Include praying your Rosary in your to-do list.



Mother of Christ
Pray For Us.

THIRTEENTH ROSE: THE OUR FATHER, PART 2

EACH WORD of the Lord’s Prayer is a tribute we pay to the perfections of God. We honor His fertility by the name of Father:

FATHER,

Thou

Who throughout eternity

Dost beget a Son

Who is God like Thee—

Eternal, consubstantial with Thee

WHO Is the very same essence As Thee;

And is of like power

And goodness

And wisdom

As Thou art . . .

Father and Son

Who from Thy mutual love

Produce the Holy Spirit

Who is God like unto Thee;

Three Persons But one GOD.

Our Father—this means that He is the Father of mankind because He has created us and continues to sustain us, and because He has redeemed us. He is also the merciful Father of sinners, the Father Who is the friend of the just and the glorious Father of the blessed in Heaven.

When we say Who art, by these words we pay tribute to the infinity and immensity and fullness of God’s essence. God is rightly called “He Who is’’13; that is to say, He exists of necessity, essentially, and eternally, because He is the Being of beings and the cause of all beings. He possesses within Himself, in a supereminent degree, the perfections of all beings and He is in all of them by His essence, by His presence and by His power, but without being bounded by their limitations. We honor His sublimity and His glory and His majesty by the words Who art in Heaven, that is to say, “Who is seated as on a throne, holding sway over all men by Thy justice.”

When we say hallowed be Thy name we worship God’s holiness; and we make obeisance to His Kingship and bow to the justice of His laws by the words Thy Kingdom come, praying that men will obey Him on earth as the Angels do in Heaven.

We show our trust in His Providence by asking for our daily bread, and we appeal to His mercy when we ask for the forgiveness of our sins.

We look to His great power when we beg Him not to lead us into temptation, and we show our faith in His goodness by our hope that He will deliver us from evil.

The Son of God has always glorified His Father by His works and He came into the world to teach men to give glory to Him. He showed men how to praise Him by this prayer which He taught us with His Own lips. It is our duty, therefore, to say it often—we should say it reverently and attentively and in the spirit in which Our Lord taught it.


From Secret of the Rosary by St Louis De Montfort

Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood.


St. Louis De Montfort

FOURTEENTH ROSE: THE OUR FATHER, PART 3

WE MAKE as many acts of the noblest Christian virtues as we pronounce words, when we recite attentively this Divine Prayer.

In saying “Our Father Who art in Heaven,” we make acts of faith, adoration and humility. When we ask that His name be hallowed and glorified we show a burning zeal for His glory, and when we ask for the spread of His Kingdom we make an act of hope; by the wish that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, we show a spirit of perfect obedience.

In asking for our daily bread we practise poverty of spirit and detachment from worldly goods. When we beg Him to forgive us our sins we make an act of sorrow for them. By forgiving those who have trespassed against us we give proof of the virtue of mercy in its highest degree.

Through asking God’s help in all our temptations, we make acts of humility, prudence and fortitude. As we wait for Him to deliver us from evil we exercise the virtue of patience.

Finally, while asking for all these things—not for ourselves alone but also for our neighbor and for all members of the Church—we are carrying out our duty as true children of God, we are imitating Him in His love which embraces all men and we are keeping the Commandment of love of neighbor.

If we mean in our hearts what we say with our lips and if our intentions are not at variance with those expressed in the Lord’s Prayer, then, by reciting this prayer, we hate all sin and we observe all of God’s laws. For whenever we think that God is in Heaven—infinitely removed from us by the greatness of His majesty—as we place ourselves in His presence we should be filled with overwhelming reverence. Then the fear of the Lord will chase away all pride and we will bow down before God in our utter nothingness.

When we say the name Father and remember that we owe our existence to God by the means of our parents and even our knowledge to our teachers who hold the place and are the living images of God, then we cannot help paying them honor and respect, or, to be more exact, honoring God in them. Nothing then, too, would be farther from our thoughts than to be disrespectful to them or hurt them.

We are never farther from blaspheming than when we pray that the Holy Name of God may be glorified. If we really look upon the Kingdom of God as our heritage we cannot possibly be attached to the things of this world.

