Institution of the Eucharist

In the Fifth Luminous Mystery, we contemplate the Institution of the Eucharist.

From the Gospel of Matthew (26:26-28)
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Commentary by St. Leo the Great
Our participation in the Body and Blood of Christ is intended to transform us into what we receive. However, it is not enough to receive Him; we must make ourselves worthy by abandoning sin and walking the way of the cross.

Meditation 1
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth, warning them that divisions and inequalities within the community were compromising the true meaning of the celebration of the Eucharist and threatening the unity of the Church.

Without the Eucharist, there is no Church, and without the Church, there is no Eucharist. The Eucharist is, above all, the gathering of Christians, this community founded by Jesus and called the Church. As members of the Body of Christ, we Christians celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as He taught us.

If one day the Eucharist ceases to be celebrated, then that day, the Church will cease to exist. Just like an association whose members never gather would disappear, the Church would similarly cease to exist without the celebration of the Eucharist—the living memory of the birth, life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Eucharist is the heart of the Church. In the human body, the heart pumps the blood, sending it to the cells and then receiving it back. Similarly, the life of a Christian is a constant movement between the Eucharist and the world. In the past, at the end of the Latin Mass, the priest would say “Ite missa est,” which meant “you may go, the Mass has ended,” but also implied, “the Mass has ended, now the mission begins”.

Meditation 2
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:24-25) Jesus interpreted His own death as that of a grain of wheat which, to bear fruit, needs to die; one must renounce oneself and understand that one’s life is not for oneself, but for others, in order to serve a greater purpose.

"No one has greater love than the one who lays down his life for his friends," said Jesus. Just as a mother gives her life for her child, in the beginning, the baby's nourishment comes from the mother's body. In Portuguese, the word " mamã " comes from the word “mama” or breast, the source of nourishment; and as the child grows, the first solid food is “papa” or porridge made from the cereals grown by the father, whom the baby learns to call "papa”. 

The food chain is made up of living beings that feed on each other. Life only feeds on life. Living on this planet, we are subject to the laws of nature. Just as we need to “kill” to keep our bodies alive, we need to die to find meaning in life, like that grain of wheat.

In other words, to live a meaningful life, we must spend our lives in the service of something greater than ourselves. Beethoven was nourishment for music, just as Gandhi was for non-violence and Nelson Mandela was for the fight against racism. And what about us? What are we food for?

The Eucharist, in addition to keeping the Church as a community that continues Christ's mission on earth, also contains the meaning of human life. We participate in the Eucharist to become more eucharistic, giving our lives in service and love to others.

Prayer 
Lord Jesus,
You gave us the gift of the Eucharist at the Last Supper,
Your Body and Blood given out of love,
help us to live this living and transforming presence in our daily lives.

May we, as we partake of Your Body,
be transformed into Your image,
renouncing sin and embracing the path of the cross with humility and gratitude.
May we, like the grain of wheat, die to ourselves
so that our lives may bear fruit in love, service, and self-giving to others.

Teach us, Lord,
to be more eucharistic,
becoming instruments of Your peace,
witnesses of Your justice,
and living signs of Your Kingdom in the world.

May we, as we participate in the Eucharist,
be sent on a mission,
bringing Your light and love to everyone we meet,
so that Your Kingdom of fraternity, justice, and peace may grow among us. Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Transfiguration

In the Fourth Luminous Mystery, we contemplate the Transfiguration of Jesus.

From the Gospel of Matthew (17:1-2)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Commentary by St. Augustine
Jesus became as radiant as the sun to indicate that He is the light that illuminates every man; He is the Messiah humanity was waiting for, the one and only Savior, the victor.

Meditation 1
Immersed in an experience of light and meaning that anticipates the Lord’s Resurrection, the disciples receive a new command: “Listen to Him!” To listen and to obey share the same root: it means being attentive, allowing all the senses to know internally and adhere to the Truth that is Jesus.

The Transfiguration of the Lord reflects the moment of Jesus' Baptism, where, just as on Mount Tabor, God speaks, and Jesus’ divine essence is revealed. However, while the Baptism marks the beginning of the Master's public mission, the Transfiguration marks the culmination of His mission, with the confirmation of the Old Testament, represented by Moses and Elijah, testifying that Jesus is fulfilling the ancient prophecies.

