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Show -------------(5r--- ---------------- I Story of tfie; SlolyHosary j Tale in Dialogue Enabling One to Follow the Myster- ies with Devotional Interest. S v , q & GEORGIANA FELL CURTIS in Rosary Magazine. 3 V ----------- -- -- ----------------a PART I JOYFUL MYSTERIES. I had been riding for many hours since leaving the city when a turn of the road brought me into view of a large monastery, as I took it to be. Some monks, clothed In a gray habit, were working in a field, while others were pacing up and down a cloistered walk on the south side of the building. build-ing. I was tired and so was my horse, so I entered the gate unhesitatingly. and dismounting at the great door rang the bell and asked for the abbot. Presently Pres-ently he appeared and greeted me cordially cor-dially and courteously. In reply to my request for a few hours of rest and shelter, he begged me to remain over night, and as there was no haste about proceeding on my journey, I gladly accepted the invitation. The abbot called a lay brother, who conducted con-ducted me to a comfortable room, and leaving me, presently reappeared with a substantial repast. The brother advised ad-vised me to rest after eating, and promised to have my horse taken care of Relieved of all responsibility I presently lay down, and was soon asleep. I must have slept many hours, for when I awoke it was dark, and just then there was a step in the corridor, followed by a tap at my door. In answer an-swer to my "Come in," the lay brother entered with a light, and said he had come to take me to the refectory, after which the abbot wanted to see me and conduct me to the evening service. The brother further Informed me that the bishop of the diocese had arrived an hour ago to make his yearly visit. I followed the young monk to the refectory, where I supped alone, and was then conducted to the presence of the abbot and introduced to the bishop, a fine looking and venerable old man. The abbot then told me they were, about to hold a weekly service peculiar pecu-liar to their order, which consisted in first reciting the rosary, followed by meditations on its mysteries. "We are," said the abbot, "especially devoted to the recital of the rosary, and we think it is too often said with but scant meditation on Its teachings. Our ancient custom is for one to rehearse re-hearse the mystery.and then each monk in turn recites aloud what he thinks the divine mysteries inculcate. It is wonderful how much we learn by this interchange of thought, as it were, and how it keeps alive faith and hope and love in our hearts." I confessed I should like to be pres-I pres-I ent at the service, over which the ! Bishop, who seemed thornntrhiv fa miliar with the custom, was to preside. pre-side. Just then a bell sounded, summoning sum-moning us to the community room, a vast hall, with carved stalls and lancet windows, some of them of stained glass. Her we found all the monks assembled. assem-bled. They arose as we entered, and remained standing until the Bishop and Abbot were seated. I was conducted con-ducted to a stall and presently the bell sounded again, and we all knelt in silent prayer, after which the Rosary was reverently recited. Every one present pres-ent then arose, and when all were seitcd tile Bishou adiressed them, re minding them of the solemnity of the oral meditation, and the necessity of engaging in it devoutly. Every head was bowed, and drawing up their cowls and folding their hands in their long sleeves, the monks waited. "Beloved brethren," said the bishop, '.'we will commence with the Joyful Mysteries, which show forth the opening open-ing incidents of our faith, the beginning begin-ning and foundation of the Christian religion." "And now. Reverend Father." he continued, con-tinued, turning to the Abbot, give us an account of the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, and what you see in it." The Abbot arose, with folded hands I and bowed head. "I behold," he answered, "the holy house at Nazareth. It is very small and humble, and stands on a narrow street near the top of a steep hill. Perchance Per-chance at that hour the evening sun . was setting, bathing everything in soft golden light. It is March, but in that southern country spring has come, and . the air is sweet with the scent of early ; flowers. I see Joseph, the carpenter, at ' work in his little shop, a mere shed built next to the wall of the house. '. Indoors the maiden Mary is seated on a : rude bench, sewing. I see her pure, ! i gentle face, and tender hands plying her needle. Suddenly there is a sound like rushing wind, and the room is filled with dazzling light. The maiden i arises and kneels in reverent awe, for j near her hovers a great Archangel, I l majestic, strong and beautiful. I hear j the angel announce to the maiden that ; she is to become the Mother of God, ' and I hear in reply her sublime canticle j of praise and thanksgiving." j The Bishop And what think you, my I brethren, can we learn from this Mys- ! tery? First Monk I learn hoiy faith, the ! belief of Blessed Mary that the angel came from God. Second Monk I learn humility, from Mary's sublime meekness in the presence pres-ence of honor shown to her. Third Monk To me it seems that peculiar graces were given by God to Blessed Mary to make her worthy of so great a mark of His favor. Fourth Monk It teaches the necessity neces-sity of returning praise and thanksgiving thanksgiv-ing when the Almighty showers benefits bene-fits on us. Fifth Monk I see, as it were, the calmness, the child-like confidence and freedom from excitement and worry, that characterized Blessed Mary at a time when her future seemed wrapped in mystery. Sixth Monk I learn the purity of body and soul that enveloped her who was chosen to be the Mother of God. The Bishop Holy Mary, pray ror us. j Abbot and Monks Holy Mother of I God. pray for us. I The Bishop What see you. Rev. Father, in the second Joyful Mystery I the Visitation? ! The Abbot I behold Holy Mary on S the way to visit her cousin Elizabeth, t She is alone on the journey, and yet never alone, for God is near her, and ! holy angels attend her. I see her pass- t ing through the country of Nazareth I until she reaches the home of Elizabeth and Zachary. I hear the holy greeting that passed between her and the sainted saint-ed Elizabeth. At the sound of her voice, who was to be the Mother of his Lord, St. John in his mother's womb leaps with Joy. I behold Blessed Mary abiding three months with her kinsfolk, kins-folk, assisting