A Short Story from Fables of Good Will:

Since she was young, she had a passion for helping people. Once, as a child, she had volunteered her help at a soup kitchen. The parents, teachers and friends thought that it must have been simply a phase, something that she was experimenting with. This trait only grew with her as she aged. And though, now as an adult, she was engaged in many other endeavors, she still volunteered her time at the soup kitchen every Friday. One Friday, after spending time with those in the soup kitchen, she was driving home across the bridge that connected the two busy parts of the coastal city. Her eyes spotted in terror a man who was standing along the ledge of the bridge. To the water below, there was a long drop. The closer she got, the more frightened she became. She watched in horror as other cars, passed quickly by, some even honking. There was no stopping along this bridge and so as she neared the man, she slowed down the car. It was too late. He had jumped. She broke into tears and stopped the car, running out to the ledge, looking into the swirling current beneath her. The cars collecting behind her car on the bridge were honking. She was terrified. That evening when she got home, she was still crying and sobbing as she called the police. “I want to report a suicide.” The police asked her where it occurred and what happened. And after she answered, her horror grew as the police officer told her that this was common. That this sort of thing happened all of the time in the city and that there was nothing they could do. Nothing they could do? Common? She could not believe those responses. She could not accept them. And so, she went on her computer and typed in to the search engine, ‘bridge suicides in the city’. She wept with what she discovered. She never knew. On the screen, came a photo of a missing person. She recognized the person. He was a regular at the soup kitchen. She closed her computer and got out a large pack of paper and a dark pen. On the paper, she wrote in large letters a different message on each. On one, she wrote, “You’re valuable. Don’t ever forget how important you are.” And on another, “Don’t give up. Things are getting better all of the time.” Afterwards, she placed each sheet of paper into a plastic covering and drove back to the bridge. It was very late then and there was little traffic. The cars that would pass could simply go around her car. Until, on the bridge, she stopped every fifty yards and stapled the posters up on the ledges. Afterwards, she returned home and slept. She knew the posters would be torn down by the city in time. She did not care. She would continue putting up the signs if she had to. A couple of days later, she was at home watching television when the news came on. She was surprised to see that photos of her signs were being aired and the reporter was speaking to two young people who were saying how they were going to commit suicide the night earlier. That was until they came across one of these signs. The two young people started to cry. “Whoever created these signs, we just want to thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You saved our lives. Things do get better.” She turned off the television and smiled warmly as a tear fell down her cheek.

A Short Story from Fables of Good Will:

There was a woman, in her thirties who received disability pension. She struggled with depression and PTSD. Her husband had been in the military and died in combat. Every month, she would ensure that she had the rent paid and her groceries paid for. She attended church every day but always refused help from them, saying ‘others need it more than me’. With the rest of her income, she would offer half of it to the church. The rest, 100$ or so, she would take to the bank and asked for it to be changed into loonies. ‘One hundred loonies?’ the bank teller would ask a little suspiciously. She would nod solemnly and then walk to the dollar store close to her home. She would walk around the dollar store for nearly an hour, pretending to inspect goods for purchase while she secretly, lay the dollars, one by one in places that wouldn’t be entirely visible but that would be hard to miss if close enough to them. When she had finished laying the final coin down behind a roll of toilet paper, she smiled and went to leave the store. The employees would, each month, eye her with a mildly more serious suspicion, as she would simply sit near the exit of the store and watch people as they, one by one came across her gifts. She would eye them with delight and joy and even greater joy as these same customers passed her as they left. Not knowing who was responsible, but only knowing they were slightly richer. With joy, at the end of the night, she would walk home, maker her supper and watch Mass on television. This was surely the part of her month that she looked forward to the most.

A Short Story from Fables of Good Will:

The child was very young when he first met him. He was just recovering from brain surgery. He developed a brain tumor when he was two years old. His parents, though they visited, were not entirely supportive. They had their new family, two other children who they would drag along to each visit with their child in the hospital. Between visits, it almost seemed as though they had forgotten entirely that they had another son. This little child, though, never forgot and always looked forward to his parent’s visits. He had met this little one at the children’s hospital, when he was signing autographs and taking pictures with the patients as a promotional event for his sports career. He played for a popular team and was very successful. The moment he set foot in the children’s hospital, everything changed for him. He met so many beautiful people. In hindsight, he considered himself naïve that it came as a shock to him that children could be subject to such unfortunate situations. He always believed that only bad people, people who in some way deserved it, were saddled with these sorts of fates. The first time he met this little boy, the boy was five years old. He was seated behind a long table and signing autographs for the other patients, nurses and family members when the little boy came up around behind the table and held out his arms to him. The football player was nothing of a family man, lived a party lifestyle and didn’t have much experience with kids. The manager came over to scold the child when he pushed the manager away and reached out to pick up the little one. As he picked him up, the boy turned his head so that he could see the large scar across his head. A tear formed in his eye as the child put his arms around him and held him. The boy clung to him for a minute until patiently, the football star placed him down on the ground and continued to sign autographs and to pose for photos. But afterwards, he asked his manager to find out where the child was so that he could send him a personalized autographed photo. The manager did as he was asked and the football player sent a photo and a gift basket with toys and movies and games. He was very surprised when he received a letter in response one day from the boy, written in illegible handwriting with a copy of what he had written underneath it in clearer handwriting. The boy expressed his love for football and how he wished he had a dad like him. He loved watching him play on television in the hospital common area. And so, the two, the boy and the football player exchanged letters for a couple of years. They both sent a letter a month until one day, the football player received a letter in a different envelope. This letter didn’t have the boy’s handwriting on it. Reading the letter, he started to cry. The boy had developed another tumor and had to go for surgery again. The boy wished that he could see the football player one more time. Getting in his car, almost immediately, he drove to the hospital, which happened to be fairly far away. When he got to the boy’s room, he watched the boy through the window. The boy was watching one of his football games and was jumping up and down with joy as his team made a touchdown. Slowly, he pushed aside the door and when the boy saw him, his joy increased. “I have to go back for surgery,” he said sadly. “I know,” the football player responded. “But you will be okay.” The boy looked down. “The only thing I want is to run a touchdown. I’ll probably never get to do that.” The football star left that evening with conviction and sorrow. He knew he wanted to do something for the boy but he didn’t know what he could do. Besides, he had a football game coming up that he had to concentrate on. When he thought of the football game, something in his mind clicked. That’s it! He knew what he would do. He called his manager that evening. The morning after, he called the hospital, looking to speak with the boy. They said that was impossible. When he said who he was, they recognized him and his friendship with the boy. He asked them if he could arrange to come and pick the boy up that Friday. And after some convincing, they agreed. That Friday, when he picked the boy up, the boy was curious but overjoyed to see his friend. “Where are we going?” He asked. The football star smiled coyly and handed him a football. “Where are we going?” He repeated, with enthusiasm. The football player kept quiet until they were in front of the city stadium. “We’re going to see a game?” The boy cried with excitement. Entering the building, the football player knelt down held the boy’s shoulders gently and said, “I have to go get ready. I’m going to leave you with my manager.” The boy nodded and smiled. The manager took him to his seat at the front row behind the middle of the field. The game passed very quickly, so great was the boy’s excitement. The manager got him some popcorn and a soda. Towards the end of the game, there were about thirty seconds remaining when the whistle was called. His team was down a couple of points. When the boy looked up, he saw his own face on the screen. He smiled shyly and looked to the manager beside him. The manager smiled at him. Then, the referee spoke into a microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest here with us today. He is a friend of one of our football players. We would like to invite him onto the field right now.” The manager stood and walked out onto the field. The boy watched him and followed slowly when he turned and beckoned to him with his hand. Then, when they were all in the middle of the field, his friend the football player, helped the boy to put his team’s jersey on. It was his size. When he had gotten it on, the team lined up and the whistle was blown. The boy was given the ball. He ran with all of his might, with all of his strength and with all of his heart. The other team followed him slowly, trying to tackle him but failing. The rest of his team cheered him on until he made his touch down. With victory, he held the football in the air and threw it at the ground, like he had seen so many times on television. The crowd went wild and his friend picked him up on his shoulders and the rest of the team came and gave him high fives. That evening, when he returned to the hospital, he hugged his friend and said to him, “That was the best day of my life. Thank you.” The boy was operated on a week later. He made a miraculous recovery within a week. His friend, the football star, visited him every week until he was eventually discharged from the hospital.

Rosary of the Father

Our Father

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps 16:11) Hail Mary

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. (Ps 30:11) Hail Mary

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 Jn 4:6,7) Hail Mary

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (Jn 17:3) Hail Mary

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (Jn 17:1-5) Hail Mary

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (Jn 17:7) Hail Mary

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:11-13) Hail Mary

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Jn 1:1) Hail Mary

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. (Isa 55:8) Hail Mary

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3,4) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (Jn 5:30) Hail Mary

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Jn 3:36) Hail Mary

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Jn 14:6) Hail Mary

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord. (Jer 22:16) Hail Mary

I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jer 24:7) Hail Mary

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (Jn 10:14,15) Hail Mary

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1) Hail Mary

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (Jn 1:12,13) Hail Mary

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (Jn 14:9) Hail Mary

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Ps 4:7) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isa 61:10) Hail Mary

