# Workout Rosary Challenge – Joyful Mysteries
*2017-07-22*

> Bill Young celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdalene and explains the purpose of the Workout Rosary Challenge, sharing the Fatima sacrificial prayer and leading the Joyful Mysteries while encouraging prayer during exercise.

## Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Good morning, I’m Bill Young. Today, July 22, we honor St. Mary Magdalene, often confused with other Marys. For almost two thousand years she has been a victim of mistaken identity, yet she remains a powerful witness to the Resurrection. She reminds us that all sinners need God’s saving grace.

## Why the Workout Rosary Challenge?

The challenge grew out of the Fatima prayer given to the three shepherd children on July 13, 1917. The prayer asks for the conversion of sinners and reparation for offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I was surprised that many, even my parish priest, were unaware of this prayer, so I had a T‑shirt printed with the prayer on the back to share it. The idea is simple: pray the Rosary while you exercise, so you don’t have to set aside extra time for prayer.

## How to Pray While Working Out

You can pray the Rosary on a stationary bike, treadmill, or while walking in place—any activity that doesn’t require intense concentration. The goal is to combine physical effort with spiritual effort, hoping that if as many people prayed the Rosary as exercised, world peace would follow. If you miss a day, simply continue the next day.

## The Joyful Mysteries with the Sacrificial Prayer

We begin with the Fatima prayer:

“Dear Lady of the Holy Rosary, we receive your promise of peace and reconciliation. Through the prayers of the Rosary, may we bring the world back to your Son by your intercession. Holy Mary of Fatima, pray for us and for the Legion of Mary. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Then we pray the Joyful Mysteries, each accompanied by a Hail Mary for a specific intention (world peace, hope, love, humility, etc.) and the Our Father. The mysteries are:
1. The Annunciation – humility
2. The Visitation – love of neighbor
3. The Nativity – poverty and simplicity
4. The Presentation – obedience
5. The Finding in the Temple – joy in discovering Christ

After each decade we conclude with the traditional prayers: Glory Be, Fatima prayer, and the Hail Holy Queen.

## Community and Invitation

Yesterday at our Legion of Mary meeting we prayed for fellow members in Western Florida, a wealthy but sparsely populated area, asking that they too come to know Mary’s love. I also encourage you to support Marian ministries—donations can be made through Divine Mercy (divinemercy.org) or the Marian Press (1‑800‑462‑7426). If you’d like the prayer booklet, it’s available from the Marian Press.

## Closing Thoughts

St. Mary Magdalene shows us that even those once misunderstood can become the first proclaimers of the Resurrection. Let us follow her example: pray the Rosary, offer our sacrifices, and trust that Mary intercedes for us and for the world.

*Combining prayer with daily activity lets us sanctify even the most ordinary moments.*