Rosary for Men
How can the average guy pray the Rosary . . . here are some reflections to inspire us and help us pray - they are Rosary Reflections for the Average Guy:
Joyful Mysteries (Monday/Saturday)
1. Annunciation - It’s morning and you’ve been awake all night. You still remember Mary, your beautiful fiancee, telling you that she was pregnant. You really can’t wrap your mind around this news. You’re not married yet, you haven’t done “it” yet. How can she be pregnant? You’ve always been drawn to her because she seemed special - not like any other woman you have ever met. She seemed pure - almost immaculate. But looks can be deceiving. You decide that you can divorce her - “quietly.” You don’t want to cause a ruckus - you don’t want to put her into any harm. The folks in your hometown tend to not be very forgiving on this sort of thing. You decide to pray. You pray all night. You talk to God - you lay out your concerns, your hurt, your disappointment. And you listen. You hear back in a big way - an angel appears to you. Tells you to marry her. That she has conceived by the Holy Spirit and that this child will save your people from their sins. You realize that her child is very special indeed. You gain the sense that marrying Mary is the right thing to do. That maybe you can be the father of her child. You still love her - you don’t want to let her go out of your life. But no one will blame you if you walk away. You don’t have to take on this responsibility. But you play the angel’s words over again in your mind. This angel was a messenger from God himself - and he told you to marry her. You realize that this isn’t a hard choice anymore. Marry her you will. Become this child’s father, you shall. You will be obedient to God and trust in his plan. You don’t know where your life is going - but you’ll just follow where he wants you to go. You decide to go see Mary.
2. Visitation- Mary has just gotten back from the Hill Country after several months of being with Elizabeth her cousin. You’ve been up all night talking. You’ve been worried for her because she is pregnant and it was a long trip - you didn’t want her to go but she insisted that she had to help out her cousin and you know better than to get in her way when she wants to help someone. But, she seems alright and has some amazing stories to tell. Elizabeth was indeed pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy - not bad for an old lady. Zechariah was mute until the baby was named - Mary said he lost his voice early in the pregnancy after he doubted that Elizabeth could get pregnant. You resolve never to question God. Mary tells about how our baby got all excited when she saw Elizabeth - and that Elizabeth’s baby got all excited as well. You are starting to think that maybe these are not going to be your normal kids. You bring Mary up-to-speed on your carpentry business and all of the news of the town. She looks around and appreciates the things you did around house to get ready for the baby.
3. Nativity- You’ve had to pack up your very pregnant wife and go hundreds of miles to your ancestors’ home, which you are visiting for the first time. You pull into town and are told there isn’t anyplace to stay. You are tired . . . Mary is tired and complaining about contractions coming closer and closer together. You know that you have to be responsible and resourceful . . . it’s all in your hands. You pray to God for help. You keep looking around for a place to stay and then you see the stable. You call to Mary. It’s not much but you’ve always been humble people - and there is no where else to go. In what seems like a moment’s time, your son, God’s son, appears and you know your life is forever changed. You look to count all five fingers and five toes . . . you look at the screaming face and can’t help but smile . . . you make sure your wife is ok . . . and then you witness the most beautiful and peaceful moment of your life . . . your bride, who you love without measure, holding your son, God’s son. It was a moment that you know will be forever etched in your mind. And then the anxiety sweeps over you and you realize that you are on the spot . . . this baby boy is going to look to you to become a man. And at that moment, as you hold your son while Mary sleeps, you pray and God makes sure you know you are up to the task.
4. Presentation- You and Mary have just arrived at the temple in Jerusalem. The law says that you need to take your baby boy to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented and consecrated to God as the first born. You and Mary talked about it - your son is the son of God so why should he have to be consecrated to his own father. But, you realize the law is important. You also realize that you have no material wealth to make a sizable contribution to the temple. This is the son of God, shouldn’t you be giving a grand offering? But you decide to not and try to be something you’re not and you present a contribution of two doves, the contribution of the middle-class man you are. No airs, no pretensions, you are who you are.