If we sincerely ask God that our neighbor may have the very same blessings that we ourselves stand in need of, it goes without saying that we will give up all hatred, quarreling and jealousy. And of course if we ask God each day for our daily bread we shall learn to hate gluttony and lasciviousness which thrive in rich surroundings.

While sincerely asking God to forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us we no longer give way to anger and thoughts of getting even—we return good for evil and really love our enemies.

To ask God to save us from falling into sin when we are tempted is to give proof that we are fighting laziness and that we are genuinely seeking means to root out vicious habits and to work out our salvation.

To pray God to deliver us from evil is to fear His justice and this will give us true happiness. For since the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, it is through the virtue of the fear of God that men avoid sin.

You can pray your Rosary everyday, it is possible.

Put more effort and ask our mother to help you.

No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary.


Bishop Hugh Doyle.

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES


III. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM BY JESUS


Prophesied

Deuteronomy 18:17-19 The LORD said to Moses, “This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. If any man will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.”


Prefigured

Deuteronomy 30:15-16,19-20; 31:1 “I have today set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, … loving him and walking in his ways, … your God will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. … Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.” … Moses had finished.


John 3:5,22
1) “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” … After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing.


Mark 1:14-15
2) After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”


Luke 12:31-33
3) “Seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides. Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms.”


Luke 13:29
4) “You will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. … People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.”


Luke 17:20-21
5) “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, … ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”


Matt. 5:3,10
6) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. … Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”


Matt. 7:20-21
7) “By their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”


Matt. 10:5,7-8
Jesus sent out the 12. … “Make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”



Matt. 16:17-19
9) “Blessed are you, Simon. … I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. … I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.”



Matt. 18:3-4
10) “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Remember to pray your Rosary today

I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his feet.


John Locke.

Pray the Rosary

Preach the Rosary!

The past is always with us, in the form of our photographs, which we feel as we might a rosary, wearing them smooth with the fingering of our eyes.

A.D.Coleman

Glory to Jesus


Honor to Mary.

The Rosary is a school for learning true Christian perfection.


Pope Saint John XXIII

Remember to pray your Rosary today.

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES IV.


THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS ON THE MOUNTAIN


Prophesied Isaiah 9:1,5-6

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. … A son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over his kingdom which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.


Prefigured Exodus 34:30,34

When Aaron, then, and the other Israelites saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him. … Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him, … the Israelites would see that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant.



Luke 9:28-29
1) Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance.



Matt. 17:2
2) He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.


Luke 9:30-31
3) Behold, 2 men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.



Luke 9:32
4) Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the 2 men standing with him.


Luke 9:33
5) As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master it is good that we are here; let us make 3 tents, 1 for you, 1 for Moses, and 1 for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.


Luke 9:34
6) While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.


Matt 17:5
7) Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”


Matt 17:6-8
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.



Mark 9:9-10
9) Coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.



Matt. 17:10-13
10) The disciples asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” … “I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him.” … Then they understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

What will your excuse be today, for not praying your Rosary?

Quite long oh

Pray your Rosary today.

Good Friday

i want to thank the op on his/her time. I dont knw if it is a boy or girl because am using a small phone. I cant view something on this platform. Thanks for ur time on this topic.
i knw we have many difference devotions/devotee to our lady, the like of:
pertetual help
legion of mary
block rosary crusade etc
i am a block rosarian and appriciate how u people handle those that wanted to distract our people here, thanks a lot.
i was not able to commet or qoute people do to the type of phone am using.
there is someone here shouting preaching about tungue, for catholics if u realy want to know how appostles spoke in tungue after the coming of the holy spirit read act 2:4-11. They were talking that is preaching in their own mother language not even praying but preaching and the forigners were understanding what they were talking so people shld nt deceive us again.
I am
looking for a devotee of BVM to marry, & if u feel like to hv a rosarian as a friend just search on facebook ifeanyi ugwu fecoson and add me up.

If you want (profound) peace in your life, I would seriously recommend that you pray the rosary.

It has been said that you will have to choose between praying the rosary and living a life of sin; it is true. This has been my very experience. You can't pray the rosary and live a life of sin, the two are incompatible.

The rosary is the life of Jesus on a string, It is living and breathing scripture. It is truly a weapon against worldliness and vice.

