Day 25 Church-Pope Novena

WELCOME TO DAY 25 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA FOR
THE CHURCH AND POPE FRANCIS

Introductory Thoughts

There is much talk about the Church these days and there is even more talk about Francis. This one man generates many opinions! Some people love him, others hate him. Some say he is a saint, others say he is the ‘Devil’ or the ‘Antichrist’. Some say he is a wonderful reformer, others say he is a woeful destroyer. Some say is he is the pope, others say he is not a pope. Some say he was validly elected, others say the election was invalid. Some say he is a good Catholic, others say he is a good Freemason. Some Catholics dislike him, while many Freemasons publically say they love him. Some, who accept him as pope, dislike some of things he is doing. Others, who do not accept him as pope, like some of things he is doing. Some see Francis as the one who will unite the Catholic world, others see Francis as the one who will bring about the prophesied Great Schism in the Church. One single man―but many opinions about him. Francis is an “enigma”―which means “somebody or something that is not easily explained or understood; a mystery, a riddle or a puzzle.”

He speaks of understanding sinners, no matter how bad they are―he speaks of accompanying sinners in their ‘walk’ through life, he speaks of finding ways of accommodating sinners, he speaks of showing sinners mercy―yet when it comes to his fellow Catholics, who are Conservative or Traditionalist, there is little mercy or understanding for them. Francis speaks of Conservatives or Traditionalists as being “rigid”, “hypocrites”, “closed hearts”, “judgmental”, “rigorists”, “Pharisees”, “moralistic”, “unbending”, etc. Yet never do we hear Francis talking about Liberals and Modernists in the same tone. When asked about “gays”―Francis says: “Who am I to judge?” Yet when it comes to Traditionalist and Conservatives, he judges severely.

Francis later explained his comment in a new book The Name of God is Mercy, published in 2016: “On that occasion I said this: ‘If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?’ I was paraphrasing, by heart, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized. I prefer that homosexuals come to Confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”

Well, what if a person is Conservative or Traditionalist, and seeks the Lord and is willing? Why does Francis judge that person? Why does not Francis see to it that “these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.” It is no wonder that Francis has created a very noticeable and increasing division in the Church―as Our Lady of Akita says, “in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops” and which looks like growing with every successive Synod.

That is why we are praying this 54-Day Rosary Novena for the Church and for Francis―because, as Our Lady said at Akita in 1973: “Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests!” Regardless of whether you like Francis or dislike him; trust him or distrust him; think he is or is not the pope; see him as a an ally or an enemy―Heaven tells us to pray and good to our enemies; and Our Lady tells us to pray very much for the pope, the bishops and the priests. What are you doing? Are you talking the talk (gossiping about them), or are you walking the walk (praying for them)? The devil prefers you to merely talk the talk―and he will fill your mind and imagination with plenty of fuel for gossiping. Our Lady wants you to pray for them―even if they are bad, even if they are evil―for, like her Son, she seeks and save that which was lost― “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11) … “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) … “What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4).

That is why Our Lady came to Fatima―to seek the lost sheep, to seek the conversion of sinners. She begged for prayers and sacrifices―not gossip and anger―for the conversion of sinners. She complained that so many sinners are lost because there is nobody to pray and offer sacrifices for them: “You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them … Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners? Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort … Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to Hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them! … If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved!” (Fatima, 1917, May, July, August).

Those three children responded to Our Lady and “walked the walk” as well as spreading the message of Fatima by “talking the talk”―what will do? Will you be a “child of Mary” or a “child of devil”? Don’t be shocked or surprised by that comment! Sister Lucia of Fatima herself said the very same thing, in essence, to Fr. Fuentes, on December 26th, 1957: “Father, the Blessed Virgin did not tell me [explicitly] that we are in the last times of the world, but I understood this for three reasons. The first is because she told me that the Devil is engaging in a battle with the Virgin, a decisive battle. It is a final battle where one party will be victorious and the other will suffer defeat. So, from now on, we are either with God or we are with the Devil; there is no middle ground.” We are, as Lucia says, on one side or the other―neglecting to pray and fight puts us on the side of the devil, whether we like it or not, whether we believe or not, whether we admit or not. Our Lord said something similar: “He that is not with Me, is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me, scattereth” (Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23).