The purpose of the Transfiguration was to prepare the apostles, strengthening their faith by bearing witness to Jesus' divine essence, in anticipation of His passion and death as a human being. Despite this extraordinary vision, it was not enough to prevent the disciples' weakness, as shown by Peter's denial and the flight of the other apostles.

Meditation 2
The Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor teaches us a profound spiritual truth: God's grace has the power to transfigure us, revealing our true beauty and dignity in His eyes, while sin disfigures us, distancing us from our essence and obscuring the divine image within us.

In this episode, we see how God's presence can transform us, illuminating us with His glory, just as Christ was illuminated before the apostles. On the other hand, sin prevents that light from shining, distorting our being and distancing us from the fullness of life that God offers us. The Transfiguration thus invites us to allow divine grace to transform us, freeing us from the shadows of sin and leading us to the true light of Christ.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, 
in Your Transfiguration, You showed us Your divine glory, 
the light that illuminates our hearts and calls us to true life.

Grant us the grace to listen to You attentively, 
to adhere to Your Truth with all our being, 
and to be transfigured by Your presence within us.

Transform us, Lord, by Your light, so that, 
freed from the sin that disfigures us, 
we may reflect the beauty of Your image 
in all that we are and do.

When the shadows of weakness envelop us, 
remind us that Your grace is stronger than our sin, 
and that with You, we walk toward the fullness of life.

Strengthen us, as You did the apostles, 
so that, even in trials, we may hold fast to our faith, 
knowing that Your glory awaits us beyond the cross. Amen 

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

The Kingdom of God in the words and miracles of Jesus

In the Third Luminous Mystery, we contemplate the Kingdom of God in the words and miracles of Jesus.

From the Gospel of Luke (11:20)
If it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Commentary by Chromatius of Aquileia:
The Teacher of life and the heavenly Physician, Christ the Lord, came for this very purpose: to instruct men with His teachings and to heal the ills of body and soul with divine medicine.

Meditation 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (…) All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (…) And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4, 14)

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word of the Father who became incarnate in human time and space. Besides being the incarnation of the Word, Jesus proclaimed words of life throughout His public life, especially in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel, which summarizes His doctrine and is considered the Magna Carta of Christianity.

In the words of Jesus, the heart of the Kingdom of God is revealed: a kingdom of justice, love, mercy, and truth. He came to announce that this Kingdom is already among us, manifested in His person, His teachings, and His actions. Every word of Jesus, from the Beatitudes to the parables, outlines the way to live in this Kingdom.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). By this, He is not referring to a distant or a future kingdom but to a present reality accessible to all those who live according to the principles of humility, compassion, and justice.

Meditation 2
For man as an individual being, Jesus presents Himself as the only standard of humanity, the one we must measure ourselves against in order to be truly human, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

For man as a social being and for society in general, He introduces the Kingdom of God as a social project—a more just, fraternal, inclusive, and peaceful society, or as it is defined in the Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.


The Kingdom of God has already been among us from the moment Christ entered human history. However, it is not yet present in its fullness. It is up to us, as the Church, to continue expanding the Kingdom of God until Christ is all in all. In this sense, the Church is to the world as yeast is to dough, transforming this world into the Kingdom of God.

The miracles are the first signs of the Kingdom of God—a new order where health, justice, and peace prevail. They manifest the reality of the Kingdom, where there is no pain, suffering, or death. By healing the sick, raising the dead, and performing other wonders, Jesus reveals what the Kingdom of God represents for humanity.

Prayer
Lord God,
You who sent Your Son, Jesus Christ,
as the Word made flesh,
we thank You for the revelation of Your Kingdom among us.

May the miracles He performed
remind us of Your infinite mercy
and Your desire to heal and restore each of us
both in body and soul.
May we see in every act of love and compassion
the manifestation of the Kingdom that is already present among us.

Help us, Lord, to live according to the principles of Your Kingdom,
embracing humility, justice, and peace.
May the Beatitudes that Jesus proclaimed
be the light that guides our steps, and may our lives
reflect the grace and truth that only He can give.

Inspire us to be the yeast in the dough,
promoting transformation in our communities and in the world,
so that all may come to know Your love and Your will.

Lord, may Your Church be a visible sign of Your Kingdom,
a place where all are welcomed, and where justice and fraternity can flourish.

