Rosary Reflections

      Mary has been more and more a central part of my spirituality, and the prayer of the Rosary a beautiful time spent with her each day.  As I’ve been praying the rosary, and meditating on the mysteries, personal memories and experiences that seem tied to the various mysteries keep coming to my mind.  Because so many of them are related to this prayer, I’ve written them down with the corresponding mystery. 

      Stories are central to Christ’s ministry, as He taught so often with parables.  The book by Catherine Doherty, NOT WITHOUT PARABLES, prompted me to paint my front door blue, in imitation of the blue doors of the Madonna Houses that she founded.  She believed that each person entering through those blue doors received the blessing of Mary.  My hope is that anyone who might read these reflections would also receive the blessing of our Blessed Mother, to whom this simple work is dedicated, in thanksgiving for her presence in my life.

Ann Radtke

January 2014

Joyful Mysteries

• First Joyful Mystery – the Annunciation
  Whenever I pray the Annunciation mystery, and indeed for each mystery, the beautiful painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner comes into my mind.  It depicts Mary, sitting on a low bed and gazing at a column of Light, representing the Angel Messenger, Gabriel.  Mary’s face has a quizzical expression, as she hears his perplexing message: “Do … Continue reading “First Joyful Mystery – the Annunciation”
• Second Joyful Mystery – the Visitation
  The Visitation mystery brings to my mind the story by Catherine Doherty related in her book, NOT WITHOUT PARABLES.  Catherine was a nurse, and lived in the Catholic community of Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario, which she had founded as an apostolate of lay people living the Gospel message and serving the poor in this … Continue reading “Second Joyful Mystery – the Visitation”
• Third Joyful Mystery – the Incarnation
  In 2010 I was blessed to participate in a pilgrimage to Mexico City to the Shrine of  Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The pilgrimage was with the Queen of the Americas Guild, and the spiritual director for the trip was Bp Joseph Madera, a native Mexican with a great love for Jesus and Mary.  He also … Continue reading “Third Joyful Mystery – the Incarnation”
• Fourth Joyful Mystery – the Presentation
    235 – the number 235 seemed to keep appearing for me. A verse of Scripture which contains these numbers is Luke 2:35, part of the Presentation narrative.  “and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  When thoughts are revealed, they are brought into the light, … Continue reading “Fourth Joyful Mystery – the Presentation”
• Fifth Joyful Mystery – Finding in the Temple
       During the time of our marriage breakup, I was receiving counseling help ia a neighboring city.  My counselor, Suzanne, was a member of the parish where my spiritual director, Fr. Tom, was pastor.  During one of our sessions, Suzanne asked me where I most liked to pray.  I responded, “In an empty quiet … Continue reading “Fifth Joyful Mystery – Finding in the Temple”

Sorrowful Mysteries

• First Sorrowful Mystery – the Agony in the Garden
  My older brother Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August of 2004 – he put up a courageous battle, but kept losing weight and strength until his death on Sunday, February 6, 2005.        Saturday morning before Bill died I was spending some time in prayer for him and for his wife, … Continue reading “First Sorrowful Mystery – the Agony in the Garden”
• Second Sorrowful Mystery – the Scourging at the Pillar
       We were at the Dunrovin Retreat Center near St. Paul, with a group of ladies from Transfiguration Parish in Woodbury for an Emmaus Retreat. Part of the retreat includes receiving a drawing that has been artistically created by another Emmaus sister, who has asked the Holy Spirit to inspire her with an image … Continue reading “Second Sorrowful Mystery – the Scourging at the Pillar”
• Third Sorrowful Mystery – the Crowning with Thorns
       Caryll Houselander has been a favorite author of many – the first time I encountered her writing was through reading about a mystical experience she had that always comes to my mind with the crowning of thorns.  She describes the incident in her book  A ROCKING HORSE CATHOLIC, and states: “…I had an … Continue reading “Third Sorrowful Mystery – the Crowning with Thorns”
• Fourth Sorrowful Mystery – the Carrying of the Cross
       During a quiet prayer time, I was enjoying a vision in my imagination of floating down the river on an inner tube, “going with the flow” and just appreciating the sunny day, blue sky, warm water, and the natural beauty that surrounded me.  No rush, no agenda – just floating down the river.  … Continue reading “Fourth Sorrowful Mystery – the Carrying of the Cross”
• Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – the Crucifixion
  The opportunity for Reconciliation was always especially meaningful when celebrated at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence – it seems that the Lord often would bring up things from the past that were stumbling blocks to grace.      At one of the sessions, I felt led to confess a sin of the … Continue reading “Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – the Crucifixion”