Are you with Our Lady―in praying the Rosary very much, as she said at Akita, for the pope, the bishops and the priests? Or are you against Our Lady by neglecting or, even worse, refusing to pray the Rosary very much for the intentions she wants it praying? Your call! Your life! Your judgment! Your fate! Or will you try to wriggle-out of your duty and responsibility with the lame excuse of Cain: “And the Lord said to Cain: ‘Where is thy brother Abel?' [Francis]. And he answered: ‘I know not: am I my brother's keeper?’ [Am I Francis’s keeper?] And the Lord said to him: ‘What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s [Francis's] blood crieth to Me from the earth! Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the Earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother [Francis] at thy hand!’” (Genesis 4: 9-11).

“O come on!” you say, “Isn’t that a bit strong―calling us murderers because we won’t pray for Francis?” Let Holy Scripture answer you: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer!” (1 John 3:15). “He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him―how doth the charity of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). “If any man say: ‘I love God!’ and hateth his brother; then he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?” (1 John 4:20). “But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you!’ So that you may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:44).

DAY 25 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA
The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

WHO ON EARTH ARE WE PRAYING FOR?

The grandparents of the future Pope Francis, Giovanni and Rosa Bergoglio, after marrying in Turin, Italy, moved to the town of Asti, when Giovanni came back from the First World War in 1918. Soon, Mario José's family would seek to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. They were due to set sail in October 1927, on the Principessa Mafalda, but were forced at the last minute to change their tickets and did not leave until a year later. It was a lucky escape; the Mafalda went down off Brazil, taking more than 300 passengers to their deaths. Eventually, the following year, they sailed from Genoa, in Italy, to Buenos Aires in Argentina, on the ship Giulio Cesare, to join Giovanni’s elder brothers, who had done well with their paving firm in the city of Paraná in Argentina. The couple took with them their only son, Mario, a 20-year-old bank clerk, who would eventually become the father of the future pope.

The future pope's grandparents spent two years in Paraná, before the depression caused the paving business to founder and the brothers to separate. Giovanni, Rosa, and their son, Mario, made their way to Buenos Aires. They were out on the street, with nothing. Francis’ grandfather bought a warehouse with 2,000 pesos which he borrowed, and his son Mario (Francis’ future father), who was an accountant, sold goods out of a basket. Mario was soon to meet Regina Sívori — the daughter of Genovese immigrants — through their parish, and they married in 1935. A year later, their eldest son, Jorge Mario (the future Francis), was born, on December 17th, 1936, in Flores, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He was baptized a week later, on Christmas Day. He was the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio (1908–1959) and Regina María Sívori (1911–1981).

The figure who always looms largest in Francis' telling is Mario's mother, the pope's grandmother, Rosa Margarita Vassallo. She was a humble-born, well-read, devout and compassionate woman with finely honed political instincts. List those qualities, and you realize how much of Rosa her grandson has inherited. She was of peasant stock, and as smart as a whip. Sent to Turin at an early age to get a good education, she spoke French and was well-read. Mario — she had five more children, but they were stillborn — took after his mother: He, too, worked hard and did well at school.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17th, 1936, Mario Bergoglio was an Italian immigrant accountant, born in Portacomaro (Province of Asti) in Northern Italy's Piedmont region. Regina Sívori was a housewife, born in Buenos Aires, to a family of northern Italian (Piedmontese-Genoese) origin. Mario José's family left Italy in 1929 to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. According to María Elena Bergoglio, the Pope's only living sibling, they did not emigrate for economic reasons. His other siblings were Alberto Horacio, Oscar Adrián and Marta Regina. Two great-nephews, Antonio and Joseph, died in a traffic collision.

In the sixth grade, Bergoglio attended Wilfrid Barón de los Santos Ángeles, a school of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires. He attended the technical secondary school Escuela Técnica Industrial N° 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen, named after a past President of Argentina, and graduated with a chemical technician's diploma. He worked for a few years in that capacity in the foods section at Hickethier-Bachmann Laboratory, where his boss was Esther Ballestrino. Before joining the Jesuits, Bergoglio worked as a bar bouncer and as a janitor sweeping floors, and he also ran tests in a chemical laboratory.

In the only known health crisis of his youth, at the age of 21, he suffered from life-threatening pneumonia and three cysts. He had part of a lung excised shortly afterwards. Bergoglio has been a lifelong supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro football club. Bergoglio is also a fan of the films of Tita Merello, neorealism, and tango dancing, with a fondness for the traditional music of Argentina and Uruguay known as the milonga.

