As Christians we long for joy in a special way. We know that one of the distinguishing features of the saints was their contagious joy, present even amid suffering. Yet, while we are members of the same Church as those joyful saints, joy often escapes us. This may result from a misunderstanding of the nature of joy and how it grows in our lives as Christians. Scripture itself contains a “recipe for joy,” and Mary, central figure of the Rosary’s Joyful Mysteries and long invoked as “Cause of Our Joy,” demonstrates how to fully live out these instructions.
"Yet, a deeper look at these Mysteries reveals an undercurrent of sorrow and suffering."
I've pointed out from time to time, if you have a devotion to the rosary you cannot help but note that the "joyful" mysteries are marked by incredible trial for Mary. Mary's joy, and our joy, has a burden by saying "yes" to God. She will have an unexplained pregnancy, she will travel to her cousin Elizabeth during this period, Joseph and Mary cannot find a place in Bethlehem for Mary to give birth to Christ Jesus, She is told that her heart will be pierced at the presentation, and she loses her child in the finding in the temple.
Absolutely. I think it can be easy to forget sometimes that these are "Mysteries." We're unable to fully understand them. It might seem monotonous to come back to them again and again each day and each week, but they take on new and deeper meaning as we spend more time with them.
Yes!
"Yet, a deeper look at these Mysteries reveals an undercurrent of sorrow and suffering."
I've pointed out from time to time, if you have a devotion to the rosary you cannot help but note that the "joyful" mysteries are marked by incredible trial for Mary. Mary's joy, and our joy, has a burden by saying "yes" to God. She will have an unexplained pregnancy, she will travel to her cousin Elizabeth during this period, Joseph and Mary cannot find a place in Bethlehem for Mary to give birth to Christ Jesus, She is told that her heart will be pierced at the presentation, and she loses her child in the finding in the temple.
Absolutely. I think it can be easy to forget sometimes that these are "Mysteries." We're unable to fully understand them. It might seem monotonous to come back to them again and again each day and each week, but they take on new and deeper meaning as we spend more time with them.