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 Jn 4:8) Hail Mary

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Pet 3:9) Hail Mary

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 Jn 1:5) Hail Mary

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isa 40:28) Hail Mary

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (Js 1:17) Hail Mary

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (Ps 18:30) Hail Mary

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (Jn 4:24) Hail Mary

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. (1 Pet 1:15) Hail Mary

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 Jn 5:3) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Ex 34:6,7) Hail Mary

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10) Hail Mary

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isa 6:3) Hail Mary

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Mt 6:26) Hail Mary

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Rev 5:13) Hail Mary

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Ps 90:2) Hail Mary

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (Jn 15:13) Hail Mary

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. (Ps 19:1-5) Hail Mary

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1:3,4) Hail Mary

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Gen 9:12-15) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Gen 9:16,17) Hail Mary

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7) Hail Mary

Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them. (Job 39:1-4) Hail Mary

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kg 19:11-13) Hail Mary

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jh 4:5-11) Hail Mary

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” (Gen 4:8-12) Hail Mary

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Gen 3:8-10) Hail Mary

One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ep 4:6) Hail Mary

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (Jn 1:18) Hail Mary

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps 27:1) Hail Mary

Glory be

Rosary of Christ our Lord

Our Father

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Cl 1:15) Hail Mary

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Mic 5:2) Hail Mary

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isa 7:14) Hail Mary

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isa 9:1,2) Hail Mary

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (Ps 8:2) Hail Mary

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. (Ps 109:4) Hail Mary

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet (Ps 22:16) Hail Mary

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah (Ps 49:15) Hail Mary

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah (Ps 24:7-10) Hail Mary

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isa 53:5-12) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40) Hail Mary

And the angel answered 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. (Lk 1:35) Hail Mary

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town 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 registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Lk 2:1-7) Hail Mary

And in the same 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 great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto 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.” (Lk 2:8-12) Hail Mary

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk 2:14) Hail Mary

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 who first 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.” (Lk 2:22-24) Hail Mary

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 appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:33-35) Hail Mary

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (Lk 2:39,40) Hail Mary

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 group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. (Lk 2:41-45) Hail Mary

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 his answers. And when his parents 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 searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Lk 2:46-52) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Then Jesus came _l from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Mt 3:13-17) Hail Mary

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:1-5) Hail Mary

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (Jn 2:6-11) Hail Mary

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching _t in the synagogues of Judea. (Lk 4:42-44) Hail Mary

When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mt 8:1-4) Hail Mary

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Mt 8:23-27) Hail Mary

And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (Jn 6:2-14) Hail Mary

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (Jn 11:40-44) Hail Mary

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Mt 17:1-8) Hail Mary

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” (Mt 26:26-29) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Lk 22:39-46) Hail Mary

And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? “While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.” (Lk 22:50-53) Hail Mary

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Isa 50:6) Hail Mary

So then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged (Jn 19:1) Hail Mary

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. (Mt 27:27-30) Hail Mary

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (Mt 27:15-23) Hail Mary

So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. (Jn 19:16-18) Hail Mary

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Lk 23:34) Hail Mary

And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23:42,43) Hail Mary

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Lk 23:44-49) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (Mt 27:65,66) Hail Mary

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mk 16:5-7) Hail Mary

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25,26) Hail Mary

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mk 16:6) Hail Mary

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. (Lk 24:6,7) Hail Mary

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cn 15:3,4) Hail Mary

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” (Mt 28:5,6) Hail Mary

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. (Jn 20:8,9) Hail Mary

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (Jn 12:23-25) Hail Mary

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Act 4:33) Hail Mary

Glory be

Rosary of the Holy Spirit

Our Father

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2) Hail Mary

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Eze 36:26,27) Hail Mary

 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (Jn 14:15-17) Hail Mary

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (Jn 14:26) Hail Mary

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22,23) Hail Mary

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Isa 11:2) Hail Mary

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ep 1:11-14) Hail Mary

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (Jn 3:8) Hail Mary

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rm 15:13) Hail Mary

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Cn 2:13) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

And the angel answered 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. (Lk 1:35) Hail Mary

And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (Act 5:32) Hail Mary

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Cn 3:16,17) Hail Mary

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (Jn 16:7,8) Hail Mary

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit 3:4-7) Hail Mary

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Mt 10:19,20) Hail Mary

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rm 8:14) Hail Mary

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal 4:6) Hail Mary

When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! (Ps 104:29-32) Hail Mary

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cn 12:13) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Act 2:1-4) Hail Mary

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. (Jl 2:28,29) Hail Mary

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ep 1:13,14) Hail Mary

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4) Hail Mary

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (Jn 3:8) Hail Mary

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. (Neh 9:20) Hail Mary

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Lk 4:18,19) Hail Mary

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7) Hail Mary

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (Jn 20:21-23) Hail Mary

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 Jn 2:27) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. (Act 9:40) Hail Mary