CLICK ON THE DAY YOU
ARE PRAYING

VARIOUS PRAYERS AND MASS COLLECTS

FOR OUR ENEMIES

COLLECT
O God, the lover and guardian of peace and charity, grant unto all our enemies true peace and charity, together with remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their wiles. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by these gifts which we offer unto Thee, and in Thy mercy deliver us from our enemies, granting them the pardon of their sins. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this communion, O Lord, deliver us from our sins, and defend us from the wiles of our enemies. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose spirit the whole body of the Church is sanctified and governed, hear our prayers for all orders, that, by the gift of Thy grace, all in their different degrees may faithfully serve Thee. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Grant, O Lord, unto Thy servants forgiveness of their sins, consolation in life and perpetual guidance, that serving Thee, they may always deserve to obtain Thy mercy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Deliver, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from sin and from all enemies Thy servants who humbly pray to Thee; that, living in holy converse they may never be afflicted by any adversity. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE PRELATE OR BISHOP AND THOSE UNDER THEIR CHARGE

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, Who alone workest great wonders, send down upon Thy servants and upon the flocks committed to their charge the spirit of Thy saving grace; and that they may truly please Thee, pour down upon them the continual dew of Thy blessing. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Look favourably, O Lord, upon the sacrifice of Thy servants, that what we offer devoutly on their behalf in honour of Thy name, may be as a beneficial remedy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Accompany, O Lord, with Thy continual help,those whom Thou hast refreshed by this heavenly gift, and grant that those whom Thou ceasest not to cherish may become worthy of eternal redemption. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR A HOLY POPE

COLLECT
We most humbly entreat thee, O Lord, that Thy boundless goodness may grant, as bishop to the most Holy Roman Church, one who shall ever be pleasing to Thee, by his loving zeal in our regard, and, by his beneficent rule, deeply revered by Thy people to the glory of Thy Name. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
May the abundance of Thy loving kindness grant to us, O Lord, that, by the sacred gifts which we reverently offer Thee, that we may have cause to rejoice that a pontiff, pleasing to Thy majesty, preside over the conduct of our Holy Mother Church. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Since we have been refreshed with the Sacrament of Thy Precious Body and Blood, O Lord, let the marvelous grace of Thy majesty make us joyful, by granting us a supreme pontiff who may both, instruct Thy people in virtue and fill the hearts of the faithful with the fragrance of spiritual odors. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION TO OUR LADY BY THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

REFLECTION

It was the Angel Gabriel who appeared to Our Lady, telling her she would be the future Mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and it was the same Angel Gabriel who appeared to the priest Zachary, telling him that he would finally have a son, after many years of childlessness. Mary believed the revelation and was blessed. The priest, Zachary, doubted the revelation and was struck dumb as a punishment for his lack of belief.

There are several areas where Pope Francis has manifested a ‘lack of belief’ in Divine Revelation, or has ignored the authority of Divine Revelation. Hence his tinkering with elements of the Faith that he should not be tinkering with. On February 25th, 2018, a leading priest in Poland, 77-year-od Father Edward Staniek, made the news headlines after saying from the pulpit that he prays Pope Francis will die if he doesn’t do the will of the Holy Spirit. Father Staniek said that he prays for Pope Francis to receive wisdom: “I pray for wisdom for the pope, for his heart to open to the influence of the Holy Spirit, and if he doesn’t do [His will], I pray for his swift departure to the house of the Father. We can always ask God for a happy death for him because a happy death is a great grace.”

Though he was later reprimanded for saying this, it is, nevertheless, totally in harmony with the mind of Holy Mother Church―as seen by these prayers from the Roman Missal, which come from the listing of additional prayers, under the title of “Prayer for Enemies”:

COLLECT: O God, the lover and guardian of peace and charity, grant unto all our enemies true peace and charity, together with remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their wiles. Through Our Lord, etc.

SECRET: Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by these gifts which we offer unto Thee, and in Thy mercy deliver us from our enemies, granting them the pardon of their sins. Through Our Lord, etc.

