Praying with Images: The Joyful Mysteries

First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation 

Deacon Christopher Paul currently serves the Diocese of Fall River as the Director of Adult and Child Discipleship in the Secretariat for the New Evangelization. 

Reflection: 

When I first saw the painting of the Annunciation from the Church of Saints Philip and James in Reggio Emilia, Italy, my eyes were almost immediately drawn to the Hebrew text over Mary’s right shoulder. 

I felt sure that the passage was from Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel,” but I couldn’t be certain because I can’t read Hebrew. 

The following week I bumped into a very kind, orthodox Jewish couple while visiting my parents in upstate New York. Much to my wife’s chagrin, I asked if they would be willing to look at the image for me. 

Happily, they consented. While they couldn’t make out the passage word for word, they saw enough to confirm that the passage is part of the Ten Commandments. 

A little later, I contacted a Rabbi who was able to confirm this assessment. 

The question is, why did this anonymous artist depict Mary with the Ten Commandments in this scene? 

I think this subtle inclusion speaks volumes about Mary and why she was chosen by God the Father to be the mother of His only begotten Son. 

As the Immaculate Conception, Mary was untarnished by original sin. In addition, for the whole of her life she remained free of actual sin. Unlike the first Eve, Mary, the “New Eve,” was absolutely faithful to the plan of God and perfectly obedient to the Commandments. 

She revealed this obedience and humility in her response to Gabriel’s invitation: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word.” 

May we strive, through Mary’s intercession, to imitate her humility, faithfulness, and obedience to the Commandments of the Lord and His perfect plan for our lives. 

Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation 

Sr. Margaret Kerry joined the Daughters of St Paul almost fifty years ago yet says she is just a beginner exploring the unfathomable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8).   

Reflection: 

While I was stationed in South Carolina my morning walks to Mass took me past the College of Charleston. I often sidestepped groups of young adults heading quickly to specific destinations. Automatically, with my decade rosary in hand, I began the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. 

After the ten Hail Marys, I started the same mystery again. I prayed this mystery until I arrived at church. Looking at this painting, memories of those walks and my choice of Mystery are vivid. 

My baptismal call to bring the Gospel to others was heightened as I passed many people I could not personally greet. I could, however, pray with Mary on her journey. The scene is very lively. My focus is on Mary who looks slightly tired after a journey over the mountainous terrain. She is not alone though. Angels are hidden along the path. Even the heavens open as God the Father and the Holy Spirit look on lovingly.  

Mary’s dress is the traditional garment I imagine her wearing. Others in the painting wear more contemporary clothing from the 1600s. The scenery is of that period and reflects where the artist lived. My walk with Mary is also contemporary. She accompanies me as I pray this Mystery on walks, in airports, in grocery lines, and in all the places I want to bring the gospel by passing through. Mary walks with me today bearing Jesus.  

I pray everyone I see will meet Jesus and be transformed in His presence. My ultimate visit, with God in Word and Eucharist, reminds me that as I leave the church I too am called to be like Mary, the bearer of Christ.

Third Joyful Mystery – The Birth of Our Lord 

Nathan Ahearne's faith journey has helped to shape the person he is today as husband, father, teacher, and formator of young people.   

Reflection: 

Take a moment to look carefully at this image of The Birth of Our Lord. What do you notice? 

You might see the many different characters in the scene, the many bright colors, or maybe something else. What’s striking about all paintings of the nativity is that they center on the baby Jesus. He is literally in the middle of this image and each character is focused on the bright light coming from this special baby, the boy king. It’s like everyone has forgotten what brought them into the scene and there is a place for all: angels, farmers, royalty, and even animals! We know that this image is the setting for God coming into the world, as a human, in the baby Jesus.  

At Christmas, we sing, “O come, Emmanuel,” which translates to “God with us.” It is true, Jesus is still with us. He is right here in the middle of us when we pray together, when we serve those who need our help and when we show how much we love our family.  

Sounds great, right? But how easy it can be for our jobs, family events, study, sport commitments, worries, and distractions to allow Jesus to be moved off from the center of the stage. Our attention wanders and we might be like the wise men, running around trying to find the perfect gift, or the shepherds who are so busy tending to the lambs, that we forget the best gift we could ever receive, Jesus.  

Let’s take the Holy Family as our model each day of the year and make sure that we center our lives on the wonderful gift of Jesus in the world and in our home. 

Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple 

Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com. 

Reflection: 

Mary and Joseph lovingly carry their little son Jesus to the Temple for the ritual moment of presentation and consecration. Their simple offering, two turtle doves, reminds us of their humble status. The new parents encounter two remarkable strangers. Simeon and Anna, both advanced in years, immediately recognize that this child is different. The elders rejoice: their faith and trust in God’s promises has finally been brought to fruition.  

But Simeon also shares a word of warning for Mary: the path ahead will not be without its hardships. Most of the eyes in this image are trained on Jesus Christ, the light of the world. But Mary, light in hand, gazes inward. Mary’s hand at her heart tells us she has heard Simeon.  

Mary has already responded months earlier to God with the words that are her greatest lesson for us: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” I imagine her praying those words to God yet again as Simeon holds the one who will bring salvation to all the world. “Yes, God,” I hear Mary silently pray. “I give you my ‘Yes.’ I will do your will.” 

Praying with this image, I remember a photo of my eldest son’s baptism. Centered around the font, we gaze at our parish priest as he holds our baby above the waters of life. I remember the emotions in my heart that day, the pure joy I felt. But I couldn’t have known then the path ahead or how eventually giving my child fully to God’s care would mean letting him walk a path uniquely his own.  

All these years later, my prayer for every member of my family is constant. I bind myself to a radical trust in God’s plan for our lives and God’s unending love for each of us. Leaning into Mary’s embrace, I give God my “yes.” 

Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple 

Barb Szyszkiewicz, a Secular Franciscan, is editor at CatholicMom.com and author of The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours. 

Reflection: 

His parents’ gaze is only on Jesus. 

They have retraced their steps over three days, searching for him, only to find him deep in conversation with the teachers and scholars in the Temple. In their joy at finally finding their Son, Mary and Joseph do not see that the teachers’ eyes are on Jesus as well. There, in His Father’s house, he has astounded the scholars with wisdom beyond his twelve years of age. 

Jesus’ gaze, though, is not on His earthly parents. He seems to look far ahead, far into the future, deep into places and times His parents—and we—may never know. 

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 

It’s not a rude question, really. It’s the words of a 12-year-old Messiah who is coming to accept the mission He has been given, meeting the Temple teachers and beginning conversations with some of the very people who will call for His crucifixion in only twenty short years. It’s the words of a growing-up boy that also capture the ears of the beggar on the Temple steps—perhaps the very beggar he will cure … in only twenty short years. 

Jesus obediently allows His parents to embrace Him before they lead Him home. 

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I am already here?” 

This is the question for you and for me. Jesus is not lost. He is here—with us—in our midst. Like His parents and the Temple teachers, all we need to do is keep our gaze on Him.