We trust in You, for we know that with Your help
we can be instruments of peace and love.
May Your will be done on earth as it is already done in heaven. Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

The Wedding at Cana

In the Second Luminous Mystery, we contemplate the Wedding at Cana.

From the Gospel of John (2:1-5)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’

Commentary by Faustus of Riez, a 5th century bishop:
In Galilee, through the works of Christ, water is transformed into wine; the law disappears and grace emerges; the shadow dissipates, and reality appears; material things are confronted with spiritual ones; the old observance gives way to the New Testament.

Meditation 1
At the wedding at Cana, Jesus performs the first transubstantiation by changing the substance of water into the substance of wine, foreshadowing the other transubstantiation where He will change the substance of wine into the substance of His Blood.

The miracle at Cana is a figure and symbol of what takes place daily on our altars. There is an admirable connection between the first miracle, which initiates His ministry, and the one that concludes it: the Last Supper.

The wine at Cana, which becomes the finest, symbolizes the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus takes the wine and offers it as His Blood, establishing the new covenant. The miracle at Cana anticipates this sacrifice and the reality of the Eucharist, where the wine is transformed into the Blood of Christ, which purifies and redeems us.

Meditation 2
Although Jesus said that His hour had not yet come, His mother did not hesitate to intervene without being asked, on behalf of the couple in distress on their wedding day. She knows our needs in advance, and is ready to present them subtly but vigorously to Her Son: “They have no wine.” In return, she only asks us to “Do whatever He tells you.”

In this passage, Mary reveals herself as the prototype of every believer: attentive to concrete needs, she presents them to Jesus and encourages those around her to put their trust in Him. The Wedding at Cana provides an opportunity to contemplate the Holy God, who graciously accepts our prayers and desires: He is the God of the “opportune time,” who knows how to give each one what is most needed.

At Cana in Galilee, Mary saw a need and sought to resolve it, pushing Jesus into His public ministry when He had not yet planned to start. Jesus, obedient to His Heavenly Father, also obeys His Mother, even as an adult. This obedience is important for us because it establishes Mary, His Mother, as the intercessor of all graces.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
who at the Wedding in Cana turned water into wine,
reveal to us the power of Your presence in our lives.
Just as Your first miracle brought joy and hope,
may we experience the transformation that only You can bring.

Most Blessed Mother,
model of trust and intercession,
teach us to look attentively to the needs of others
and to present them to Your Son with the same trust you had.
Help us to be instruments of peace and joy
in the lives of those around us.

Lord, make us servants attentive to the needs of others,
willing to follow Your will,
to put Your words into practice,
and to live in communion with our brothers and sisters.

May the Eucharist become
the new wine of Your grace in our lives,
purifying and renewing us each day
so that we can reflect Your light in the world. Amen

Fr. Jorge Amaro,  IMC

The Baptism of Jesus

In the First Luminous Mystery, we contemplate the Baptism of Jesus.

From the Gospel of Mark (1:9-11)
In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.'

Commentary by Saint Ambrose:
Only one submerged; when He descended, all humanity descended with Him... Only one took upon Himself the sins of all, so that in Him, the sins of all could be forgiven.

Meditation 1
We know little about Jesus’ life before He began His public ministry. It is unlikely that Jesus started from scratch; it is probable that He was associated with the movement of John the Baptist, which forgave sins with a baptism of water, without the need to offer sacrifices in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Although Jesus was sinless, by undergoing baptism, He identified with sinful humanity. John's baptism was a symbol of repentance, and by being baptized, Jesus demonstrated solidarity with sinners, fully assuming the human condition.

The Son of God in the ranks of sinners! He, like us in everything except sin (Hebrews 4:15), allows Himself to be baptized. In baptism, Jesus reveals to us His way of being: taking on the human condition to the fullest, descending always to reveal to the world His true identity – being God’s much-loved Son.

Meditation 2
After being baptized, Jesus came up out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened. Then, there was an explicit manifestation of the Trinity:

• The Son: Jesus is baptized.
• The Holy Spirit: Descends in the form of a dove, symbolizing Jesus’ anointing for His mission.
• The Father: A voice from heaven declares, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This Trinitarian revelation confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

By being baptized, Jesus expresses full submission to the will of God the Father. He publicly declares that He is ready to fulfill His redemptive mission by accepting the path of suffering and the cross. This obedience will be a constant throughout His life, culminating in His passion and death.

