Note. It is to be noted in all the following Mysteries, that all the words which are inclosed in parentheses are from the Gospel itself and not those which are outside.

And in each Mystery, for the most part, three Points will be found to meditate and contemplate on with greater ease

St. Luke writes in the first Chapter [26-39].

First Point. The first Point is that the Angel St. Gabriel, saluting Our Lady, announced to her the Conception of Christ our Lord. “The Angel entering where Mary was, saluted her saying: ‘Hail full of grace. Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son.’”

Second Point. The second, the Angel confirms what he said to Our Lady, telling of the conception of St. John Baptist, saying to her: “‘And behold thy cousin Elizabeth hath conceived a son in her old age.’”

Third Point. The third, Our Lady answered the Angel: “‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word!’”

St. Luke speaks in the first Chapter [39-57].

First Point. First: As Our Lady visited Elizabeth, St. John Baptist, being in his mother’s womb, felt the visitation which Our Lady made. “And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Our Lady, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth, full of the Holy Ghost, cried out with a loud voice, and said: ‘Blessed be thou among women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb!’”

Second Point. Second: Our Lady sings the canticle, saying: “‘My soul doth magnify the Lord!’”

Third Point. Third: “Mary abode with Elizabeth about three months: and then she returned to her house.”

St. Luke speaks in the second Chapter [1-15].

First Point. First: Our Lady and her husband Joseph go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. “Joseph went up from Galilee to Bethlehem, to acknowledge subjection to Caesar, with Mary his spouse and wife, already with child.”

Second Point. Second: “She brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped Him up with swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger.”

Third Point. Third: “There came a multitude of the heavenly army, which said: ‘Glory be to God in the heavens.’”

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [8-21].

First Point. First: The birth of Christ our Lord is manifested to the Shepherds by the Angel. “‘I manifest to you great Joy, for this day is born the Saviour of the world.”‘

Second Point. Second: The Shepherds go to Bethlehem. “They came with haste and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant put in the manger.”

Third Point. Third: “The Shepherds returned glorifying and praising the Lord.”

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [21].

First Point. First: They circumcised the Child Jesus.

Second Point. Second: “His Name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb.”

Third Point. Third: They gave back the Child to His Mother, who had compassion for the Blood which came from her Son.

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [1-13].

First Point. First: The three Magi Kings, guiding themselves by the star, came to adore Jesus, saying: “‘We have seen His star in the East and are come to adore Him.’”

Second Point. Second: They adored Him and offered gifts to Him. “Falling down on the earth, they adored Him, and they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Third Point. Third: “They received answer while sleeping that they should not return to Herod, and went back by another way to their country.”

St. Luke writes, Chapter 2 [23-39].

First Point. First: They bring the Child Jesus to the Temple, that He may be presented to the Lord as first-born; and they offer for Him “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

Second Point. Second: Simeon coming to the Temple “took Him into his arms” saying: “‘Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, in peace!’”

Third Point. Third: Anna “coming afterwards confessed to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all that were hoping for the redemption of Israel.”

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [13-16].

First Point. First: Herod wanted to kill the Child Jesus, and so killed the Innocents, and before their death the Angel warned Joseph to fly into Egypt: “‘Arise and take the Child and His Mother, and fly to Egypt.’”

Second Point. Second: He departed for Egypt. “Who arising by night departed to Egypt.”

Third Point. Third: He was there until the death of Herod.

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [19-23].

First Point. First: The Angel warns Joseph to return to Israel. “‘Arise and take the Child and His Mother and go to the land of Israel.’”

Second Point. Second: Rising, he came to the land of Israel.

Third Point. Third: Because Archelaus, son of Herod, was reigning in Judea, he withdrew into Nazareth.

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [51, 52].

First Point. First: He was obedient to His parents: “He advanced in wisdom, age and grace.”

Second Point. Second: It appears that He exercised the trade of carpenter, as St. Mark shows he means in the sixth chapter. “‘Perhaps this is that carpenter? ‘“

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [42-51].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord, of the age of twelve years, went up from Nazareth to Jerusalem.

Second Point. Second: Christ our Lord remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it.

Third Point. Third: The three days passed, they found Him disputing in the Temple, and seated in the midst of the doctors, and His parents asking Him where He had been, He answered: “‘Did you not know that it behooves Me to be in the things which are My Father’s?’”

St. Matthew writes in the third Chapter [13-17].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord, after having taken leave of His Blessed Mother, came from Nazareth to the River Jordan, where St. John Baptist was.

Second Point. Second: St. John baptized Christ our Lord, and wanting to excuse himself, thinking himself unworthy of baptizing Him, Christ said to him: “Do this for the present, for so it is necessary that we fulfill all justice.’”

Third Point. Third: “The Holy Spirit came and the voice of the Father from heaven affirming: ‘This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.’”

St. Luke writes in the fourth Chapter [1-14] and St. Matthew fourth Chapter [1-12].

First Point. First: After being baptized, He went to the Desert, where He fasted forty days and forty nights.

Second Point. Second: He was tempted by the enemy three times. “The tempter coming to Him said to Him: ‘If Thou be the Son of God, say that these stones be turned into bread.’ ‘Cast Thyself down from here.’ ‘If prostrate on the earth Thou wilt adore me, I will give Thee all this which Thou seest.’”

Third Point. Third: “The Angels came and ministered to Him.”

