# The Seven Joys of Mary in Heaven
*2017-05-16*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Margaret of Cortona and leads a devotion to the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a rosary and concluding prayers.

## St. Margaret of Cortona

Today, May 16, is the feast day of St. Margaret of Cortona (1247‑1297). Margaret was born to farming parents in Tuscany. After her mother died when she was seven, she lived with a stepmother, ran away at fifteen, had a lover and a child, and endured great hardship after her lover was murdered. She returned home, was rejected by her father, and sought refuge with the Franciscans. Her son later became a friar, and Margaret entered the Third Order of St. Francis, devoting her life to Christ.

## Why We Meditate on Mary’s Joys

May is traditionally the month of Mary, and while we often focus on her sorrows, the Church also honors her profound joys. The Seven Joys of Mary trace the most blessed moments of her life, from the Annunciation to the Assumption. Early Christians celebrated these events on Marian feast days, and over time they formed a distinct devotion, especially promoted by saints such as St. Bernardine of Siena.

## The Devotion of the Seven Joys

We began with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles’ Creed. Then we recited a series of Hail Marys, each invoking a different joy:
1. Mary’s joy at the Annunciation – “Rejoice, Spouse of the Holy Spirit….”
2. Her joy at the Visitation – “Rejoice, O true Mother of God….”
3. Her joy at the Nativity – “Rejoice, O Daughter of God….”
4. Her joy at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple – “Rejoice, O Handmaid of the Most Holy Trinity….”
5. Her joy at the Finding of the Child in the Temple – “Rejoice, O Princess of Heaven….”
6. Her joy at the Assumption – “Rejoice, Hope of Sinners and Refuge of the Afflicted….”
7. Her joy at the Coronation in Heaven – “Rejoice, O Mother, Daughter and Spouse of God….”
Each prayer concluded with the traditional “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus; Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

## Rosary and Sorrowful Mysteries

After the joyful devotion we moved to the rosary. We opened with the Sign of the Cross, a prayer for the Holy Spirit, and the Our Father. The rosary began with the first Hail Mary for hope, the second for love, and the third for peace, each followed by the Our Father and a brief meditation on the corresponding sorrowful mystery (the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion). Each decade ended with the concluding prayers: “Glory be to the Father…”, “O God, forgive us our sins…”, and the Hail Holy Queen.

## Closing Prayer

We finished with a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, St. Louis de Montfort, and all the saints, asking that our meditation on Mary’s joys and the rosary may draw us closer to Christ and secure the grace of eternal salvation. The episode concluded with a blessing and a wish for a peaceful evening.

*Meditating on Mary’s joys reminds us that even in a life of suffering, the light of God’s grace shines brightly.*