Baptism marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. From this moment on, He begins to preach, perform miracles, and teach about the Kingdom of God. This event inaugurates a new phase in His mission of redemption.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
who humbly submitted Yourself to baptism in the River Jordan,
showing us the way of obedience and love,
help us to follow Your example,
by identifying ourselves with those most in need,
with sinners, and with those who suffer the most.

You, who are the beloved Son of God,
reveal to us, in the silence of our hearts,
our own identity as sons and daughters of God,
and grant us the strength of the Holy Spirit
to live fully the mission
You entrusted to us in our baptism.

May we, like You, descend,
serving and loving with humility,
so that in our surrender,
the heavens may also open
and be revealed to those we touch with love.

Heavenly Father,
In the baptism of your Son, you proclaimed your pleasure,
may we also be a source of joy for You,
through our life of faith, hope, and charity.

May Your will always be our guide,
and may Your Spirit strengthen us
on the journey towards Your promise of eternal life. Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Loss and Encounter

In the Fifth Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the loss and the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple.

From the Gospel of Luke (2:41-47)
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’

Commentary by Symeon the Metaphrast
The Virgin mentions Saint Joseph as an adoptive father, but Jesus takes the opportunity to refer to His true Father, who is God. This passage teaches that Mary’s gaze must rise from earthly things to heavenly ones. By remaining in the temple, Jesus shows that love for God must be stronger than the natural love we feel for our parents.

Meditation 1
“Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This was Jesus’ response to His mother after three anxious days of searching, when she found Him in the temple.

These are the first words of the Incarnate Word recorded in the Gospel. With them, Jesus sums up His person, life, and mission. They reveal His divine filiation and testify to His supernatural mission. Christ’s entire life will be a grand explanation of the meaning of these words.

Saint Luke goes on to tell us that Mary “did not understand what he said to her”. Although she did not grasp the full meaning, Mary knew that Jesus was the Son of God and therefore, she silently submitted herself to the divine will, accepting the sacrifice that her love required.

“Mary kept all these words in her heart,” where, as in a tabernacle, she adored the mystery contained in them, awaiting the light of understanding.

Meditation 2
How many have lost Jesus and do not live as afflicted as they should! Many believe in God’s existence but live as if He did not exist. There are no religious objects or images in their homes, and the thought of God never crosses their minds, let alone the love of God or neighbor. They live for themselves, as if they would never die, and they run the risk of dying without ever having truly lived.

The path to authentic human life is through Jesus, because He is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only those who spread happiness around them are truly happy. Individual happiness is a reflection of good performance in society and personal fulfillment. Those who are not useful to others have no purpose.

A Catholic in name only is someone who has “lost Jesus in the temple”, in other words, has stopped participating in the Sunday Mass. Therefore, the place where he or she has lost Jesus is the place where He can be found again. Without the Eucharist, there is no Church; without the Church, Christ disappears from the face of the earth.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
just as your anxious parents searched for You in the temple,
we too seek Your presence when we feel lost on the path of life.
Help us to remember that the real encounter with You
happens when we turn our hearts to Your house,
to Your Word, and to Your Eucharist.

Give us the grace not to live as if You were far away,
but to recognize You in every moment,
in every gesture of love and service to others.
May our love for You be stronger than any earthly attachment.
May we know how to listen to your voice and follow Your path.

Mary, Blessed Mother,
who kept the words of your Son in the silence of your heart,
teach us to accept God’s will,
even when we do not fully comprehend His plans.
May we, like You, always trust and keep the faith in every circumstance of our lives.

Lord, rekindle in us the desire to seek You always,
and that in finding You, we may be renewed
in the love, peace, and joy that only You can give us.
May we never lose the certainty that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
and that only in You we find true happiness.

Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Presentation

In the Fourth Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple.

From the Gospel of Saint Luke (2:22–32)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord,’ and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons’.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel. (…) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (…) Simeon took the Child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now You are dismissing your in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory for Your people, Israel.’

Commentary by St. Athanasius
The Word, taking upon Himself what was ours, offered it as a sacrifice and destroyed it by His death. Then, He clothed us with His condition.

Meditation 1
Jesus does not break from the ancient traditions, but submits Himself to the laws of the land where He lives and of the people into which He was incarnated as a man. Yet, in obeying or fulfilling these laws, He passes them through His moral conscience, because the law was made for man, not man for the law.