First Point. First: it seems that St. Peter and St. Andrew were called three times: first, to some knowledge; this is clear from St. John in the first Chapter: secondly, to follow Christ in some way with the purpose of returning to possess what they had left, as St. Luke says in the fifth Chapter: thirdly, to follow Christ our Lord forever, as St. Matthew says in the fourth Chapter and St. Mark in the first.

Second Point. Second: He called Philip, as is in the first Chapter of St. John, and Matthew as Matthew himself says in the ninth Chapter.

Third Point. Third: He called the other Apostles, of whose special call the Gospel does not make mention.

And three other things also would be to be considered:

The first, how the Apostles were of uneducated and low condition;

The second, the dignity to which they were so sweetly called;

The third, the gifts and graces by which they were raised above all the Fathers of the New and Old Testaments.

St. John writes Chapter 2 [1-12].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord was invited with His Disciples to the marriage.

Second Point. Second: The Mother tells her Son of the failure of the wine, saying: “‘They have no wine,’”and bade the servants: “‘Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye.’”

Third Point. Third: “He changed the water into wine and manifested His glory, and His Disciples believed in Him.”

St. John writes Chapter 2 [13-18].

First Point. First: With a whip made of cords, He cast out of the Temple all those who were selling.

Second Point. Second: He turned over the tables and money of the rich bankers who were in the Temple.

Third Point. Third: To the poor who sold doves, He mildly said: “‘Take these things from here, and make not My house a house of traffic.’”

St. Matthew writes in the fifth Chapter [1-48].

First Point. First: To His beloved Disciples He speaks apart about the Eight Beatitudes: “‘Blessed the poor of spirit, the meek, the merciful, those who weep, those who suffer hunger and thirst for justice, the clean of heart, the peaceful, and those who suffer persecution.’”

Second Point. Second: He exhorts them to use their talents well: “‘So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in the heavens.’”

Third Point. Third: He shows Himself not a transgressor, but a perfector of the law; explaining the precept of not killing, not committing fornication, not being guilty of perjury, and of loving enemies. “‘I say to you that you love your enemies and do good to them that hate you.’”

St. Matthew writes Chapter 8 [23-28].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord being asleep at sea, a great tempest arose.

Second Point. Second: His Disciples, frightened, awakened Him. Whom He reprehends for the little faith which they had, saying to them: “‘What do you fear, ye of little faith!’”

Third Point. Third: He commanded the winds and the sea to cease: and, so ceasing, the sea became calm: at which the men wondered, saying: “‘Who is this whom the wind and the sea obey?’”

St. Matthew writes Chapter 14 [22-34].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord being on the mountain, made His Disciples go to the little boat. And having dismissed the multitude, He commenced to pray alone.

Second Point. Second: The little boat was beaten by the waves. To which Christ came walking on the water; and the Disciples thought it was an apparition.

Third Point. Third: Christ saying to them: “‘It is I, fear not,’” St. Peter, by His command, came to Him walking on the water. Doubting, he commenced to sink, but Christ our Lord freed him and reprehended him for his little faith, and then, as He entered into the little boat, the wind ceased.

St. Matthew writes in the tenth Chapter

First Point. First: Christ called His beloved Disciples and gave them power to cast out the demons from human bodies and to cure all the diseases.

Second Point. Second: He teaches them of prudence and patience: “‘Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves.’”

Third Point. Third: He gives them the way to go. “‘Do not want to possess gold nor silver: what you have freely received, freely give.’” And He gave them matter to preach. “‘Going you shall preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven has approached.’”

St. Luke writes in the seventh Chapter [36-50].

First Point. First: Magdalen enters where Christ our Lord is seated at the table in the house of the Pharisee. She bore a vase of alabaster full of ointment.
Second Point. Second: Standing behind the Lord near His feet, she commenced to wash them with tears and dried them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with ointment.

Third Point. Third: When the Pharisee accused Magdalen, Christ speaks in her defence, saying: “‘Many sins are forgiven her because she loves much.’ And He said to the woman: ‘Thy faith hath made thee safe: go in peace.’”

St. Matthew writes in the fourteenth Chapter [13-22].

First Point. First: The Disciples, as it was getting late, ask Christ to dismiss the multitude of men who were with Him.

Second Point. Second: Christ our Lord commands that they bring Him bread, and commanded that they should be seated at the table, and blessed and broke and gave the bread to His Disciples, and the Disciples to the multitude.

Third Point. Third: “They did eat and were filled and there were twelve baskets over.”

St. Matthew writes in the seventeenth Chapter [1-14].

First Point. First: Taking along His beloved Disciples, Peter, James, John, Christ our Lord was transfigured, and His face did shine as the sun, and His garments as the snow.

Second Point. Second: He was speaking with Moses and Elias.

Third Point. Third: St. Peter saying that they would make three tabernacles, a voice from heaven sounded, which said: “‘This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him!’” When His Disciples heard this voice, they fell for fear on their faces; and Christ our Lord touched them and said to them: “‘ Arise and fear not. Tell this vision to no one until the Son of Man be risen.’”

John, Chapter 11 [1-46].

First Point. First: Martha and Mary sent word to Christ our Lord of the illness of Lazarus. Knowing it, He delayed for two days, that the miracle might be more evident.

Second Point. Second: Before He raises him, He asks the one and the other to believe, saying: “‘I am the resurrection and life; he who believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall live.’”

Third Point. Third: He raises him, after having wept and prayed. And the manner of raising him was by commanding: “‘Lazarus, come forth!’”