In the School of Mary

​Kids say the darndest things! And children seeing Religious Sisters in habit for the first time are no exception. We’re heard it all from, “Look at the princess!” to “Is that an angel?” and “Are those elves?” But our favorite is when we hear the kids call out, “Hi Mary!” or “Look at all the Marys!” Because, as Marian Sisters, being Mary to the world is really what we are going for. 

Our Community’s Constitutions state, “In all we say and do, we endeavor to be Mary’s image in the world – her loving heart, her face, her hands and voice— to all our brothers and sisters in Christ.” However, being Mary’s image in the world is not only for Marian Sisters. All of us who profess to be Christians are called to be like Christ in the world, for the word Christian means actually means “little Christ”.  Mary was the most perfect image of Christ, so we can imitate Mary in order to be most like her Son. But how should we imitate Mary? 

One of the principal and most powerful ways the Sisters imitate Mary is by praying the Rosary. In this “School of Mary”, we unite our lives with Jesus and Mary’s life. We join the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries we experience each day with their joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries. And in a real way, we let Jesus and Mary live our lives while we live theirs. We ask for the grace to live like they did in each particular mystery. St. Louis Marie de Montfort’s method of praying the Rosary, which we practice, makes the request of particular graces explicit in each mystery.  We share it below to invite you to ask for these virtues to fill your lives as well. 

Fruits of the Mysteries 

The Joyful Mysteries - prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

1. The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: Profound Humility.
2. The Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Charity toward our Neighbor.
3. The Nativity. Fruit of the Mystery: Detachment from the Things of the World, Contempt of Riches, and Love of Holy Poverty.
4. The Presentation. Fruit of the Mystery: Purity of Body and Soul.
5. The Finding in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: ​True Wisdom. 

The Luminous Mysteries - prayed on Thursdays

1. The Baptism in the Jordan. Fruit of the Mystery: Fidelity.
2. The Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: Obedience to the Will of God.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the Mystery: Conversion of Life.
4. The Transfiguration. Fruit of the Mystery: Attentiveness to God’s Word.
5. The Institution of the Holy Eucharist. Fruit of the Mystery: A Spirit of Profound Adoration. 

The ​Sorrowful Mysteries - prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays

1. The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Contrition for our Sins.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: The Grace of Mortifying our Senses
3. The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt for the Spirit of the World.
4. The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience in Bearing our Crosses.
5. The Crucifixion. Fruit of the Mystery: The Conversion of Sinners, the Perseverance of the Just, and the Relief of the Souls in Purgatory. 

The Glorious Mysteries - prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays

1. The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God and Fervor in Thy Service.
2. The Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: An Ardent Desire for Heaven, our True Home.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Mystery: The Coming of the Holy Spirit into our Souls.
4. The Assumption. Fruit of the Mystery: A Tender Devotion for so Good a Mother.
5. The Coronation. Fruit of the Mystery: ​Perseverance in Grace and a Crown of Glory Hereafter. 

​Virgen del Rosario by ​Domingo Martínez

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