Holy Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries Poem by NHIEN NGUYEN MD

1. FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE ANNUNCIATION

On that special day in Nazareth, a town of Galilee
God sent his messenger Gabriel to a virgin, Mary
Who was betrothed to a man named Joseph
"Hail, full of grace, The Lord is with you"! He saluted her
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High".
"How can this be since I have no relations with a man? " She asked.
The angel said to her in reply:
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
And the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God".
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord,
May it be done to me according to your word". She replied.
At that moment, God incarnated.

*Fruit of the mystery: Humility


2. SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE VISITATION

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country
To visit Elizabeth and Zechariah, parents of John the Baptist.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting
The infant leaped in her womb and she cried out loud her praises:
"Most blessed are you among women
And blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
That the mother of my Lord should come to me? "
To reply, Mary sang her Canticle in praising God
She remained with Elizabeth for three months then she returned home.

*Fruit of the mystery: Love of neighbor

3. THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Obeying the emperor's order of enrollment throughout the Roman Empire
Joseph took Mary with him to David's birthplace, city of Bethlehem
Because in the blood line, he was a descendant of David.
While they were there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger
Because the inn had no room for them.
The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds
who kept night watch over their flock
and brought them the good news:
"Don't be afraid; for behold,
I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you
who is Messiah and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger"
Suddenly a heavenly choir appeared, singing praises to God:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests".
Being told by the angel about the birth of Jesus
The shepherds went in haste and found Mary, Joseph and the infant as they were told.
They spread the message of what they had been told about this child.
They glorified and praised God for all they had heard and seen.

*Fruit of the mystery: Poverty in Spirit

4. FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE PRESENTATION

When their purification days were completed according to Moses' law
Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem
They presented him to the Lord in the temple.
There, Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed God
for his eyes have seen God's salvation.
He also blessed the parents and said to Mary
"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce."
There was also a prophetess Anna who lived in the temple
She gave thanks to God and prophesied about the child Jesus.

*Fruit of the mystery: Obedience

5. FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: FINDING THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Every year parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual.
On their way home, they didn't find Jesus with relatives or friends
So, they returned to Jerusalem looking for him.
After three days, they found him in the Temple
sitting with the Jewish teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers.
His parents were also astonished when they saw him.
Jesus went back to Nazareth with them where he was obedient to them.

*Fruit of the mystery: Joy in finding Jesus.

NHIEN NGUYEN MD
3/3/2018
(Quotes and paraphrases according the Gospel of St Luke)