Its masterstroke is its deceptive simplicity. It is easy to overlook, get talked down and over.

Its promises are cast in stone. My mother during her life was was an ardent rosary advocate. Towards her demise she was very ill and in a coma. When the priest was sent for and he arrived, my mother came out of coma and received the Eucharist and then went back into coma; and then slept in the Lord a few minutes later.

A lot of people like to put God in a box, but a box does not define God. God is God and His mercies endures forever.

Like the OP has said, please pray your FULL rosary everyday. Pray all 4 groups of the mysteries Daily.

Dedicate time to meditate on the events in the life of Jesus (mysteries) in between each decade, apply the lessons to your own life.

ALL my prayer requests that I have tabled before God while praying the rosary has been answered. God The Father honors His Daughter, God the Holy Spirit honors His Spouse and God the Son honors His Mother.

Glory be the the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Nuttella:
Eveyboy can pray in tongues, Send me a pm let me put you through, I was once a catholic like you, but from our conversation, you don't understand the meaning of the introduction of the rosary you have been praying, you have the holy spirit inside of you, but you don't know how to use the gift that is in you. I will gladly help you learn how to speak in tongues so that you can pray for upto 3hours non stop. I bet you can't pray upto 1hour with your normal language, rosary is 20mins give or take.

Also join charismatic, they will help brush your prayer life up. Dont be praying only rosary. Rosary will not help you in spiritual warfare. You need to be speaking in tongues so that demons will runaway when you are blasting in prayers.

Think about it ma.

I appreciate your enthusiasm on speaking in tongues for 3hours non-stop. A full rosary should take about 1 hour 40 mins to pray. Some take longer. I know of some people who pray their full rosary about 3-7 times daily. This is not a contest about devotions, but I just wanted to point out that the rosary can be said multiple times in a 24 hour period non-stop.

midastouch:


I appreciate your enthusiasm on speaking in tongues for 3hours non-stop. A full rosary should take about 1 hour 40 mins to pray. Some take longer. I know of some people who pray their full rosary about 3-7 times daily. This is not a contest about devotions, but I just wanted to point out that the rosary can be said multiple times in a 24 hour period non-stop.

Praying in the holy ghost is one of the gifts of the holy spirit. Praying rosary is not one of them.

midastouch:
If you want (profound) peace in your life, I would seriously recommend that you pray the rosary.

It has been said that you will have to choose between praying the rosary and living a life of sin; it is true. This has been my very experience. You can't pray the rosary and live a life of sin, the two are incompatible.

The rosary is the life of Jesus on a string, It is living and breathing scripture. It is truly a weapon against worldliness and vice.

Its masterstroke is its deceptive simplicity. It is easy to overlook, get talked down and over.

Its promises are cast in stone. My mother during her life was was an ardent rosary advocate. Towards her demise she was very ill and in a coma. When the priest was sent for and he arrived, my mother came out of coma and received the Eucharist and then went back into coma; and then slept in the Lord a few minutes later.

A lot of people like to put God in a box, but a box does not define God. God is God and His mercies endures forever.

Like the OP has said, please pray your FULL rosary everyday. Pray all 4 groups of the mysteries Daily.

Dedicate time to meditate on the events in the life of Jesus (mysteries) in between each decade, apply the lessons to your own life.

ALL my prayer requests that I have tabled before God while praying the rosary has been answered. God The Father honors His Daughter, God the Holy Spirit honors His Spouse and God the Son honors His Mother.

Glory be the the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.

I love your second to last paragraph.
We were brought up with the Holy Rosary, and I can boldly testify to the great benefits of praying this daily.

May God forgive you all who try to deprive others of this amazing benefits without even understanding the mystery yourselves. May HE also help you see the light.

I love you Mother Mary. Please continue interceding for me

Having made the above comment, I'm being led to write also and testify about the Novena 'Our Lady Undoer of knots'.

Do you feel the pressures on you are too much? My dear, someone can help you undo it. Yes, I am talking about our Lady! She has done it for me and my family, so I am very certain of what I'm saying.

Whatelse? If you feel too tired to pray the Holy Rosary, you can still make the Novena which contains the Rosary in it. Atleast you won't get to miss a day without the Rosary since Novenas are usually an unbroken chain of nine days.

