EPISODE 1 – THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
FEATURING PRAYERS BY POPE FRANCIS

Presented by Brother Patrick

In communion with Pope Francis and in solidarity with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we offer this Holy Rosary for peace in places known and unknown, for peace in this nation and between all nations, and for peace in our hearts, homes, and hometowns. We begin in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

The First Joyful Mystery — The Annunciation

From the Gospel of Luke (1:28)

The Angel Gabriel came to Mary and said:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”

From a Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis

Holy Mary, look at us! We stand before you.
You are our Mother and you know our hurts and our struggles.
Queen of Peace, you suffer with us and for us,
as you see so many of your children suffering
from the conflicts and wars that are tearing our world apart.

Blessed Mother, in this dark hour, we look to you,
and in the light of your countenance,
we entrust ourselves and our problems to your maternal heart,
which knows and our fears and anxieties.

How great was your concern
when there was no place for Jesus at the inn!
How great was your fear
when you fled in haste to Egypt because Herod sought to kill him.
How great was your anguish before you found him in the temple.

Yet, in the midst of these trials,
you showed us your strength, you acted boldly;
you trusted in God and responded to concern with tender care,
to fear with love, to anguish with acceptance.

The Second Joyful Mystery — The Visitation

From the Gospel of Luke (1:46-48)

Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day, all generations will call me blessed.”

From a Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis

Blessed Mother, you did not step back.
At decisive moments, you always took initiative:
with haste you visited Elizabeth;
at the wedding feast of Cana, you prompted our Lord’s first miracle;
in the Upper Room, you kept the disciples united.

And when, on Calvary, a sword pierced your heart,
by your humility and strength,
you kept alive the hope of Easter through the night of sorrow.

Blessed Mother, once more take the initiative for us,
in these times torn by conflict and laid waste by the fire of arms.

Turn your eyes of mercy toward our human family,
which has strayed from the path of peace,
has preferred Cain to Abel,
and has lost the ability to see each other
as brothers and sisters dwelling in a common home.

Intercede for our world, in turmoil and great danger.
Teach us to cherish and care for life,
each and every human life,
and to repudiate the folly of war,
which sows death and threatens our future.

The Third Joyful Mystery — The Birth of Jesus

From the Gospel of Luke (2:10-11)

The angel said to the shepherds: “Be not afraid!
I bring good news of great joy for all people:
to you is born this day a savior who is Christ the Lord.”

From a Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis

Holy Mary, how many times have you come,
urging prayer and repentance.
But caught up in our own needs
and distracted by the things of this world,
we have turned a deaf ear to your appeals.

Blessed Mother, in your love for us, you never abandon us.
Lead us by the hand and bring us to conversion.
Help us once again to put God first.
Help us to preserve unity in the Church
and to be artisans of communion in our world.

Make us realize once more the importance of the role we play.
Strengthen our sense of responsibility for the cause of peace
as men and women called to pray, worship,
intercede, and make reparation for the whole human race.

By ourselves, we cannot succeed.
Without your Son, we can do nothing.
But you bring us back to Jesus, who is our peace.
Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother,
we come before you and we seek refuge in your Immaculate Heart.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery — The Presentation

From the Gospel of Luke (2:27-29)

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple
and took the child Jesus up in his arms.
He blessed God and said:
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace
according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation.”

From a Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis

Mother of Mercy, we appeal for mercy!
Queen of Peace, we appeal for peace!
Touch the hearts of those imprisoned by hatred.
Convert those who cause and provoke conflict.

Dry the tears of the countless children who weep.
Be present to those who are elderly and alone.
Strengthen the wounded and the sick.
Protect those forced to leave their lands and their loved ones.
Console the crestfallen. Awaken new hope.

To you we entrust and consecrate our lives
and every fiber of our being:
all that we possess and all that we are forever.

To you we consecrate the Church,
so that in her witness to the love of Jesus before the world,
she may be a sign of harmony and an instrument of peace.

To you we consecrate our world,
to you we consecrate especially those countries and regions at war.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery — The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

From the Gospel of Luke (2:46-47)

After three days, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple,
sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking questions.
And all who heard him were amazed by his understanding and his answers.

From a Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis

Blessed Mother,
your faithful people call you the dawn of salvation.
Grant that glimmers of light may illumine the dark night of conflict.

Dwelling place of the Holy Spirit,
inspire the leaders of nations to seek paths of peace.

Queen of all peoples, reconcile your children,
seduced by evil, blinded by power and hate.

You who are close to all, shorten our distances.
You who have compassion on everyone,
teach us to care for one another.
You who reveal the Lord’s tender love,
make us witnesses of his peace and consolation.

Mary, Queen of Peace,
pour forth into our hearts God’s gift of harmony. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn most gracious Advocate
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary:
pray for us, O Most Holy Mother of God,
that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

A Final Plea for Peace by Pope Francis

Let us together cry out from our hearts:
Never again war, never again the clash of arms,
never again so much suffering!
We must never stop praying.
Indeed, we must pray to God more intensely.
Come, Lord, Prince of Peace,
make us instruments and reflections
of your peace in our world. Amen.

Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

A ROSARY FOR PEACE

• Rosary for Peace – Joyful Mysteries
• Rosary for Peace – Sorrowful Mysteries
• Rosary for Peace – Glorious Mysteries
• Rosary for Peace – Luminous Mysteries

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

Art Credit: Puwadol Jaturawutthichai – Photo 34757428 – Dreamstime.com

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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