Mary, being the purest of living beings alongside Jesus, also submits to the tradition of ritual purification. When referring to this second part of the mystery, it is necessary to include the word “ritual”, because Mary was always pure, before, during, and after childbirth.

The Son of God subjected Himself to the Law and its precepts! In the life of the Holy Family, respect for the Law is born from the certainty that God is at its foundation. Therefore, the routine fulfillment of what is established, of what is apparently unchangeable, also becomes a place for the revelation of God.

Meditation 2
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is an opportunity for us to contemplate the Holy God, who takes on the rhythm of human beings: He is the God of Love, who reveals Himself in human history without imposing Himself. How much truth and how much revelation of God there is in faithfully fulfilling our daily duties!

Simeon, upon seeing Jesus, recognizes that the Christ, for whom he had been waiting, has arrived, according to God’s promise. He raised his eyes to heaven in gratitude, but also warns Mary that her heart will be pierced. Despite this, Mary continues to trust in God, not knowing what the future holds. May our prayer ask for trust in God’s plan and the patience to wait for it to unfold.

On the day of the Presentation, God received infinitely more glory than in all the sacrifices and holocausts offered in the temple until then. On this day, it is the Son of God himself who is presented to Him, offering the Father an infinite homage of adoration, thanksgiving, atonement, and supplication.

This offering, so pleasing to God, is received from the hands of the Virgin, full of grace. Mary’s faith is perfect. Filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, she has a clear understanding of the value of the offering she is making to God at that moment. The Holy Spirit harmonizes her soul with the inner dispositions of her Divine Son’s heart.

Just as Mary gave her consent on behalf of all humanity when the angel announced to her the mystery of the Incarnation, so on this day she offers Jesus to the Father on behalf of the whole human race. She knows that her Son is “the King of Glory, the new light that came before the dawn, the Master of life and death.”

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You who revealed Your salvation to Simeon in the Temple,
give us eyes to recognize Your presence in the simplicity of daily life
and open our hearts to accept Your will, like Mary and Joseph.

May we, like the Holy Family, live in obedience to Your laws,
but also, with the awareness that the true Law is born from Your Love.
Help us to fulfill our daily duties with joy and faith,
knowing that Your presence and Your will are manifested in them.

Lord, give us the confidence of Mary,
who, even when she heard about the sword that would pierce her heart,
continued to trust in You without hesitation.
May we, like her, offer You the best of ourselves,
knowing that You are the foundation of our hope.

On this day of Presentation,
we remember that Your Son Jesus
offered himself to the Father out of love for all humanity.
May we also, in our lives, be an offering of love and adoration,
bearing witness to Your glory and Your salvation,
a light for all nations.

Amen

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

The BIrth of Jesus

In the Third Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the birth of Jesus.

From the Gospel of John (3:16; 1:14)
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. (...) And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth."

Commentary by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus:
The Son of God became man for love of man. Whoever gives his wealth to others becomes poor. He asks me to give Him my human nature so that He can give me His divine nature.

Meditation 1
God the Creator is incarnate in a creature. For many religions, it seems impossible that God could be incarnate in a human being, just as it seems impossible for the sea to fit into a small puddle of water. If we think only of God's transcendence, yes, it seems impossible, illogical, improbable. However, for God, nothing is impossible.

God is not only transcendent; He is also immanent, already present here and now in the heart of every thing and every person. The expression "God is closer to me than I am to myself" applies to everything; God is at the heart of both material beings and spiritual beings. Therefore, when we think of His immanence, it becomes easier to understand why He took a human form.

God "camped" among us, set up His tent among us, just as He once did when He accompanied His people for 40 years in the desert after liberating them from Egypt. That tent, where Moses met with God in dialogue, representing the people of God, was called the "tent of meeting." Jesus of Nazareth, Emmanuel, "God with us," is the new Tent of Meeting, for in Him, God and man meet. Through Jesus, God comes to man; through Jesus, man goes to God.

Meditation 2
"God became Man so that Man could become God." – St. Irenaeus
As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him (Jesus). Matthew 20:29

Jericho is both the oldest city in the world, with 8,000 years of existence, and the lowest city on Earth, some 500 meters below sea level. In the Bible, Jericho symbolizes sin. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jerusalem represents grace, while Jericho symbolizes sin.