We see in those prayers both charity and prudence. Let us pray for the ultimate salvation of Pope Francis, but let us also pray that Holy Mother Church be protected from any dangerous teachings, actions and rulings that he may make. We always pray for the conversion of our enemies, for the forgiveness of our enemies, and the well-being of our enemies―but if they will not convert and risk harming others, then we pray that God take them out of this life and thereby take us out of harm’s way.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth.

2. He was sent to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

3. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women!”

4. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

5. And the Angel said to her: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God!”

6. “Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus.”

7. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

8. And Mary said to the Angel: “How shall this be done, because I know not man?”

9. And the Angel answering, said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

10. And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word!” And the Angel departed from her.


DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Choosing Mary for His Mother.
2. Humbling Himself in His Incarnation.
3. Becoming man for our salvation.
4. Formed by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
5. Sanctifying Mary by His divine presence.
6. Choosing Mary as His Co-Redemptrix.
7. Leading Mary into a life of suffering.
8. Removing all fear from the mind and heart of Mary.
9. Giving Mary her mission in life.
10. Making Mary the mother of the Mystical Body of Christ.

The Second Joyful Mystery
2. THE VISITATION BY OUR LADY TO ST. ELIZABETH

REFLECTION

Our Lady―even though she was with Child, and a Child that was of far greater importance than St. Elizabeth’s babe in the womb―nevertheless risks life and limb in traveling around 100 miles on donkey and on foot, through some very dangerous territories, in order to be of help to Elizabeth and her husband, the priest, Zachary.

We can imagine Our Lady being prudent in dealing with Zachary’s punishment for his having doubted the Archangel Gabriel’s revelation. No doubt she prays much for Zachary, so that God might remove the burden of punishment for disbelief from Zachary. Our Lady, thereby, is praying for the ‘clergy’―the priest Zachary, just as we are praying for the Church and Francis.

Later, Our Lady herself―at Akita in 1973― would command that we, in our present day, pray very much for the pope, the bishops and the priests: “Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests!”

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. A priest named Zachary, and his wife Elizabeth, were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

2. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary, seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

3. The angel said to him: “Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.”

4. Zachary said to the angel: “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years!” And the angel answering, said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.”

5. The people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.

6. And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.”

7. And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

8. And Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy! And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.”

9. And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy: as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed for ever.”

10. And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house. Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary. And his mother answering, said: “Not so! But he shall be called John!” And they said to her: “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name!” And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: “John is his name!” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea. And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: “What a one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him!”

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Enclosed in the tabernacle of thy womb.
2. Being taken by thee to sanctify Zachary, Elizabeth and John the Baptist.
3. Whose presence brought peace and gladness to Elizabeth.
4. Whose presence made John leap with joy in Elizabeth’s womb.
5. Who, hidden in thy womb, brought graces to Zachary, Elizabeth and John.
6. Who prepared the mission of St. John the Baptist.
7. Who mercifully prayed for the doubting Zachary.
8. Who brought about the loosing of Zachary’s tongue.
9. Who brought joy to the family.
10. Who prepared John for his martyrdom.

The Third Joyful Mystery
3. THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AT BETHLEHEM

REFLECTION

Our Lord came to His own in Bethlehem and was rejected through Mary and Joseph. They “did not fit the bill” as regards meeting the requirements or expectations of the inhabitants of Bethlehem. Thus rejected, they had to go find elsewhere to lodge themselves. Nobody gave them anything.

In a similar way, Francis―who, if he is pope, is the “Vicar of Christ”. He is the representative of Christ on Earth. He “does not fit the bill” for many Catholics―and so they reject him and give him ‘nothing’--no prayers, no kind words, no praise. Our Lord was even respectful to Judas, Annas, Caiphas, Pilate and Herod―when He could have given all at least a tongue lashing, if not even opened the earth beneath their sinful feet and removed them for good! Yet He didn’t.

Even if Francis were to be a great sinner, or an infiltrator, or any one of the many roles he is assigned―Our Lord still came to save him and all the enemies of God. If this is attitude of Christ, why are we so different? That makes us, in a loose sense, “Antichrist”―does it not?