5. Finding Jesus in the Temple- You and Mary just realized that you haven’t seen Jesus since you’ve left Jerusalem with the rest of your clan. You assumed he is back with the rest of the family like he usually is on these trips - but no one seems to have seen him. You think back to the times he’s gotten away from you at the market but this is something worse. You search around frantically trying to find him with an enormous dread in your heart. “Oh God, Oh God, please let me find him . . . please let me find him . . . PLEASE LET ME FIND HIM!!!!” You and Mary take off for Jerusalem. During the course of the day very few words pass between you. You’re trying not to be angry at each other - but it’s mainly you are both focused on your own thoughts and fears. You decide stewing in your own anxiety is not helping matters so you start talking to Mary. The two of you pray, talk about Jesus, and wonder what he is doing. You finally get to Jerusalem and search for him. You decide to go back to the temple - and there you find him. He is surrounded by the elders and appears to be teaching them. You are a part proud, a part scared, and a part in complete awe. You watch for a few minutes and then you call to him. He comes running over and you hug and kiss on him until you realize you have to teach him a lesson and end up scolding and grounding him. He seems to understand and you know he will become obedient to you out of respect to you . . . a respect you have earned.
Sorrowful (Tuesday/Friday)
1. Agony in the Garden- It’s the most stressful time of your life. You are besieged and know you are going to lose. Your closest friends fall asleep on you - one even betrays you. You pray to God with all that you have . . . and yet you know what you must do. It’s tough but you just know what you have to do and you go do it. You know you have to do the right thing, all of the time, no matter how hard. You look at Peter, John & James. They are asleep. How often are the men of this world asleep? How often do they let God down? How often do they let their family and friends down? How often?
2. Scourging at the Pillar- You are completely alone and experiencing pain beyond your worst nightmares. You know you must offer all of the pain up to God, but too much of you is human and it is tough. Yet, you stay strong. You hope that the next time anyone feels pain that they do not think they can endure, they will think of you on that pillar and gather strength from your endurance. You keep thinking about Pilate. He could’ve done the “right” thing and sprung you. But, he listened to the crowd, to the cheers, and he condemned you, an innocent man. How many times do men take the easy way out? How many times do they give in to the popular sentiment? How many times do they just want an unpleasant situation to go away and take the low road? Men must do the right thing, all of the time. They must remain strong under the worst of adversity. Maybe, this day will give them the strength to do so.
3. Crowning with Thorns- You are mocked and ridiculed beyond manly dignity. Your human instinct tells you to come out fighting, trying to land some blows. How dare they insult me like that? I’ll show you whose the king! But you don’t - part of you know it would be fruitless - the other part knows this is all part of the plan. You think of the men on the other end? Why did they feel the need to ridicule and harass? Why? This episode arises from pure maliciousness. But, hopefully, when men think about any ridicule they may experience or any ridicule they may dish out . . . they will remember this mystery and ask for forgiveness for themselves and for the others.
4. Carrying the Cross- The Cross is heavy, you are tired, beaten, weak. Yet, you continue on . . . you know you will be an eternal sign for all men to follow in the ages to come. You never give up. You stumble, you fall, you get back up. You continue on. You think of Simon the Cyrene. Poor guy, he was just returning to town, ready to get back to his family after a long trip. Yet, he becomes the second man to ever bear my Cross. And he does so with fortitude, dignity and strength, without complaint. And for that one simple act, he will be known for antiquity. You want to be an example to men so that they get back up when they fall, so they know they have to continue on, and so they will be ready to carry their cross with me.
5. Crucifixion- It’s the end and you know it. You face it with everything you have inside of you. You suffer the final dignity of being killed with a couple of crooks, yet you take the time to perform an act of forgiveness. You are stripped and exposed to the world. Your clothes are the prize of a dice game. Your mother and best friend are at your feet grieving with little solace. You have the presence of mind to provide for your mother. You pray to God and then perform a final act of forgiveness. The pain is lessening as your flesh fades into unconsciousness. Even in death, you have done the right thing, all of the right things. You have overcome and persevered to the end. How about John? There to the end. Finally, one of your friends makes the right call and shows his face at your side. How about Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea? Exposing their necks, their status, and their fortunes to do the right thing. To take care of you - their Lord and Savior.