The man who fell among robbers fell into disgrace because he was descending from Jerusalem, 800 meters above sea level, to Jericho. He was traveling from grace to sin; as people say, "He who forgets God lacks all good." To save humanity from sin, Jesus also descends to Jericho, but He does not stay there. He leaves Jericho, and a great crowd follows Him, ascending with Him from the sin of Jericho to the grace of Jerusalem.

The Son of God is born in utter poverty: in unexpected circumstances, without a place, without comfort. To God's poverty, Mary responds with her own poverty: offering the best of herself, enveloping and cradling the fragility of the Infant God, so that He does not lack the most important thing — Love.

The Birth of Jesus is an opportunity to contemplate the Holy God, who gives Himself in weakness: He is the Poor God who always brings out the best in us. How much fragility and powerlessness there is in our lives and in the lives of those around us! How many opportunities we have, like Mary, to offer what we have and to focus on Love! How do I face the difficulties and weaknesses of life? Do I see them as an opportunity to give the best of myself?

Prayer
Lord God,
You sent Your Son to be born among us in humility and poverty.
Grant that, like Mary, we may offer the best of ourselves,
welcoming Your love in every situation of our lives.

Help us to recognize Your presence in fragility and difficulties,
and to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow in Your love.
May we, like Mary, know how to focus on the essential,
offering what we have with generosity and simplicity.

Lord, just as Jesus was born in a humble stable,
make our hearts a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
full of peace, love, and hope.

May we never forget the greatness of Your plan,
where even in the most unexpected and difficult circumstances,
You manifest Yourself in love and mercy.
May we, like the great crowd that followed Jesus,
rise from the darkness of sin into the light of Your grace.

Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Visitation

In the Second Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin, Saint Elizabeth.

From the Gospel of Luke (1:39-42, 45):
In those days, Mary set out and with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (...) Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Commentary by Saint Ambrose
“Blessed are you who have believed," says Elizabeth. But you too are blessed because you have heard and believed: every soul that believes and does the will of God conceives and brings forth the Word of God, recognizing His works.

Meditation 1
If in the Annunciation, Mary is in prayer, in the Visitation, Mary is in action; if in the Annunciation, Mary listens to the word of God, in the Visitation, she puts that word into practice, as her Son often suggests; if in the Annunciation, Mary loves God above all things, in the Visitation, she loves her neighbor as herself.

If in the Annunciation, Mary has a personal experience with God as a disciple, in the Visitation, as she sings her Magnificat and bears witness to her experience of God, she acts as a missionary, sharing and testifying to all that God has worked in her.

In these two Joyful Mysteries, we find the path of the entire Christian life. For this reason, Mary is for us a model of both disciple and missionary. All the virtues that a Christian should cultivate are concentrated in her. Mary is, therefore, not only the Mother of Jesus and our Mother but also an example of how to follow Christ.

Meditation 2
"Blessed are you because you believed," were the words of Elizabeth to Mary. These words remind us that faith is a choice, a commitment, a decision we make freely after exhausting our reason. Faith is a leap into the unknown, and only after we take this leap will we know if we were right. Mary found happiness in her faith in the Word of God spoken by the angel. We too will be happy if we believe and unhappy if we do not.

Mary traveled from Nazareth to Ein Kerem, covering about 150 km to help her cousin. However, Elizabeth recognizes something more in her than just her cousin Mary, as she was already pregnant with the Son of God. In response to Elizabeth's words, Mary, through her Magnificat, demonstrates what it means to be a missionary. It is not exactly about preaching doctrines; doctrine comes second.

Like Mary in the Magnificat, the missionary must testify to the great works that God has done in their life. Just as history is divided into before and after Christ, our lives change when we encounter Christ, as happened with Paul.

In the Magnificat, Mary recounts the great things the Almighty has done in her life. In the same way, Jesus’ project is not just individual but also social, calling us to make this world the Kingdom of God.

The missionary, as Mary describes in her Magnificat, is the one who helps to bring down the mighty from their thrones and lift up the humble; the one who faces the injustices of this world, striving to establish the Kingdom of God here in a more just, peaceful, and fraternal society.

Prayer
Lord our God,
just as Mary rose in haste
to serve and bring Your presence to Elizabeth's house,
we too, moved by Your Spirit,
wish to respond promptly to Your call.

Make us faithful disciples
who listen to Your Word with open hearts,
and generous missionaries
who put it into practice through service and love for others.