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ep 3:14-19) Hail Mary

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Mt 12:31,32) Hail Mary

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. (Mt 12:33) Hail Mary

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:45-49) Hail Mary

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (Jn 3:6-8) Hail Mary

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Rm 8:2-6) Hail Mary

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cn 5:16-18) Hail Mary

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah (Ps 52:1-3) Hail Mary

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. (Mic 3:8-10) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. (Act 20:7-12) Hail Mary

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 Jn 2:19-27) Hail Mary

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cn 3:17) Hail Mary

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt 28:19,20) Hail Mary

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Lk 11:13) Hail Mary

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rm 5:5) Hail Mary

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (Jd 1:20,21) Hail Mary

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Act 4:31) Hail Mary

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:21,22) Hail Mary

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cn 2:11) Hail Mary

Glory be

A short story from Fables of Good Will

A man was walking down the street one day. It was a small, quiet town. He was caught up in his thoughts as he kicked a few pebbles beneath his feet. When he passed the little well by the village gate, he began to hear a gentle whimper. The nearer he got, the whimper grew into a cry and the cry, into a yell. He came close to the well and looking down into its depths, he could not see anything. When he raised his voice, calling into the well, the response came immediately. It was a weakened yelp. The man could not see. A dog? A calf? He quickly rushed back to the town and gathered a number of others who could help. And quickly gathering some supplies, a ladder, a basket and a rope, they rushed back to the well. The man called back and received a response. The response this time was weak and even more frightened than it had been. The group gathered around the well could hear the splashing of the water as the animal struggled. Slowly, then and cautiously, the man, aided by the others, lowered the basket, which they had hastily but efficiently tied to the rope. When the rope on the basket stopped descending, they heard an excited cry and suddenly, it grew taut. The group, quickly lifted the rope to the top of the well. What they saw when the basket came in sight surprised them. It was a child! He was panting and crying now. When the basket had been completely hoisted out of the well, the group placed it on the ground. The child, no more than five years old had clearly been terrified. When he surveyed the group, he burst out in tears and held out his arms. The man lifted him up and held him, stroking the back of his head. That moment, the group started to hear other shouts. This time from the village. After a couple of minutes, a woman came running up the hill to the group. She saw her child and rushed to the man who handed him to her. She didn’t know what had happened. The group collected their tools and dispersed. The man stood at the well for a moment, watching the mother as she carried the child down the hill. The child was weeping still but through his tears and over his mother’s shoulder, he looked up to the man, standing on the hill and smiled warmly to him.

This is the first short story in my collection of short stories called Fables of Good Will.

Rosary of Justice and Protection

Our Father

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8) Hail Mary

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. (Isa 1:17) Hail Mary

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (Js 1:27) Hail Mary

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. (Pv 29:7) Hail Mary

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (Pv 14:31) Hail Mary

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Lk 11:42) Hail Mary

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. (Jer 22:3) Hail Mary

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. (Ps 140:12) Hail Mary

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. (Deut 10:18) Hail Mary

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rm 12:19) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isa 61:8) Hail Mary

Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’ (Deut 32:35) Hail Mary

“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Deut 27:19) Hail Mary

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. (Deut 15:7) Hail Mary

You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. (Lev 19:15) Hail Mary

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? (1 Jn 3:17) Hail Mary

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (Js 2:5) Hail Mary

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Lk 4:18,19) Hail Mary

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt 6:33) Hail Mary

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mt 6:24) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. (Mal 3:5) Hail Mary

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” (Zec 7:9,10) Hail Mary

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) Hail Mary

Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God. (Eze 22:31) Hail Mary

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? Declares the Lord. (Jer 22:16) Hail Mary

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. (Isa 58:9,10) Hail Mary

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. (Isa 30:18) Hail Mary

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. (Ps 68:5) Hail Mary

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Rev 21:3) Hail Mary

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (Js 5:1-6) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ep 6:11) Hail Mary

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah (Ps 32:7) Hail Mary

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1) Hail Mary

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Heb 13:6) Hail Mary

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. (Isa 54:17) Hail Mary

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. (Ps 18:35,36) Hail Mary

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. (Ps 16:1) Hail Mary

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (Ex 14:14) Hail Mary

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Pl 4:13) Hail Mary

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mt 25:31-46) Hail Mary

Glory be

Our Father

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Pv 4:23) Hail Mary

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (Ps 16:8) Hail Mary

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Ps 3:3) Hail Mary

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Pv 18:10) Hail Mary

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? (2 Sm 22:32) Hail Mary

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim 4:18) Hail Mary

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nah 1:7) Hail Mary

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Mt 26:53) Hail Mary

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (Pv 2:8) Hail Mary

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev 7:16,17) Hail Mary

Glory be