Personal Rosary Meditations as I Go on My Morning Walk

The Joyful Mysteries  (Mondays and Saturdays)The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation:  The Angel Gabriel came to Most Holy Mary and said "Hail! Full of Grace."  Mary was troubled at what such a greeting might mean.  The angel said, do not be troubled, Mary, for you have found favor with the Lord.  You have been chosen to bear the savior of the world.  Mary replied, how will this be as I do not know man?  The Angel said, the Holy Spirit will over-shadow you and you will conceive a son and you shall name him Jesus.  Mary said, I am the handmade of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to your word.The Second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation:  The Angel had told Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, was also with child, so Mary set out to the hill country to be of help to her elderly cousin.  Upon Mary's greeting, Elizabeth was inspired to say, how is it that the mother of our Lord should come to visit me?  For the moment I heard your greeting, the babe in my womb jumped for joy.  Blessed are you among women for you heard the word of the Lord and you believed.  Mary answered, my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. . . .her magnificat.The Third Joyful Mystery is the Birth of the Infant Jesus:  Our Lord Jesus Christ the Savior is born!  How awesome that our Creator, our God has humbled himself to take on our nature.  How holy the moment of his birth, the moment he took his first breath as a human person existing in time.  The Fourth Joyful Mystery is the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple:  Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple to give the gift of the poor upon the arrival of their first-born son, as prescribed by Jewish law.  The prophet Simeon and prophetess Anna greet them.  Mary and Joseph are amazed at the depth of their understanding and faith and belief.  Simeon declares that our Lord can now take him, for as promised, before his own death, Simeon has seen for himself the savior of the world.The Fifth Joyful Mystery is the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple:  At the age of 13, the young man Jesus takes time to celebrate, with his true Father, his transition from childhood into manhood under Jewish tradition.  When asked by his mother why he would disappear without telling them, Jesus said, did you not know that I would need to spend this time in my father's house?

The Sorrowful Mysteries  (Tuesdays and Fridays)
The First Sorrowful Mystery is the Agony in the Garden:  Our Lord began to sweat blood with his water as he entered his passion taking on the burden of our sins. Our Lord was not afraid to suffer; he had every intention of "drinking of the cup," suffering for the salvation of humanity.  Suffering is a part of life, but how we handle the suffering is a measure of our love and trust in our Lord. Jesus wanted his cup passed on from him to his apostles, and to us, that we might suffer for him as martyrs full of hope, overcoming pain and fear.
The Second Sorrowful Mystery is the Scourging at the Pillar:  Our Lord is is brutally tortured and beaten and whipped.  His beautiful, unblemished body is torn to shreds, broken and bleeding, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
The Third Sorrowful Mystery is the Crowing with Thorns:  Our God, our Creator, stands silent as he is mocked, he is punched, he is spat on, and his beard plucked.  He withstands the blasphemous indignity of his creatures thrusting a crown of thorns deep into the skull of his holy head, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery is the Carrying of the Cross:  Our Lord bears the burden of the Cross weighted with our sins as he struggles toward Calvary.  A burden so heavy, that his human strength could not bear the burden alone.  He is a God who knows weakness and is there to help us with our crosses as Simon of Cyrene helped him with his.
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is the Crucifixion:  Our Lord opens his arms drawing all humanity into his embrace.  His arms are torn from their sockets as he is nailed to the Cross.  Our God and Savior is killed in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

The Luminous Mysteries  (Thursdays)
The First Luminous Mystery is the Baptism of Our Lord:  Our Lord approaches John to be baptized.  John says, you should be baptizing me, for I am not fit to untie your sandal.  Our Lord says, it must be this way so that the Scriptures are fulfilled.  As he is baptized, the heavens open and a dove appears and a voice from heaven says, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The Second Luminous Mystery is Our Lord's Self-Manifestation at the Wedding Feast at Cana:  Mary comes to Jesus and says, they have no wine.  Jesus replies, Woman, what is that to me?  Jesus is confirming with his mother that if he changes the water into wine, it will be the beginning of his public ministry and he will be leaving her side.  He is giving his mother the right to grant him permission to go forward.  In response, Mary says to the workers, do as he tells you.
The Third Luminous Mystery is the Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven:  Our Lord preaches throughout Judea such as at the Sermon on the Mount of the Beatitudes.  1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  2.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  3.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  4.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  5.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  6.  Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.  7.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.  8.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Fourth Luminous Mystery is the Transfiguration:  Our Lord goes up Mount Tabor with Peter, James and John.  There the apostles saw Our Lord in his glorified state, his clothes dazzling white, in the company of Moses and Elijah.  The apostles were so awe-struck they wanted to build three tents to honor what they had seen.  Our Lord said, no, it is not the right time.  They are not to speak of this until after his death.
The Fifth Luminous Mystery is the Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper:  In anticipation of his physical removal from their lives, Our Lord provides the apostles with the nourishment of his own True Body and own True Blood.  He changes their everyday living sustenance into the heavenly food of eternal life.

The Glorious Mysteries  (Sundays and Wednesdays)
The First Glorious Mystery is the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ:  Our Lord rises from the dead, triumphant over sin and evil!  This is the basis of our faith.  
The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven:  Our Lord takes his rightful place in heaven at the right hand of the Father.  He takes his place as righteous and merciful Judge of all ages.
The Third Glorious Mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles:  Our Lord sends his Paraclete, his Holy Spirit to the apostles and the holy women in the upper room.  They are confirmed with tongues of fire.  Confirmed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Wisdom and Understanding; Knowledge and Piety; Counsel, Fortitude, and Fear of the Lord.
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into Heaven:  Mary most holy dies as her heart is so filled with love, it lacks the strength to continue beating.  The Blessed Mother, body and soul, is assumed up to heaven to live in eternal peace with her Son, her Spouse, her God.
The Fifth Glorious Mystery is the Crowing of Mary:  The Ever-Virgin Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, Angels and Saints, Mother of God, Mother of Mercy Himself.