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Pro-Life Rosary MeditationsTHE JOYFUL MYSTERIES The Annunciation
The message of the angel Gabriel presented Mary with a choice. God's plan for her and for the salvation of the world hinged on her response. This was no pretense; the choice was real--real, too, the consequences. When Mary accepted God's will, declaring herself the servant of the Lord, she took a tremendous risk. She knew what unwed motherhood meant in her society. She could have been ridiculed; she could have been ostracized; she could have been stoned to death. But she trusted in God and in His promises, and because she trusted, the Father gave us Jesus Christ through her. Lord, in Your mercy, guide all women facing unplanned pregnancies. Give them the courage to follow Mary's example of trust by accepting and protecting the lives of their unborn children. Amen. The Visitation
The Gospel tells us that Mary left "in haste" to seek her cousin Elizabeth. The journey itself would have taken only a few days. And, although less than a week may have passed since the visit of the angel, Elizabeth was inspired by the Spirit to call Mary the mother of her Lord. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was already living and present in the womb of Mary! Holy Spirit, enlighten all people, especially those who promote and perform abortions, that they may realize that human life begins at the moment of conception. Amen. The Birth of Jesus
Joseph was a man of faith. Although he knew that the child in Mary's womb was not his own, he believed the message of God given him in a dream. He trusted God and he trusted Mary. And he was rewarded for his trust when, in the stable of Bethlehem, Mary placed the newborn Jesus into his arms. Almighty Father, so many men today do not accept the responsibility for their children. They blame the woman for an unplanned pregnancy and sometimes encourage abortion. Grant that all such men may, like Joseph, become caring and protective fathers. Amen. The Presentation of Jesus
Simeon had been told by the Lord that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah with his own eyes. Forty days after Jesus' birth, when the infant was taken up to the Temple to be consecrated to God, this promise was fulfilled. The old man recognized in Jesus the long-awaited Savior, but he also predicted sorrow for the child's mother. The treachery of Herod, the homelessness of a refugee, separation from her relatives, hunger and heat and thirst: Mary suffered all of these trials--and more besides--but her love never failed. Lord, in memory of the unselfishness of Mary, bestow on all mothers the willingness to sacrifice in order to give life and love to their children. Amen. Jesus Is Found in the Temple
When Jesus was twelve years old, His family went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their return journey, Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was not among the travelers, and they immediately went back in search of Him. How fervently they must have prayed! Their prayers were answered when, on the third day, they found Jesus in the Temple. Unfortunately, the thousands of children lost each day because of the sin of abortion will never be "found." Lost forever are the love and joy, accomplishments and contributions which they might have bestowed on their families and communities. How many great scientists, holy priests, caring teachers, and talented artists has this world lost? Father, You know that a society which kills its own children is a society in danger of self-destruction. Like Mary and Joseph who prayed so fervently, may we increase our prayers and our efforts to protect the lives of future generations. Amen.
The Agony in the Garden
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew what awaited Him. He knew of the abandon-ment, the betrayal, the humiliation, the terrible suffering. He was saddened, repulsed, and frightened; yet, He who had never sinned accepted the burden of the sins of humanity. And the acceptance wasn't easy. As followers of Christ today, it isn't easy to watch evil spread like a cancer before our eyes. We experience a little something of Our Lord's agony in the garden whenever we feel overwhelmed and powerless in a society which values sexual license more than the lives of its own children. Lord Jesus, give us the courage to accept the Father's will and never to lose heart in our struggle against the forces of death. Amen. The Scourging at the Pillar
Pilate knew that Jesus was no criminal, but he also knew the animosity and stubbornness of the local leaders. To placate their jealousy, he ordered that an innocent man be scourged. Pilate's action was unjust, but justice was less important to him than expediency. How many "Pilates" among us today are willing to countenance the unjust slaughter of innocent millions for the sake of expediency? How many--even in the Christian community--find it safer to look the other way, to keep silent, to refuse to take a stand? Holy Spirit, convert the hearts of all people who, by their self-serving indifference, perpetuate the injustice of abortion in this land and around the world. Amen. The Crowning with Thorns