May we, like Mary,
recognize and bear witness
to the great wonders You work in our lives,
and announce with joy Your Kingdom of justice, peace, and brotherhood.

Lord, help us tear down the barriers that separate us from others,
exalt the humble, and combat the injustices
that prevent Your peace from reigning in the world.
May our faith be firm and trusting in You, as Mary's was,
and may we find true happiness
in believing in Your promises.

As Mary sang her Magnificat,
we praise and bless You,
for You are faithful and merciful,
and in You, we place all our trust.

Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Annunciation

In the First Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the angel's annunciation to the Virgin Mary.

From the Gospel of Luke (1:26-31):
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’

From the Acts of the Council of Ephesus:
The word we pronounce and use in dialogue is incorporeal, impossible to be grasped by sight or touch. However, when it is dressed in letters and external forms, it becomes visible and accessible to sight and touch. In the same way, the Word of God, which by nature is invisible, became visible; being incorporeal by essence, He assumed a tangible body.

Meditation 1
As the letter to the Hebrews tells us (1:1-2): Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

The communications of the prophets in ancient times were always imprecise, imperfect, and incomplete. That is why God decided to intervene directly in human history, as he did so many times throughout Israel's history. Jesus of Nazareth reveals both the true nature of God and the true nature of humanity, teaching how God relates to man and how man should relate to God.

Meditation 2
When Mary appeared pregnant after visiting her cousin Elizabeth, she had to face her parents, Joseph, and the people of her village alone. The miraculous conception, the work of the Holy Spirit, was a unique event in history, without precedent, which would have sounded far-fetched to the people of that village.

At that time, Mary ran the risk of being seen as an adulteress, since she was already betrothed to Joseph, and the punishment for adultery was stoning, as we know from the episode of the adulterous woman presented to Jesus to be stoned. Surely Jesus remembered his mother at that moment.

Mary suffered silently from slander throughout her life, something that is hinted at in various passages of the Gospel. For many at the time, Jesus was seen as the son of an unknown father, which was a source of shame for both Him and Mary, especially in a patriarchal society. Mark refers to Jesus as the "son of Mary," while Matthew says he is Joseph’s son. Luke decides not to call him either.

Prayer
Lord God,
You who chose Mary, a humble servant,
to be the Mother of Your Son,
teach us to have the same trust and faith
that she showed when she heard Your call.

Give us the courage to say "Yes" to Your will,
even when we do not understand Your plans,
just as Mary accepted with humility and surrender
the divine plan that would change the history of humanity.

Lord, as the angel Gabriel greeted her with grace,
we too ask for Your blessing,
that we may be bearers of Your presence and love in the world,
and like Mary, we may bring Your light
and testify to Your Son, Jesus.

Help us, Lord, to face the adversities
and misunderstandings that arise on our path
with the same patience and silence of Mary,
who knew how to suffer with resilience
and kept everything in her heart, fully trusting in You.

May we, like Joseph, act with justice and mercy,
avoiding hasty judgment
and welcoming others with love and understanding.

O Father, teach us to follow the example of Jesus,
who did not seek to condemn,
but to bring reconciliation and the hope of new life.
May we also be instruments of Your restorative justice,
always desiring the conversion
and life of the sinner, not their downfall.

Lord, make us understand that just as Mary and Your Son
bore the weight of slander and suffering,
we too must persevere through difficulties,
trusting that You are always with us,
even when the world judges and condemns us.

We praise You, O God, for Your unconditional love
and the promise of salvation,
trusting in You today and always.
Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

Contemplating the twenty mysteries of the Holy Rosary

"Pray the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world and an end to the war."
(May 13, 1917 – Apparition of Our Lady in Fatima)

What is the Rosary
Our Lady did not request the daily recitation of the Rosary only during her first apparition; she insisted on this request in all subsequent apparitions until the last one. The Rosary and Fatima are inseparable, but the Rosary is also inseparable from other Marian apparitions.

The term "Rosary" comes from the 150 (now 200) Hail Marys divided in groups of 10 with the Our Father and the Glory Be prayers, alongside meditations on the mysteries of Jesus’ life and our redemption, thus forming a "crown of roses" offered to Mary, Mother of the Lord and our Mother.

