By Susan Ciancio
Advent is such a joyful season! It’s a time to prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for the coming of the Christ Child. So often this time of year, we focus on Christmas presents, but do we take enough time to focus on Christ’s presence at Christmas—and all year long?
Our God loves us so much that He sent His Son to redeem us. What a truly incredible gift! For three years, Jesus taught and performed miracles. Anytime we want, we can relive those times by reading the gospels.
But we can also relive some of those by reflecting on them as we say the rosary. So this year, we have a truly unique booklet for you—a way to immerse yourselves in Jesus’ life. Through The Mysteries of Advent, our latest daily reflection booklet, you and your family can walk with Jesus and Mary as we take you through the mysteries of the rosary.
The rosary is not only a beautiful prayer, it’s a powerful spiritual weapon. Throughout Church history, there have been countless stories of battles won and of Mary’s help and intercession because of devotion to the rosary. And when she appeared to the children at Fatima, she stressed the importance of praying the rosary.
From the earliest moments of Church history, people have used prayer beads to count and keep track of their prayers. But Church tradition tells us that Mary appeared to St. Dominic in the early 1200s and gave him the rosary that evolved into what we have today.
There are four categories of mysteries that we now pray—Glorious, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Joyful—each on a different day of the week and each with biblical origins. Nearly every event comes from a story in the New Testament and tells us about the lives of Jesus and Mary. The Assumption of Mary, which is alluded to rather than explicitly stated in biblical verses, was later declared a doctrine of the Church.
The mysteries of the rosary are meant to help us grow closer to Christ and His mother as we walk in their shoes and contemplate the love of a Father who gave His only Son.
As we explore and discuss these mysteries, we hope that you will picture yourself as a silent companion to Jesus and Mary. Walk with them. Watch them. Listen to their words. Immerse yourself in their lives; imagine the love between mother and Son and the love Christ has for others and you. Use His life to make yours richer and to strengthen your faith. Then think about how you can apply that to your life, love and protect the vulnerable, and see your world through His eyes. Each day’s entry starts with a Bible verse about the mystery. We then offer an explanation, a reflection, a challenge, and a brief prayer.
We hope these reflections will draw you and your family closer to God, help you see Christ’s love revealed in yours, and encourage you to work toward strengthening your faith and building a culture of life—in your homes, in your schools, and in your communities. So grab the kids or grandkids, snuggle on the couch or sit around the Advent wreath, and travel back in time to walk with Christ and to see the manifestation of a love we can only begin to fathom.
Download The Mysteries of Advent on our site. We also have two other Advent reflection booklets available. Waiting for Christ with Joyful Anticipation: Reflecting on Christ’s Love This Advent offers a joyful Bible verse, a reflection that speaks of the anticipation of Christ, and a bio of a special saint. Awaiting the Gift of Christ: Walking with the Saints This Advent walks you through Advent with the stories of some amazing saints and with teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. All are downloadable for less than a cup of coffee!