Glorious (Sunday/Wednesday)
1. Resurrection- Mary Magdalene comes charging into the room. She blasts the news that the Lord is gone! Jesus isn’t in his tomb. Without a second’s hesitation, you and Peter are off and running through the dark streets of pre-dawn Jerusalem. You race to the garden where lies the tomb. In your youthful exuberance, you pull ahead of the older Peter and reach the tomb first, out-of-breath. But, you wait for Peter so he can enter first. You quickly recall the conversations you’ve had with him over the past day-and-a-half. You’ve listened, you’ve consoled, you’ve reassured. Peter has been ridden with guilt because of his denials. He’s having a hard time coming to grips with the reasons for his betrayal. He’s heard Christ’s final words to him over and over again - “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” The call of the rooster will be forever etched into his memory and haunt his dreams. He wants a do-over; he wants redemption. He asks you what it was like at the foot of the cross. You tell him everything - especially the signs at Jesus’ death. He is filled with regret. Mary, Jesus’ mother, has been there with you. Instead of comforting her, it is she that is comforting you both. And through her love, Peter starts to regain his balance. His sorrow over Christ’s death and his fearfulness over the consequences of his actions gives way to a courage and a fortitude that would serve him, his Lord, and his Church for the rest of his life and the two-thousand years to come. Finally, you’re brought back to the present as Peter gets to the tomb, and you follow him in . . .
2. Ascension- The past forty days have been the most incredible of your life. Ever since Christ had risen from the dead, it’s been a non-stop ride of joy, signs, wonders, and love. You are any one of the apostles. You’ve been there as Jesus has taught, trained, guided you and opened up your understanding to ideas and concepts you would have never understood before. What you don’t realize is that Jesus has been preparing you to carry on without his human presence. And that day has come. He leads you to a mountaintop. He says his good-byes. He kisses each of you. He kisses and embraces his mother. He looks each of you in the eye one more time with a reassuring nod that let’s you know you are prepared for the road ahead. And then the skies open up - lights brighter than you have ever seen before. You look over and realize that Peter, James and John look as if they have seen this sort of thing before. In any case, a radiant Christ starts to slowly rise and before you realize it, he is gone. You know he has gone home to his father - your father. You know he will always be with you. You know that you will one day go to join him. In the meantime, there is much work to be done. And after gazing upwards for a time - trying to really take in what you just saw - you descend and get to work.
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit- The past week has been nothing but non-stop praying. A week ago, you saw the most incredible thing ever - the Ascension of the Lord. You all have been moved with such passion by what you witnessed that the lot of you have done nothing but pray and give praise to God. You’ve been singing, sharing stories, acting like anything but the man’s man you thought you were. But that’s how incredible the past two months - heck the past three years have been. Then, without warning, you are startled by a loud roar, flames appear over your head, you all stop talking and just sit mesmerized. You are partially afraid but mostly in awe. Then a calm overcomes you - a peace that you have never experienced before. You feel a new spirit consume you. And you feel like getting out of that room. You all burst through the doors and start talking to everyone you see - telling them about Christ and the Good News. You realize you’re speaking in languages you’ve never even heard before - and everyone seems to understand. You have an urgency and a passion that will stay with you for the rest of your life. And the future lies open before you. You know what you are to do. And you start moving immediately and get started.
4. Assumption of Mary - Mary has lived with you now since Jesus’ death. You remember the commission that he gave you as he was dying. You remember her joy during the days before his ascension. You remember how she was there in the room when the Holy Spirit came upon you. You’ve listened as she has relayed the stories - about what she was thinking when Gabriel appeared to tell her she was pregnant - about the look on Joseph’s face when he told her about Gabriel appearing to him - the incredible peace of the night when Jesus was born - the terror of the flight to Egypt - the awe and wonderment of listening to Simeon and Anna - the funny stories of Jesus growing up - the pride she felt as she watched Jesus grow into a man - the night Joseph died - the point where she realized it was time for her son to start his ministry. You’ve talked about her faith - her trust in God - her strength. You’ve prayed with her, learned from her, watched as she has aged gracefully. You know she may be close to death. And you don’t want to see her go. But, one day you walk into a garden - she turns to give you one last embrace and kiss and to thank you - and you watch as she is lifted up to heaven - body and all. This would be no normal death - but then this was no normal woman. This was the Mother of God - your mother - the most pure non-divine human who ever lived. And she was going home - to a place you know you will someday be. And as you head back home, you miss her already. It was as tough to say good-bye to her as it was to say good-bye to Jesus on that mountaintop. But you still have work to do, so you get to it - somehow knowing that she will always be with you.
5. Coronation of Mary, Queen of Heaven - You’ve been having the most amazing dreams recently - both terrifying and wonderful at the same time. You’ve dreamt about the end of the world - about Christ’s second coming - about the triumph of good over evil. You’ve dreamt about the people of the world coming together. You’ve seen horrifying and glorious images which will be forever burned into your mind. But, what you remember most about your dreams are the ones about her - Mary, Jesus’ mother, your mother. You lived with her for so long and relied on her maternal care in so many ways that she is still a part of you. You feel her guide you throughout the day - comforting you - praying with you - protecting you. You see her in your dreams assuming a throne - assuming the role of Queen of Heaven. You see her standing on a moon, with a crown of stars on her head. You see her with all of the powers of the heavens. And you know she will always be there for us men - male and female. She will always intercede for us before her son. She will always pray for us, comfort us, guide us, protect us. And you know that somehow she will always find a way to appear to us, especially when we most need her. She will work what we think to be the impossible and continue to provide proof of her goodness and her son’s mercy. She will always be there with us and be a part of us - if we just look to her and let her into our lives. She is the mother of us all - she is the Queen of Heaven.
Luminous (Thursday)
1. Baptism of Jesus- You’ve come a long way from home to this river. You heard stories about a special man - some said he’s a prophet - and something inside of you ate at you until you decided you had to check it out. You said good-bye to your family and set off for the River Jordan. You arrived a couple of days ago and you found the man about whom everyone had been talking - John is his name. And he is everything you had heard about and more. He speaks with such clarity and with such truth that a part of your soul has opened up as it has never done so before. He talks about repentance, forgiveness and salvation. He talks about the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. He just makes sense. Since you’ve been here, a lot of people have been baptized by this man. This morning, you took the plunge. After he poured water over your head and blessed you, you felt a new world open up. Yet, there has remained a yearning for something more. As you ponder this thought, a man appears at the banks of the river. He is the sort that automatically commands your attention. John seems to know him. This man asks to be baptized but John hesitates. By now, everyone is watching the two. Finally, John pours water over the man’s head. Out of nowhere, a dove appears and voice rings out from the heavens. You are at first startled but then you take in what the voice says - “this is my beloved son, with whom I am well-pleased.” You look at the man again and realize deep in your heart that you will not only hear from him again, but that he would change your life. Later that day, you start off for home - a new man.
2. Wedding at Cana- It’s your wedding day and everything is going perfectly. That is until someone comes up to you to inform you that the wine is running low. You immediately panic because you pretty much know that the party is over when the wine runs out and it is way too early for the party to end. You and your family will be humiliated and all of Cana will look differently at you. You don’t know what to do. You consult with your father but he doesn’t know where to get more wine on such short notice. You then overhear a conversation between two of the guests - a mother and son from Nazareth. She is instructing him to do something but he is not too thrilled with the idea of whatever she is asking him to do. She then pulls aside one of the servants and tells him to do whatever her son instructs. The next thing you see is the servant bringing out jugs of water - at least you think it is water. You are perplexed. The son passes his hand over the jugs and instructs the steward to take a drink. After sipping the “water,” he proclaims it to be wine. You can’t believe it so you go over and see that indeed the jugs are filled with wine. You are bewildered because you know that there wasn’t any more wine left. No matter how the wine got there, you realize that your wedding day and the reputation of you and your family are saved. You go over to talk to the mother and son. Both of them look at you intensely and you sense a feeling of love burn deep within your soul. Your heart literally leaps. You don’t know what to say so you simply thank them for coming. You want to thank them for saving the wedding day - but you’re really not quite sure what or how they did it. All you know is that you feel great and that your marriage has been touched in such a way that you know you and your new bride will be truly blessed. Now, it’s onto the wedding night . . .
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom - You’ve been following Jesus for some time now. The more he teaches, the more you understand. So as you gather around Jesus on this morning, you are looking forward to today’s lesson. You wonder what you are going to learn today. Jesus starts preaching - but it’s a lesson like he’s never given before. He starts talking about his kingdom - but it doesn’t sound like any other kingdom you’ve ever studied. As he talks about eternal life, you get excited. But then he starts teaching about what it takes to get into this kingdom - and your enthusiasm wanes a little bit. He talks about obeying the “Son” and being born of water and spirit. He talks about giving up homes, possessions and families. You think that you can’t possibly do what he is asking. But, then he also talks about loving God and loving your neighbor. And you start to think that at least that you can do. So, you continue to listen. That night, you go off by yourself and really ponder what he said. And you wonder, who is the “Son” and where is this kingdom? Somehow, you know that the answers lie down the road.
4. Transfiguration- One morning you awake and Jesus pulls you aside with Peter and John. He wants the three of you to go with him but he won’t say where. You walk for a couple of hours until you finally reach the side of a mountain. You scale the mountain, get to the top and start to admire the view of the valley below. It’s a truly beautiful day and you marvel at how far you can see. Then, you look over at Jesus and are taken aback - a glowing aura starts to surround him - his clothes turn a perfect white. He takes on such a brilliance that you have to turn away. Next thing you know, you look up and see two people - somehow you know them to be Moses and Elijah. They are so real you can almost touch them. Jesus is talking to them. You are stunned, stopped dead in your tracks. Peter says something about building tents but you’re too amazed to really listen. You are filled with an incredible and calming peace and joy. This moment is the most amazing of your life. You feel like you are literally looking into heaven itself. That is until the cloud descends and covers you. You can’t see beyond your hand. A voice calls out and says, “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” You are terrified and fall to the ground. You then feel Jesus’ hand on your shoulder and he is telling you to get up - to not be afraid. And as quickly as it started, the moment is gone. Jesus returns to normal, Moses and Elijah are gone, the mountaintop returns to its natural state. As you descend, you recall that Peter at one point said, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” And you couldn’t agree more. But you wonder, what did all of this mean?
5. Institution of the Eucharist- It’s been a long week. It started on Sunday with Jesus, you and your fellow apostles coming into Jerusalem. You couldn’t believe the crowds. They were exuberant and cheering Jesus like he was a celebrity. But Jesus has seemed troubled in the past day or so - almost distracted. You’re thinking that maybe this evening will brighten his mood - after all it’s the Passover, the most sacred of your religious holidays. The meal starts with Jesus washing your feet. You really can’t grasp why he is doing what he is doing, but you go along with it. You kinda understand what he is getting at when he says you must wash each other’s feet. You know you are to serve others - it’s a message he has repeated over and over again throughout the past three years. As you’re getting ready to eat, Jesus picks up a loaf of bread. He talks about the bread being his body and that it would be given up for you. You are a little confused but you take the piece of bread that he offers you. After dinner, he picks up a cup of wine and talks about the wine being his blood - the blood of a new and everlasting covenant - and that it would be shed for you. You’re even more confused but you take a sip of the wine when he offers it to you. It is then that an incredible feeling overcomes you - you feel a presence within you that you have never felt before. You just want to say “wow” but you don’t want to look foolish. You then look around and see that almost everyone has that same look - all except for Judas. It is then that Jesus and Judas get into it over something and Judas storms out. You ignore it - it’s Judas being Judas. You spend a few more moments at the dinner and then it breaks up. Peter, James and John go off with Jesus and you decide to take a walk through the dark, quiet streets of Jerusalem. But, you can’t help but ponder what exactly Jesus meant by his body being given up for you and his blood being shed for you. You resolve to ask him about it in the morning.