Two of Our Lord’s Apostles had the same kind of attitude to the Samaritans that many Catholics have towards Francis. When James and John saw that Jesus was rejected by the Samaritan town they had entered, in their indignant anger they asked Our Lord if they should pray for fire to come down from Heaven and destroy the Samaritan town! “And Jesus sent messengers before His face; and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.  And they received Him not, because His face was of one going to Jerusalem.  And when His disciples James and John had seen this, they said: ‘Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?’  And turning, He rebuked them, saying: ‘You know not of what spirit you are! The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save!” (Luke 9:52-56). If we could only learn our own lesson from that and realize that Our Lord wants to save Francis and not destroy him―and He wants us to pay part of the price of saving by our fervent prayers for him―enemy or not!

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

2. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

3. And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people.”

4. For, this day, is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will!”

5. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us.” And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

6. When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to adore Him.” And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: “And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel.”

7. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; and sending them into Bethlehem, said: “Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore Him.” Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary His Mother, and falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

8. And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him.” Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”

9. Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: “A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.”

10. Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: “That He shall be called a Nazarene.”

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Refused entrance at every door in Bethlehem.
2. Met with coldness and indifference.
3. Born in humiliation in a stable for animals.
4. Born into and accepting poverty.
5. Accepting the adoration of lowly shepherds.
6. Adored by pagan kings, but rejected by people of Thy own religion.
7. Accepting Gold as a king; frankincense as a priest and myrrh as a victim.
8. Having to flee into Egypt.
9. Living in exile.
10. Returning to a home to a humble hidden life.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery
4. PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

REFLECTION

When Our Lady presented the Infant Jesus in the Temple―what should have been a wonderful and joyful moment, turned sour and sorrowful. Simeon, one of the aged priests of the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and made a very painful prophesy.

“Behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he also took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:  ‘Now thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:  a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel!’  And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: ‘Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed!’” (Luke 2:25-35).

Mary entered the temple that day with joy and expectancy―only to find that joy punctured by Simeon painful prophecy of a sword piercing her heart because of Jesus. When Francis entered the Vatican, after his election, similarly, many souls were filled with joy and expectancy. Alas, that joy and expectancy has given way to sorrow and the unexpected. Yet, just as Our Lady took all that in her stride―we too must take the disappointments of Francis in our stride. Let us not forget that much of those disappointments have been partially caused or contributed to by our lack of regular and fervent prayer for Francis―as good or as bad as he may have been and is! As we sow, so shall we reap! As they say― “We get the leaders that we deserve!”

4. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE (Read before starting each Hail Mary)

1. And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord: as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

2. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

3. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple.

4. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, Simeon also took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: “Now thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel!”

5. And His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him.

6. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.”

7. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the Temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

8. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

9. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

10. And the Child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Being carried to the Temple
2. Being consecrated to God.
3. Being given over to the service of God.
4. Revealing Himself to Simeon.
5. Being called a sign of contradiction.
6. Bringing a sword of sorrow to Mary’s heart.
7. Help us to put the service of God above all things.
8. Help us to carry the burden of sorrow for Thy sake.
9. Help us grow in grace.
10. Help us grow in true heavenly wisdom.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery
5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

REFLECTION

Mary and Joseph ‘lost’ Jesus. They were walking away from Jerusalem. They were unknowingly leaving Jesus behind. They were ‘presumptuously ‘ imagining that Jesus was with the other spouse or with relatives. He wasn't with them!

Similarly, Francis seems to walking away from ‘Jerusalem’―away from the ancient traditions of the Faith. He ‘presumptuously’ seems to be “doing his own thing” in some areas―presuming Jesus is with him on these matters.

The only way Mary and Joseph were going to solve the problem, was by turning around and going back to Jerusalem. The only way Francis will truly find Jesus, is by turning around and going back to the ancient traditions of the Faith that Liberalism and Modernism have crucified and buried.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

1. And His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the Pasch.

2. And when He was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast.

3. And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not.

4. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him.

5. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered.

6. And His mother said to Him: “Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing!”

7. And He said to them: “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about My Father’s business?” And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them.

8. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

9. And His mother kept all these words in her heart.

10. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Keeping the religious laws of His Father.
2. Praying and adoring His Father in the Temple of Jerusalem.
3. Preferring to remain in Jerusalem to do the work of His Father.
4. Hiding Himself from Mary and Joseph.
5. Causing pain and sorrow in Mary and Joseph.
6. Bringing another sword of sorrow to Mary’s heart.
7. Enlightening the doctor’s in the Temple.
8. Teaching and asking questions.
9. Living in obedience to Mary and Joseph.
10. Furnishing thoughts for Mary’s heart.