The twenty mysteries of Christ's life are divided into four sets of five mysteries each. In each Rosary, only one of these sets is prayed, which are: the Joyful Mysteries, related to Jesus’ birth and childhood; the Luminous Mysteries, which reflect Jesus as the light of the world during His ministry; the Sorrowful Mysteries, focusing on Christ’s Passion and death; and finally, the Glorious Mysteries, which contemplate Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven.

Inspired by chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, which refers to Mary wearing a crown of 12 stars, I conceived 12 Marian mysteries, reflecting on how Mary's life is intertwined with her Son's, from her conception to her Assumption and coronation in Heaven. Like the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, these Marian mysteries also contemplate Jesus’ life, but through the perspective of His Mother.

The Importance of the Rosary in Our Spiritual Life
Praying the Rosary allows Mary to guide us in meditating on the mysteries of her Son's life. This practice helps keep our hearts and minds focused on the Gospel teachings, strengthening our faith in God and His presence in our daily lives.

The repetitive and meditative rhythm of the prayers brings calm and introspection. Many people find inner peace and comfort when praying the Rosary, especially in times of difficulty, anxiety, or distress.

In the Most Holy Rosary, repeating the Hail Marys 50 times (10 times per mystery) serves to prevent the mind from being distracted from contemplating the mystery. The aim is not to focus on each Hail Mary and Our Father, but to use these prayers as mantras, allowing the mind to reach a state of contemplation of the divine.

How the Rosary is Prayed in Fatima
While making the sign of the cross, one says:
God, come to our assistance. / Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to 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. Amen.

• Proclamation of the mystery of Christ's life to be contemplated.
• Proclamation of the biblical text related to the mystery.
• Pause for an appropriate period of time.
• Recitation of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys.

Glory be to 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. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, /pray for us who have recourse to thee.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.

At the end of the fifth mystery, 3 Hail Marys are prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Distribution of the Mysteries of Christ throughout the Week

• Sunday and Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries.
• Monday and Saturday: Joyful Mysteries.
• Tuesday and Friday: Sorrowful Mysteries.
• Thursday: Luminous Mysteries.
• Saturday: Marian Mysteries.

Joyful Mysteries
We meditate on the beginning of humanity’s redemption, from the Annunciation to Mary and the incarnation of the Son of God to Jesus' adolescence.

Luminous Mysteries
The Luminous Mysteries, introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002, aim to fill the gap between the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries, but they end up leaving out an essential part of Jesus' life, where He reveals Himself as a model of Humanity, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the one with whom we must measure ourselves to be authentic and genuinely human, and at the same time, He is our salvation, the source of our spiritual health here and now, as well as the way to the Father.

The life of Jesus can be summarized in the miracles He performed and the teachings He delivered, with the Kingdom of God as the primary purpose of His coming. Therefore, I propose, in the third mystery, to replace the “Proclamation of the Kingdom of God” with “The Kingdom of God in the words and miracles of Jesus.”

Indeed, Jesus not only proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom but also demonstrated that it is already present among us through His teachings and miracles. The Kingdom of God began with the coming of Jesus into the world; it is among us, though not yet in its fullness. It is up to us, His disciples, to carry on His mission of transforming this world into the Kingdom of God.

This adjustment in the third Luminous Mystery offers a more complete vision of the public life of Jesus and is aligned with the original purpose of the Luminous Mysteries.

Sorrowful Mysteries
We meditate on the process of Jesus’ Passion and Death, from the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to His last breath on the Cross. When we say that Jesus died for our sins, we understand that He paid the debt we could not settle, reflecting the sin of all humanity.

Glorious Mysteries
We meditate on Jesus' triumph over death through His Resurrection. Death has been defeated, as has the sin that caused it. Now death is a passage to eternal life, and the life of Jesus, which began with Mary's "yes," culminates in the glorification of the one who is an example of Christian life for all of us.

Marian Mysteries
We meditate on how Jesus' life is reflected in Mary’s life, which begins before her Son’s and continues after His Ascension.

Note – In the following articles, one for each of the 20 mysteries, I present material to help with the meditation of each mystery. This material, to be used after the proclamation of each mystery and before the recitation of the 10 Hail Marys, consists of the following:

• The biblical text relating to each mystery
• A meditation from the Church Fathers
• A personal meditation
• A prayer inspired in all the texts

Depending on the time available, the person leading the recitation may choose just the biblical text, the text from the Church Fathers, one of the two meditations, the prayer, or all of them when time permits.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC