Rosary meditations

[Philothea53]

I have a small leaflet that has the (20) mysteries of the Rosary with a small picture and scripture meditation for each. I like to use prayer aids such as this because it helps me to get deeper into my prayer. On Wednesday I decided to spend time looking up each of the scripture verses listed and put each more in context.

For the 4th Glorious Mystery, The Assumption of Mary, in my prayer aid it says, “May you be blessed, my daughter, by God most high, beyond all women on earth; and may the Lord God be blessed, the Creator of heaven and earth.” Judith 13:18. This has nothing to do with Mary, or her Assumption for that matter!

Why was this used?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

For the 4th Glorious Mystery, The Assumption of Mary, in my prayer aid it says, “May you be blessed, my daughter, by God most high, beyond all women on earth; and may the Lord God be blessed, the Creator of heaven and earth.” Judith 13:18. This has nothing to do with Mary, or her Assumption for that matter!

Why was this used?

Many Old Testament characters are “types” of persons in the New Testament — that is, they prefigure what will be fulfilled in a more perfect way in the New Testament. Example: Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac prefigures God being willing to sacrifice His Son Jesus for us, etc.

Judith can be thought of as a “type” of Mary. Just as God delivered the Jewish people from earthly enemies through the instrument of a courageous woman (Judith), God would deliver us from spiritual powers (sin, death, Satan) by sending us His Son through the instrument of the most perfect of women (Mary). In their gratitude, the Jewish people heaped high praise on Judith. How much more so should we praise the virtues of Mary, echoing the words from the Book of Judith!

Warm regards from one “Philothea” to another.

 

[Philothea53]

Many Old Testament characters are “types” of persons in the New Testament — that is, they prefigure what will be fulfilled in a more perfect way in the New Testament. Example: Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac prefigures God being willing to sacrifice His Son Jesus for us, etc.

Judith can be thought of as a “type” of Mary. Just as God delivered the Jewish people from earthly enemies through the instrument of a courageous woman (Judith), God would deliver us from spiritual powers (sin, death, Satan) by sending us His Son through the instrument of the most perfect of women (Mary). In their gratitude, the Jewish people heaped high praise on Judith. How much more so should we praise the virtues of Mary, echoing the words from the Book of Judith!

Warm regards from one “Philothea” to another.

So, basically, I would not think of Judith at all but apply the verse to Mary and focus on her?

(Sometimes I need not only to be lead to water but shown how to drink

 

[PhilotheaZ]

So, basically, I would not think of Judith at all but apply the verse to Mary and focus on her?

(Sometimes I need not only to be lead to water but shown how to drink

That’s right. In fact, the Church has used these words from Judith 15:9 in the liturgy to refer to Mary: “You are the glory of Jerusalem, the surpassing joy of Israel; you are the splendid boast of our people.”

Or, if you have the time, someday you might want to read the story of Judith, see how she led her people to victory, and later when you meditate on Mary you can think about how she leads us to victory in our battle against Satan. That’s the beauty of meditating on Scripture and the lives of Jesus and Mary — the Holy Spirit can lead you to new insights every time!

Have a good drink.