them in the humble daily task; and I see the two holy women wo-men holding sweet commune together. The Bishop What learn you, my brethren, from this? First Monk I learn divine ' charity, which bids us seek and find others, that we may help them and do them good. Second Monk I learn that love is from God, and that in joy and sorrow we may seek kindred souls and obtain comfort and help in Hfe's.journey, from them. Third Monk I learn the power of the voice of God to those whose hearts are i open to hear, in that St. John knew of F the presence of Mary and the unborn Son of God. . , . The Bishop Holy Mary pray for us. Abbot and Monks Holy Mother of God, pray for us. f The Bishop Tell us howr Rev. Father S what you see in the third Joyful Mys- tery. the Nativity. The Abbot I behold little Bethlehem . ... J ' and the holy night. Overhead shines the spacious firmament, and far in the east Is the glorious star that is guiding the wise men. who are even now on their way to greet the King of Kings, i I set- the rude inn with its low roof, the building so poor and mean, only fit for animals and their keepers. Within the ; inn are the cattle and countrymen; and ; far at the back, sheltered as much as possible from the cold, lies the Lord : of all, a little child in the manger. I see His delicate and tender limbs rest-; rest-; ing on the coarse straw. 1 see His lit-I lit-I tie hands that look so helpless, beating beat-ing the air. 1 behold His Virgin Mother and St. Joseph kneeling on the bare floor, gazing at Him in reverent admiration. There are tears in Blessed Mary's eyes because she cannot make her little child more warm and comfortable. com-fortable. The oxen bend over the crib, and warm the Divine Infant with their breath, and He smiles and holds out His arms to HI smother, and sees in her face all the love and mystery and awe of that holy night. The Bishop What, perchance, learn we from this? First Monk The teaching of holy poverty, and that "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Second Monk I learn self-denial; for on this sacred night Almighty God gave His best to us, who give so little to Him. Third Monk To me it teaches union with Christ, the union that comes through faith and love. Fourth Monk I learn conformity to the divine will, and that the issues of obedience are in the hands of God. St. Jcseph and Holy Mary may have preferred pre-ferred to stay in their home at Nazareth, Naza-reth, but they have come to Bethlehem Bethle-hem in response to the imperial decree. The Bishop Holy Mary, pray for us. Abbot and Monks Holy Mother of God, pray for us. The Bishop Tell us, Rev. Father, what you see in the fourth joyful mystery, mys-tery, the presentation. The Abbot I behold the Blessed Virgin Vir-gin and St. Joseph carrying the divine di-vine Child to the temple. The little Child Is in the arms of His holy mother, while St. Joseph carries the doves that the Mosaic law requires as an offering. I see the aged Anna, and the Interior of the beautiful temple. In front of the high altar,- near the holy of holies, stands Simeon, waiting in joy and expectancy to see the desired de-sired of all nations. I behold him as he receives the Holy Child in his arms, he feels that earth can bring him no more, and breaks forth in that song of desire satisfied, praying God to let him depart in peace because he has seen the salvation prepared before all nations the glory of Israel that has come. The Bishop Recount to us, my brethren, what this mystery teaches. First Monk I learn holy obedience to the commands of God. St. Joseph and Blessed Mary fulfilled to the letter all the teachings of the Jewish church. Second Monk The same spirit of obedience is inculcated in the Christian Chris-tian religion, and it. is as binding oj us as was the ancient law to the Hebrews. He-brews. Third Monk I learn from this holy presentation that we have an example to assist regularly and faithfully at the divine services of the Church. Fourth Monk Holy Mary had been preserved by God from the stain of original sin, yet fulfilled the law requiring re-quiring her presence, with an offering, offer-ing, in the temple, as a woman of Israel. Is-rael. Even so should we go often to confession to be purified from our sins, and to renew our baptismal vows. 1 The Bishop Holy Mary, pray for us. Abbot and Monks Holy Mother of l God, pray for us. , The Bishorj What see you. Rev. Father, in the fifth joyful mystery, the finding of the Child Jesus in the tem- iiple? , The Abbot I behold the great and : glorious city, Jerusalem. Looking to-; to-; ward it from the distant hills, there stands out to view the magnificent temple. It's golden roof and polished i marble walls and pillars gleam in the j sun. Within are gathered together the wisest of the Jewish rabbies and doctors. doc-tors. I see afar on the road leading to Jerusalem, a humble train of men and women. Three in particular claim attentiona at-tentiona tall, dignified man. with dark hair, eyes and beard, and a face worn, like one who has great responsibility responsi-bility and care, and yet. withal, seeming seem-ing like one who has great peace. With him is a woman clad in the simplest garments. Her head is covered with a hood, and from its folds look forth a beautiful face, pure and tender. Pe-tween Pe-tween them walks a little child just 12 years old. His fair hair is blown bavk from His forehead in the breeze, seeming seem-ing to shed an aureole of light around His head. His face ia His mother's in miniature. And now the scene changes. I see this little child in the great temple, tem-ple, listening to the doctors, and asking ask-ing them questions. They wonder at His marvellous wisdom, and oven as they talk there enters by the door the child's mother and foster father, consumed con-sumed with anxiety and grief: for as yet they understand not what His mission mis-sion is to be. The Bishop What think you. Rev. brethren, this scene would teach us? First Monk That we must "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," right-eousness," and abandon all for the holy vocation of religion. Second Monk I learn that when we have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to earthly ties, the call of God must be obeyed above all others. Third Monk It teaches me that we must practice holy obedience as long as we are under authority. Fourth Monk I learn never to lose Christ by mortal sin, and to ask the intercession in-tercession of Blessed Mary with her Divine Son. The Bishop Holy Mary, pray for us Abbot and Monks Holy Mother of God, pray for us. (To be Continued.) |