Luminous Mysteries

• First Luminous Mystery – Baptism of Jesus
  I was raised in the Baptist Church, and both my mom and dad had a Baptist preacher as a grandfather. One of my great-grandfathers wrote a catechism for the Baptist Church. I’m truly grateful for my Baptist heritage, and especially for the experience of being baptized at age 10, on March 29, 1956.  We had … Continue reading “First Luminous Mystery – Baptism of Jesus”
• Second Luminous Mystery – the Wedding at Cana
  Bill and I were greatly blessed through participating in retreats at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island.  Our first retreat was like a new beginning in our marriage, and a huge help for Bill especially as the business he had started was going under, and he didn’t know how to deal with this failure.  … Continue reading “Second Luminous Mystery – the Wedding at Cana”
• Third Luminous Mystery – the Call to Conversion
   I never really knew what conversion meant until I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit ~ for me that was such a life changing event that I knew something had happened to me.  Looking back, I now recognize that conversion has been an on-going process in my life, and will continue until I gain heaven, God … Continue reading “Third Luminous Mystery – the Call to Conversion”
• Fourth Luminous Mystery – the Transfiguration
   I was introduced to the story of St. Seraphim of Sarov by Jim Murphy at a charismatic day of reflection, and his story has blessed me over and over again as I meditate on the mystery of the Transfiguration.         St. Seraphim is a Russian Saint often compared to the Western St. Francis … Continue reading “Fourth Luminous Mystery – the Transfiguration”
• Fifth Luminous Mystery – the Institution of the Eucharist
  The Eucharist began to really come alive for me when our son Stevie was in the second grade.  His class at Sacred Heart was preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Communion, and would come to the celebration of Mass together to learn more about it.  Because of some renovating going on in the main … Continue reading “Fifth Luminous Mystery – the Institution of the Eucharist”

Glorious Mysteries

• Second Glorious Mystery – the Ascension
  It was Pentecost weekend, and we were about to celebrate the Feast Sunday morning at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island.  The retreat team had inflated bunches of bright red helium balloons, and called us all outside to watch them ascend up into the blue sky above the trees.  There were about 30 of … Continue reading “Second Glorious Mystery – the Ascension”
• Third Glorious Mystery – the Descent of the Holy Spirit
  Our parish participated in the Renew program, and it was a real blessing to many of us.  It reawakened our faith, with a new and deeper desire to live the Gospel life.  One part of the program was a large group gathering with speakers from the diocese doing a presentation.       There weren’t … Continue reading “Third Glorious Mystery – the Descent of the Holy Spirit”
• Fourth Glorious Mystery – the Assumption of Mary
  When I meditate on the mystery of the Assumption, I’m reminded of an experience as a hospice volunteer that’s been a blessing in my life.  I was spending time with a lovely elderly lady who was dying of cancer, providing respite care so her husband could have time to run some errands.  She looked very … Continue reading “Fourth Glorious Mystery – the Assumption of Mary”
• Fifth Glorious Mystery – the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven
  On December 8, 2010, Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay celebrated Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion WI, and declared the appearance of Mary to Sr. Adele Brise in this very spot in 1859 to be worthy of belief.  My friend Mary Ann, a third order … Continue reading “Fifth Glorious Mystery – the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven”