Christmas + Advent Rosary Meditations→
/Pray a Family Rosary during Advent and Christmas
A tradition that has continued in our family is to pray a daily rosary during Advent. The joyful mysteries are especially helpful as we prepare and wait for Jesus. And on Christmas day for every bead (there are 53) we go around in a circle and thank God for our special blessings that have happened to us through out the year. What kids say is often very beautiful and you may even want to record it in a memory book. Celebrating Jesus’ birthday by praying the rosary is a great present for the King of Heaven and Earth.
Advent Meditations for each Joyful Mystery of the Rosary:
Joyful Mysteries:
I. The Annunciation: the Angel Gabriel announces the incarnation to Mary
Scripture: Luke 1:28-35, 38 – And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to 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, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And 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. … Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
During this first mystery we pray for the courage to say yes to the will of God and bring Christ’s light this Advent season.
Explanation for kids: Mary says yes to God without knowing what will happen. Her yes was an act of humility and true courage. Mary shows us how to place our trust in God’s plan, not our own.
II. The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth
Scripture: Luke 1:39-48 – During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “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? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.”
Mary, our intercessor to Jesus, give us the grace during this season to have a good heart towards everyone.
Explanation for kids: the love of God and the love of neighbor are the same; the one brings on, sustains and requires the other. When we say “I love God,” we must also love our neighbor. The way we treat others is the way to love God. Mary will bring Jesus to us and to others if we ask her.
III. The Nativity: Jesus is born in Bethlehem
Scripture: Luke 2:6-14 – While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not 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.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will.”
During this third mystery we pray for the grace to detach our hearts from material things and to be more focused on spreading love and compassion in our families.
Explanation for kids: Imagine being an all-powerful God – and limiting yourself to the abilities of a baby. That’s love. And because of His great love, he redeemed us from the bondage of sin. Let’s make Jesus the reason for our every day. With Jesus, we can love all, putting ourselves out there to be kind and to help others.
IV. The Presentation in the temple: Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the temple.
Scripture: Luke 2:25-35 – Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “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, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
During the fourth mystery we pray for God’s blessing to guide our hearts to carry out the light of Christ.
Explanation for kids: Simeon’s faith allowed him to recognize Christ and his trust in God sustained him. Joseph’s offering was a poor man’s alternative to a lamb. God wants us to sacrifice even in small things, too.
V: Finding Jesus in the Temple: After searching for Jesus for three days, Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the temple.
Scripture: Luke 2:41-51 – Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
During this fifth and final mystery, we pray for the grace to see and witness God’s kindness and mercy, even if we get lost. Give us the heart to find Christ.
Explanation for kids: There will be times when we will feel lost or God is not with us, but He is always present. He is always with us. It is often that we need to reflect on our own hearts and silence our own thoughts to hear the voice of God. God promises, “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13)