Spirit within him and who with that Spirit sets other hearts on fire. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary was so closely united with her Son that it was fitting for her to be with him in heaven in body and soul. This truth tells us that „the Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory”. Mary – help us from heaven without ceasing.
A priest's heart too is to be given wholly to God. It cannot be the slave of anyone – only a slave of the love which is God.
We thank you, Lord, for the priests who have matured enough to give themselves into the slavery of Mary's love, and who, like her, serve you faithfully. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
5. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary
„A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12,1). „For he who finds me finds life and obtains favour from the Lord” (Prov 8,36). Most Holy Virgin, be our Mother and Queen, be also our Advocate, our Mediatrix and our Consoler. We wish to be only little stars adorning your crown.
The victorious Queen of heaven and earth – she who crushes the serpent's head. And however great the evil of this world that may conspire against a priest, by entrusting himself to Mary he will be a witness of how her Immaculate Heart triumphs in the hearts of the people entrusted to him.
We thank you, Lord, for the victory that Mary wins in many priestly hearts which have given themselves into her care, and, through their ministry, wins in many human hearts. Jesus, make our hearts like unto your Heart.
Father in heaven, to your protection we entrust our pastors,
who give us the bread of God's Word and the bread of the Eucharist.
Give them strength for their work and a father's heart,
that through their ministry we may come to salvation. Amen.
Fr Szymon Mucha