After the flogging was over, as Jesus stood torn and bleeding, one of the soldiers had an evil idea. It was so typical of humanity at its worst! Crowning the poor, suffering prisoner with thorns, mocking and beating Him, must have made the guards feel very superior, indeed! Then, as now, evil begets evil. The soldiers' cruelty would not have been possible without Pilate's cowardice. Likewise, the evil of abortion would not be possible without the impetus of greed, selfishness, lies, and lust. Almighty Father, You alone can stem the tide of evil which threatens to destroy us. You ask only that we imitate the example of Jesus and cooperate with Your will. Amen. Jesus Carries His Cross
Pilate condemned Jesus to death because he was afraid of losing his job. He was more concerned with protecting his position than adhering to moral principles. So Jesus had to die. Our society today is full of leaders like Pilate: men and women seeking power at any cost, even at the cost of millions of human lives. But when Jesus accepted His cross, He gave us an example of unselfishness which puts to shame the worldly "wisdom" of politics. Lord, make us faithful in carrying the burdens of discipleship. Give us the strength to stand alone, if necessary, in defending the sanctity of human life. Amen. The Crucifixion
Crucifixion is a horrible way to die: excruciating pain, terrible thirst, desperate gasps for breath. Why did Jesus let it happen? He was cleverer than all His enemies. He could have weeded out Judas; He could have pacified the Jewish leaders; He could have talked circles around Pilate. But Jesus chose to demonstrate the depths of God's love by painfully surrendering His very self. Nothing more was possible and nothing less was sufficient. Jesus gave up His life not because life isn't precious, but because it is! Father, Son, and Spirit, restore to our nation the respect for life at every stage of development. Make us see that all human life is precious because it is redeemed by the power of the cross. Amen.
The Resurrection
The suffering and death of Jesus Christ were public events witnessed by thousands. How ironic that His supreme triumph took place in the darkness of the tomb unobserved by human eyes when, on the third day, the crucified Savior rose in glory! Perhaps it is no coincidence that each human life begins similarly unobserved, concealed in the darkness of the womb. It is the will of God that life be cherished from womb to tomb...and beyond! Lord Jesus, You won the victory over sin and death through the power of Your resurrection. Extend Your victory to safeguard the lives of the innocent unborn. Amen. The Ascension
After forty days, Jesus took His disciples to a mountaintop and ascended into heaven before their eyes. Sorrowful, yet amazed, they just stood there, staring into the sky. But they were soon rebuked by the angels. There was work to be done to prepare the Kingdom for the Master's return. "When the Son of Man returns," Jesus once asked, "will He find any faith on the earth?" What would He find if He returned today? Millions of aborted babies, rampant promiscuity, greed and deception and hate. Like the disciples before us, we are called to get to work, to spread the Kingdom by word and example. Almighty God, make us instruments of conversion and courageous supporters of the message of life. Amen. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The followers of Jesus were gathered in prayer ten days later when something like tongues of fire descended upon each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with courage, fervor and faith. Our modern world is filled not with the Spirit of God, but with the spirit of self. We make ourselves--our desires, our pleasures, our vanities--the gods of our hearts. And because we cannot tolerate an inconvenience to distract us from ourselves, we kill our unborn babies, we murder the old and the sick, and we justify our evil with self-righteous rhetoric! Holy Spirit, descend upon this world as once You did upon the early Church. Replace the idolatry of self with the healing love of Jesus Christ. Amen. The Assumption of Mary
When she visited Elizabeth, Mary proclaimed that God had done "great things" for her. Throughout her life, the Father continued to do great things for Mary, and in the end, He granted her the honor of being the first to experience the full power of the redemption of Jesus: He took her, body and soul, into heaven. One day, all of the faithful will share this privilege. The same bodies conceived in our mother's wombs will gaze upon the Face of Divinity; therefore, every body so conceived is sacred in the eyes of God! May the knowledge of our physical resurrection promote within us a sincere respect for human life. Amen. The Coronation of Mary
Like the woman crowned with twelve stars in the Book of Revelation, Mary is an image of the Church. She is also a member of the Church, and in her heavenly coronation we see the promise of the victory of the Church. In fact, that victory is already assured by the power of Jesus Christ. He said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me." Therefore, whenever we speak, pray, work or struggle on behalf of the "least" ones--the helpless unborn--we bring that victory a little closer. Jesus, You are the Conqueror of sin and death! In response to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, restore to all people--especially the unborn, the weak, and the persecuted--the protection of life under the law. Amen.
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