Respect for Life Rosary Meditations
Written by Patricia Hain
Joyful Mysteries
Copyright © 1992
(Use arrows to move to next meditation)
The Annunciation (Luke 1:28)
Let us pray that each woman, upon hearing the news that she has conceived a child, accept God’s will and say like Mary, “Be it done unto me according to Your word.” May the Holy Spirit come upon her and over shadow her. May He strengthen her and give her great love for the child she carries within.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Annunciation by Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674); Wikimedia Commons
The Visitation (Luke 1:41-42)
We pray that each women who is with child receives support from those around her. May she realize how blest she is and how sacred is the child in her womb.
Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Visitation by Domenico Ghirlandaio, c 1535 – 1612; Wikimedia Commons
The Nativity (Luke 2:7)
Let us pray that each women about to bring forth her child will be provided with the necessities of life, with shelter and clothing for her newborn. May she have loved ones near and may any fears she has be turned into trust and joy.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Nativity by Fredrico Barocci, c 1535 – 1612; Wikimedia Commons
The Presentation (Luke 2:22-23)
We present to You Heavenly Father all those babies that have been terminated through abortion and those who have died through natural causes. We present to You also all living children. Protect them from all evil.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Presentation in the Temple by Simon Vouet, 1590 – 1649; Wikimedia Commons
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:46)
Father, may each woman see her body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit and may she find the Christ Child in the child she has conceived or the child now born. Give her strength and grace to carry her child to full term.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple by William Holman Hunt, 1827 – 1910; Wikimedia Commons
Sorrowful Mysteries
Copyright © 1992
(Use arrows to move to next meditation)
The Agony in the Garden (Luke22:44-45)
Lord Jesus, when You were alone in the garden of Gethsemani the night before You died, You experienced great sorrow and fear of being abandoned. You prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but Yours be done.”
Be with each woman, Lord, who in deepest anxiety is considering terminating her pregnancy because she is overcome by sadness and fear of being abandoned by her boyfriend or husband, fear of hurting her parents and friends, or fear of being judged by others. May she know how deeply You love her and may she say like You, “Father, not my will, but Yours be done.” May we console you, Lord, by our acts of love and reparation. Help us daily to seek and accept God’s will.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Gethsemane, Carl Bloch (1834-1890), The Museum of National History on Frederiksborg Castle
The Scourging at the Pillar (John19:1)
Lord Jesus, Isaiah foretold Your painful scourging at the pillar when he wrote: “Upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we are healed.” (Is 53:5). Through Your scourging, Lord, heal those women who have terminated their pregnancies through abortion. Heal the men and women who have encouraged them to do so. May the stripes inflicted upon You be cause for our own healing so that we can accept Your forgiveness in our lives. May we strive to bring that forgiveness to the minds and hearts of those suffering the effects of the taking of innocent life.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Flagellation by Giotto (1267-1337); Wikimedia Commons
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns (Mt.27:28-29)
Lord Jesus, the soldiers led You away and stripped You. They pressed a crown of sharp thorns into Your head and ridiculed You. Be with those men, women and children, Lord, who have been led away and been physically, mentally, emotionally or verbally abused and stripped of their human dignity.
May we console You, Lord, by our acts of love and by uniting our sorrows with Your own.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Head of Christ Crowned with Thorns by Guido Reni (1575-1642); Wikimedia Commons
Jesus Carries His Cross (John19:17)
Lord Jesus, You were in great physical pain and weakness and yet continued to carry Your cross with love. Simon of Cyrene and the holy women were there to comfort You. Be with those parents, Lord, who see their pregnancies as a cross. Give them inner strength to carry their children to full term. Send them friends to comfort and support them. May we console you, Lord, by our acts of love and unite ourselves to You as we carry our own burdens of pain at the lost innocent life.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Road to Calvary by Giotto (1267-1337); Wikimedia Commons
Jesus Dies on the Cross (Luke23:46)
Lord Jesus, Your hands and feet were nailed to the cross and You died for the sins of all mankind. Your most Sacred Heart was pierced so that we may have life forever with You. Lord, may we use our hands to nurture and protect life; may we use our feet to follow in Your footsteps toward life; may we use our hearts to unite them with Your most Sacred Heart in the Holy Eucharist and find therein life in abundance.
Lord, as we stand daily at the foot of the Cross with Mary, may we gain great strength and courage to proclaim the sanctity of life. We are redeemed by Your blood. We praise You, we adore You, and we thank You.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Christ Crucified by Diego Velazquez (1599-1660); Wikimedia Commons
Glorious Mysteries
Copyright © 1992
(Use arrows to move to next meditation)
The Resurrection (Mark 16:6)
Father, may all doctors, nurses, medical technicians and aids who are assisting now in the termination of human life be touched by the redeeming Grace of Jesus, so that they will want to participate in His victory of life over death. May they come to understand the profound sanctity of human life and may they use their medical skills to protect and heal ALL human life.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Resurrection by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890), Wikimedia Commons
The Ascension (Mark 16:19)
Father, may the minds and hearts of all the lawmakers throughout our land, especially in our Congress and Supreme Court, ASCEND to you in thanksgiving and praise for human life in all stages. May their minds and hearts RISE to you and seek Your guidance and Holy Will in all issues pertaining to human life.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Ascension by Giotto (1267 – 1337), Wikimedia
The Descent of the Holy Spirit Up on the Apostles (Acts 2:4)
Come, Holy Spirit. Breathe on us, Holy Spirit, Your grace and heavenly aid. Come and descend upon our land and help us to proclaim Your Spirit of Love for the unborn and for all people. Help us to proclaim with courage the sacredness of all human life.
“Breathe into us, Holy Spirit, that our lives may be holy. Act in us that our work may be holy. Draw our hearts that we may love what is holy. Strengthen us, Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard us then, Holy Spirit, that we may always be holy.” (attributed to St. Augustine).
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Pentecost by Jean II Restout (1692-1768), Wikimedia Commons
The Assumption (Revelation 12:1)
Father, Mary was assumed into Heaven body and soul. We ask You to take the souls of the millions of unborn babies whose lives have been terminated through planned abortion and those who have died through natural causes and carry them to Heaven, where they may praise You forever with our Blessed Mother and all Your angels and saints.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables by Bartolome Murillo (1617-1682), Wikipedia
The Coronation of Mary (Judith 15:9-10)
Mary, we honor you as Queen of Heaven and we ask you to spread your mantle of protection over human life in all stages. We consecrate the entire human race to your Immaculate heart. “Illumine and warm all people with the flame of your maternal heart, enkindling ardent love for the Most Sacred heart of Jesus.” (St. Maximilian Kolbe)
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: Coronation of the Virgin by Diego Valazquez (1599-1660) Wikimedia Commons
Luminous Mysteries
Feast of Corpus Christi, June 6, 2021
Meditations written by Patricia Hain
Copyright © 2021
(Use arrows to move to next meditation)
The Baptism of Christ (John 1:29-34; Luke 3:21-22)
Heavenly Father, John the Baptist tells us to “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sin of the world.” Please give us the grace to daily behold Your beloved Son Jesus in the unborn child and in all people. Come and dwell deep within our soul. Help us to treat others with dignity, knowing that You are present within them and that they are made in the image and likeness of God. Come Holy Spirit and fill us with Your love.
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world1.
1 Source: St. Faustina | Image: The Baptism of Christ, Carl Bloch (1834-1890), Wikimedia Common
The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2: 1-11)
Dear Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,we beg you to protect and strengthen all families. Help them to reflect the communion of love taking place within the Blessed Trinity, for we are made in Your image and likeness. May all families know and love Your truth that marriage is between one man and one woman. And that each child from the first moment of conception has been created with the form of a masculine body which is the expression of his masculine soul, or the form of a feminine body which is the expression of her feminine soul; these remain for all eternity.1
Thank you O God for creating us in the way that You have, for making our body and soul one, destined for Heaven and union with You in love and praise.We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
1Cf Edith Stein, Essays on Women, in The Collected Works of Edith Stein Volume 2, trans. Freda Mary Oben, Ph.D., Second Edition, Revised, (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1987, 1996, 2017) p 45. Also, see Gen 1:26-28 | Image: The Marriage Feast at Cana by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), Wikimedia Commons, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Matt 19:14)
Lord Jesus, You desired that young children come to You and that others not hinder them from doing so, “for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 19:14). May unborn children be allowed to be born into this world to live a fully human life in Your embrace.
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to have the trust, humility, love, wonder and simplicity of young children, for their angels and the angels of unborn children, behold the face of Your Father in Heaven. (Matt 18:10) Protect and hide them and us in the secret of Your face.1
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortion. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
1See St. John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love, in The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, trans. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. and Otilio Rodriguez, O.C.D., Revised Edition, (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications,, 1991) p 664, §17; See also, Psalm 30:21 Douay-Rheims | Image: Christ Blessing the Children by Bernhard Plockhorst (1825-1907), Wikimedia Commons
The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13)
Dear Father in Heaven, when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain You said, “This is my beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him”. Father, please help all people to listen to Your Son Jesus, for His words lead to life and glory with You.
O Blessed Trinity, You tenderly swell the hearts of unborn children and in Your sweet breathing give them life, love, good, and glory.1 O God, shine upon them now with the Light of Your countenance as You form their tiny hearts and will to love You, their intellect to know You, their memory to hope in You, their hands to work for You and their feet to walk in the ways of peace.2 Dear Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, all you angels and saints, please help unborn children to live and to go forth safely into this world, for their destiny is a glorious one—Transfiguration and a participation in God’s Divine Life. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
1Cf St. John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love, in The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, trans. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. and Otilio Rodriguez, O.C.D., Revised Edition, (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1991) p 640. Stanza 4. | 2Psalm 4:6 and Luke 1:78-80. | Image: Transfiguration of Jesus by Carl Bloch (1834-1890); Wikimedia commons
The Institution of the Holy Eucharist (John 6:55-66)
Lord Jesus, the night before You died You instituted the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. You told Your Apostles, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”1
O Jesus, in Your Passion and Death You poured out Your Body and Blood for Your unborn children and for all people. This You did in obedience to Your Heavenly Father and His gift to You was Your Resurrection. 2
Lord Jesus, help us to be obedient to our Heavenly Father so that we may participate in Your Resurrection. When we receive Your precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, the “Bread of Life”3, may we remain with You so that You can reveal Yourself to us.4
We pray for an increase in Respect for Life and an ending of abortions. Father, for the sake of Your Son’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
1 Luke 22:19
2 Cf. John Paul II, Enc. Ecclesia de Eucharistia, §13
3 Jn 6:35
4 Cf St. Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection (Study Edition Prepared by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.CD.) trans. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. and Otilio Rodríguez, O.C.D., (Washington, DC.: ICS Publications, 2000) p 382 # §10.
Sources: St. Faustina | Image: The Last Supper by Juan de Juanes, (1523-1579) Wikipedia
