October 13 - The Living Rosary, meditating on the great Personalities evoked in the Mysteries
The second method of reciting the Living Rosary inspired by Saint Ignatius of Loyola is to meditate on the greatness of the personalities invoked. It is type of a contemplation. In each Mystery of Our Lord there are persons, words and actions; considering these people, listening to these words, carefully observing these actions, so as to make the mystery present and profitable, as far as possible, is what is called contemplating. (Pauline Jaricot, Le Rosaire vivant, op. Cit., p. 96) Suppose that we have formed an important project or that someone has hurt us during a meeting or discussion, or that we were congratulated after a success. We imagine the people who can help us achieve our project, those who might impede its realization, those who will tell me that I deserve praise, applause and esteem, but also those who will simply show flattering and delicate compliments. ... I can imagine my feeling of pain and pleasure, how my heart rejoices or experiences irritation or the pleasure that comes with experiencing friendship, of being supported, or, on the contrary, the feeling of revenge that can assault me… (See Pauline Jaricot, Le Rosaire vivant, op. Cit., p. 97) We can rely on the Mystery of the Annunciation and that of the Flagellation. It is above all a matter of meditating on the greatness of the people to whom we speak in order to become more aware of our limits - Pauline speaks of unworthiness - and of the importance of the salvation that is offered to us.
By reflecting on the Mystery of the Annunciation, we come into the presence of the Word made flesh, of Mary, of the Archangel Gabriel. We can highlight their greatness and their holiness in contrast to our littleness, our imperfections, our sinfulness and our reluctance to go forward on the path of holiness. …I then said, Pater, My Father - reciting the Lord’s Prayer – I am not able myself to glorify your name in a way which is agreeable to you, receive the glory with which the Incarnate Word honors you and She who calls herself your Handmaid, although exalted. to the rank of Mother of God! May my heart, finally and the hearts of all men, so long rebellious, so long distant from you, submit, come closer, conquered by the prodigious love that your Son shows us in his Incarnation… (Pauline Jaricot, Le Rosaire alive, op. Cit., p. 87-88)
Meditation can also highlight the will of God that Pauline presents as so good, so holy and infinitely preferable to mine; to mine, alas!, which in spite of its corruption and its malice, and by the most glaring of iniquities, I have so often preferred to yours. Lord, forgive me, since I find such sweet assurance in this mystery. (Pauline Jaricot, The Living Rosary, op. Cit., p. 88).
By meditating on give us this day our daily bread, we can think of the Bread of Life, of the Eucharist, of the humiliation of the Lord Jesus, of the "price paid" for our salvation. The link can be made with the request for forgiveness: forgive me my offences. It is also possible to think of the infinite love of God, manifested in the Man-God, and that each Christian can feel at different times in his life.
Meditating on the mystery of the Flagellation is an opportunity to think about the sufferings endured by Jesus during his passion but also the pains of his Mother in the face of so much cruelty and desolation. The whips make the blood of the Son of Mary flow. How can one not think of Mary's tears when she perceives the way in which her son is being treated? He is no longer the infant in the manger, this Jesus caressing you with his divine hands, intoxicating you with his consolations, and making the rays of his glory shine in your eyes ...; it is Jesus stripped, tied up, beaten with rods, all bathed in his blood ... What did he do? Does he have to go that far to give us hope, forgiveness, salvation? Saying Hail Mary is like mingling her tears with those of the Savior's mother, asking her mercy on behalf of sinners and all violent and wicked people.
Full of grace ... you will hear me, and the pitiful state in which you see your Son put himself to save me, will only move the bowels of your mercy; with me, with Jesus, you will cry out to Heaven: grace, forgiveness; and through you Heaven will send me this remission that I desire. (Pauline Jaricot, The Living Rosary, op. Cit., p. 89). Blessed are you ... Are the most painful pains blessings? Are we children of tears and blood. Must tears be shed for salvation to be acquired, received? Do we need blood to cleans, purify and regenerate the sinner so that he or she may be covered with heavenly blessings? The more, therefore, Jesus and Mary attracted me, by their passion, mercy and graces, the more I must bless them, the more they must appear to me instruments, sources of blessings. (Pauline Jaricot, The Living Rosary, op. Cit., p. 90).
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. …For if for a moment he must go through suffering, through whippings and humiliations, the day will come when he will enter, when he will rest in an infinite, eternal glory. Then for the blasphemies and curses of the impious, he will receive the praises, tributes and blessings of all heaven. His name will be exalted above all names; then yours, O my Mother, because as much as you approached him in the day of his abasement, so much will Jesus bring you nearer to him in the eternity of his glory. (Pauline Jaricot, Le Rosaire vivant, op. Cit., p. 90). Is holiness linked to sharing so much pain of people confronted with human violence? Does holiness require so much generosity and heroism, so much constancy and fidelity in following Jesus, wherever he goes, especially among those who suffer? Pray for us... You are as good as you are merciful, that we have been wicked; we are still wretched. Pray for us now, that we may be more faithful in giving the Lord and you the glory of a just thanksgiving. May we be confident, calm and full of hope at the hour of our death. So be it.