FECOSON:
i want to thank the op on his/her time. I dont knw if it is a boy or girl because am using a small phone. I cant view something on this platform. Thanks for ur time on this topic.

You're welcome.
Anything for our Mother Mary!

We will like to see you more often and may our Lady obtain for you the grace to find a wife who will be everything you want.

midastouch:
If you want (profound) peace in your life, I would seriously recommend that you pray the rosary.

It has been said that you will have to choose between praying the rosary and living a life of sin; it is true. This has been my very experience. You can't pray the rosary and live a life of sin, the two are incompatible.

The rosary is the life of Jesus on a string, It is living and breathing scripture. It is truly a weapon against worldliness and vice.

Its masterstroke is its deceptive simplicity. It is easy to overlook, get talked down and over.

Its promises are cast in stone. My mother during her life was was an ardent rosary advocate. Towards her demise she was very ill and in a coma. When the priest was sent for and he arrived, my mother came out of coma and received the Eucharist and then went back into coma; and then slept in the Lord a few minutes later.

A lot of people like to put God in a box, but a box does not define God. God is God and His mercies endures forever.

Like the OP has said, please pray your FULL rosary everyday. Pray all 4 groups of the mysteries Daily.

Dedicate time to meditate on the events in the life of Jesus (mysteries) in between each decade, apply the lessons to your own life.

ALL my prayer requests that I have tabled before God while praying the rosary has been answered. God The Father honors His Daughter, God the Holy Spirit honors His Spouse and God the Son honors His Mother.

Glory be the the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.

I am so happy to see devotees of the rosary. Thank you for sharing, I am so happy.
We want to see you more often

Doree:


I love your second to last paragraph.
We were brought up with the Holy Rosary, and I can boldly testify to the great benefits of praying this daily.

May God forgive you all who try to deprive others of this amazing benefits without even understanding the mystery yourselves. May HE also help you see the light.

I love you Mother Mary. Please continue interceding for me

May be one day you'll share these benefits with us and for those who have lost faith in the Rosary

Turn away from rosary and the worship of the fallen angel called the queen of heaven. Mary the one that God used to come to the earth bodily is not the queen of God's heaven. There is no queen in heaven. The title of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ ended on Earth. What the Roman Catholic is doing in the name of honor is a massive deception of Satan to drag billions to hell. Are you not aware that God's glory can't be shared with mortals. Repent, repent, repent.. Only Jesus Christ is the way. Don't say you were not informed!!!

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES V.


THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST AT THE LAST PASSOVER OF JESUS


Prophesied Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. … It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers. … They broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master. … I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God. … I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.


Prefigured Genesis 14:18-20

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.


Luke 22:8,14-5

1) Jesus sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” … He took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”


Luke 22:19
2) He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”


Matt. 26:27-28
3) Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”


Luke 22:27-30
4) “I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, … that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.”


Luke 22:31-34
5) “Simon, Simon, … I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers. … I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny 3 times that you know me.”



John 14:6-7
6) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”



John 14:26-27
7) “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. … Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”



John 15:5,9
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. … As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love; … keep my commandments.”



John 15:12-14
9) “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”



John 17:1-2,20-21
10) “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, … so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. … I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one … in us.”

Nuttella:
Praying in the holy ghost is one of the gifts of the holy spirit. Praying rosary is not one of them.

You are quite right. I also know someone who speaks in tongues while praying her rosary. I have also read of others. The Holy Spirit gives His gifts to who He pleases.

Mystery9:
Turn away from rosary and the worship of the fallen angel called the queen of heaven. Mary the one that God used to come to the earth bodily is not the queen of God's heaven. There is no queen in heaven. The title of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ ended on Earth. What the Roman Catholic is doing in the name of honor is a massive deception of Satan to drag billions to hell. Are you not aware that God's glory can't be shared with mortals. Repent, repent, repent.. Only Jesus Christ is the way. Don't say you were not informed!!!

The scripture asked that we test the spirits.

If the fruits of "showing devotion to the Saints (people who were friends of Jesus during their exceptional and exemplary life on earth)", chief among whom is the Mother of Jesus; bears good fruits like: Faith in God, Love of God, abhorrence of sin, including others like: (denial of self, aspiration to heavenly virtues, avoidance of sin, love of Neighbor); then I will do it.

