Mysteries of the Divine Infant Jesus
Mary K. Stewart, OCDS 1
MYSTERIES OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS Copyright ©2015, Mary K. Stewart, OCDS. All rights reserved. First Private Edition: February 14, 2011. Second Private Edition: February 22, 2011 Third Private Edition: March 1, 2011 Fourth Private Edition: January 23,2015: Feast of the Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Scripture quotations used in this book from the Revised Standard Version Bible, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Edition, Copyright ©2006, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Gloria is from the English translation of The Roman Missal, Third Edition. ©2010, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved The Chaplet of the Divine Infant Jesus was revealed to a Discalced Carmelite nun of Beaune, France, Venerable Sister Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament (1619-1648). The Divine Infant made known to Sr. Margaret that He would grant the special graces of purity of heart and innocence to those who honor the Twelve Mysteries of His holy childhood by reciting this chaplet. In addition, the Infant Jesus promised unfailing assistance by His Divine help in all spiritual and temporal matters to those who venerate Him with this devotion. COVER ARTWORK:
Bernardino Luini
Madonna & Child with Saint Elizabeth & the Infant Saint John Early 16th Century Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
This book is available for purchase at www.Lulu.com. Printed in the United States of America. 2
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A child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this! ISAIAH 9: 6-7
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father. JOHN 1:14
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And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. JOHN 1:32
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THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS
Divine Infant Jesus, I adore Thy cross and I accept all the crosses Thou will be pleased to send me. 7
HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. AMEN.
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Adorable Trinity, I offer Thee for the glory of Thy Holy Name of God, all the adorations of the Sacred Heart of the Holy Infant Jesus. AMEN.
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LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. AMEN.
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And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. OUR FATHER. (Repeat the above prayers 3 times to honor each member of the Holy Family.)
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In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this may be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. LUKE 1:26-38
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FIRST MYSTERY:
The Incarnation of the Son of God
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” LUKE 1:39-46
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SECOND MYSTERY:
The Life in the Womb of the Virgin Mary
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. LUKE 2:4-7
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THIRD MYSTERY:
The Birth in Bethlehem
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. LUKE 2:8-20
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FOURTH MYSTERY:
The Adoration of the Shepherds
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And
at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. LUKE 2:21
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FIFTH MYSTERY:
The Circumcision of our Lord
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard of this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, and by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the Wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king, they went their way; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. MATTHEW 2:1-12
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SIXTH MYSTERY:
The Adoration by the Three Magi
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And 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 male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart 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 to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. LUKE 2:22-38
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SEVENTH MYSTERY:
The Presentation in the Temple
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child and destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” MATTHEW 2:13-15
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EIGHTH MYSTERY:
The Flight into Egypt
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” MATTHEW 2:19-20
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NINTH MYSTERY:
The Stay in Egypt
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city of Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled. “He shall be called a Nazarene.� MATTHEW 2:21-23
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TENTH MYSTERY:
The Return to Nazareth
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. LUKE 2:51-52
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ELEVENTH MYSTERY:
The Hidden Life in Nazareth
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking 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 answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. LUKE 2:41-50
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TWELFTH MYSTERY:
The 12-year-old Jesus in the Temple
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. HAIL MARY.
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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.
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Let us pray. Divine Infant Jesus, whose omnipotence is manifested in a wonderful manner and whose miraculous hand, raised in benediction, fills us with all blessings, graciously hear all who call upon you with confidence. AMEN. Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, You revealed Yourself to little ones. Grant, we beseech Thee that we who venerate the sacred mysteries of Your Son, the Divine Infant Jesus, and imitate His example, may enter the kingdom of heaven, which You promised to all who become as little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN. 37
GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. AMEN.
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Divine Infant Jesus, through the sacred mysteries of Your holy childhood, grant me the grace of innocence and purity of heart.
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Divine Infant Jesus, bless me! 41
AMEN.
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