We were instructed to Love God with all our might, heart, soul and strength; and also to Love our neighbor as ourself.

A kingdom divided against itself will fall!

motherofperpetu:
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

IV. THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE


Prophesied Malachi 3:1-3 Suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? … He will purify the sons of Levi … that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.


Prefigured 1 Samuel 1:24-25,28 Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her … and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother approached Eli and said, … “Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”



Luke 2:21
1) When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


Luke 2:22-24
2) When the days were completed for their purificaton according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, … and to offer the sacrifice.


Luke 2:25-26
3) [Simeon] 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.


Luke 2:27-28
4) [Simeon] 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.


Luke 2:29-32
5) “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, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”


Luke 2:33-34
6) 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.”


Luke 2:34-35
7) “[He is] 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.”


Luke 2:36-38
There was also a prophetess, Anna. …. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. … She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.


Luke 2:39
9) When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.


Luke 2:40
10) The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

When a Sword Pierces Your Soul


Article by
Jon Bloom
Staff writer, desiringGod.org

Simeon had a painful message for Mary. But she discovered that for those who trust God, he uses soul-piercing events to unleash more grace, salvation, and joy into the world than we could have ever imagined.

It was mid-morning when Joseph and Mary and their infant son entered Jerusalem’s Fountain Gate at the city’s southern tip. They passed the pool of Siloam where the disabled and diseased hoped for a healing stir of the water. They walked northwest up the street that led to the Temple Mount. It bustled with the rattle and hum of morning chores and commerce.

It had been forty days since Mary had birthed her boy. Under the Jewish law, this had made her unclean and required a purification sacrifice on the fortieth day. She and Joseph had made the nearly ten-mile trek from Bethlehem the previous day, camping with a few others a half-mile or so outside the holy city.

Outside the temple complex Joseph bartered with merchants for two turtledoves. The inflated prices angered him. Profiting from purification! He also felt shame that he couldn’t afford a lamb. Doves were a poor man’s sacrifice. He was barely eking out a living in Bethlehem, taking whatever odd job he could find.

Mary watched Joseph return with the cloth bag, its erratic movements divulging an inner turmoil. Sorrow flashed through her. She always recoiled at the sacrifices: the struggle, the fear, the violence, the blood — innocent life killed because of another’s guilt. These two frightened creatures would soon die to make her clean. She held Jesus tighter.

They entered the complex and made their way across the noisy Court of the Gentiles toward the Eastern Gate of the inner wall. Hundreds were praying, men with covered and women with uncovered heads.

Suddenly, in front of them, an old man appeared. “Let me see the child!” He sounded almost distressed. Joseph stepped up and shielded his wife. The man looked up at Joseph first confused and then smiled. Taking Joseph’s prohibiting hand in both of his, he patted it and said, “I’m sorry, my son. You must forgive old Simeon. Please don’t be afraid. Your child is in no danger from me. I’ve just been waiting for him so long.”

Mary knew immediately that he knew. The old man looked to her and gently asked, “May I see your son?” Mary smiled and nodded. Joseph stepped back. The man moved near and looked in awe at the child. Barely audible he muttered, “The salvation of Israel. The glory of Israel.”

Without taking his eyes off Jesus, he asked, “May I hold him?” Mary felt no fear as she placed Jesus into Simeon’s arms. He gently rocked him and mouthed silent praise with tears streaming. Mary glanced at Joseph who was wordless too.

Then the old man broke into a half sobbing prayer, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:29–32).

Mary again felt the shivering wonder that her baby, this one she nursed and changed and bathed and cradled, was “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Simeon, still gazing adoringly at the child, said, “Years ago the Lord promised me that death would not come until I had seen his Christ. Today, I opened my eyes while praying and there you were — an infant! I had never thought you would be an infant!” Looking to Joseph with laughing eyes, he said, “One never thinks of the Christ as an infant!”

With a kiss of blessing Simeon softly placed Jesus back in his mother’s arms. He dried his eyes with a sleeve and turned to Joseph, laying a hand on his shoulder, and said, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34–35).

Then turning back to Mary, he gently cupped her head with his hands and said tearfully, “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:35). He kissed her forehead and with one last look at the child, he moved away slowly through the crowd.