Hi and welcome back to another episode from this Kneeler. In this episode, we're going to take a leisurely stroll through the days of the Christmas season, focusing especially on the saints and holy days that mark this sacred time. We'll explore what each day means in our liturgical calendar, delve into the stories and significance behind them, and most importantly, discuss practical ways you can honor these days intentionally in your own life. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or just curious about our traditions, I hope this inspires you to keep the Christmas spirit alive well into the new year.

Midway through the podcast episode we will pause for a brief moment of prayer; praying to Our Lady of Champion using the prayer by Bishop David L. Ricken courtesy of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.

As we wrap up our time together, let us finish with a powerful prayer invoking our guardian angels, patron saints, Mother Mary, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

The Luminous Mysteries (also called the Mysteries of Light) of the Rosary focus on the public ministry of Jesus Christ, illuminating His mission and divine nature. They were introduced by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002 and are meditated upon while praying five decades of the Rosary.

The five Luminous Mysteries are:

1. The Baptism of Jesus — Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, where the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the Father's voice declares, "This is my beloved Son."
2. The Wedding at Cana — At Mary's request, Jesus performs His first miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding feast, revealing His glory to the disciples.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom — Jesus preaches the coming of the Kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and conversion, and teaching through parables and miracles.
4. The Transfiguration — On a mountain, Jesus is transfigured in dazzling light before Peter, James, and John, with Moses and Elijah appearing and the Father's voice affirming Him.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist — At the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the Eucharist, offering His Body and Blood under the forms of bread and wine as a perpetual sacrifice.

In the Catholic Church, the Luminous Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Thursdays throughout the year.

The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary focus on the triumph of Jesus over death and the glorification of Mary. They are meditated upon while praying five decades of the Rosary.

The five Glorious Mysteries are:

1. The Resurrection — Jesus rises from the dead on the third day, appearing first to Mary Magdalene and conquering sin and death.
2. The Ascension — Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus ascends into Heaven body and soul, while promising to send the Holy Spirit.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit — At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles and Mary in the form of tongues of fire, empowering them to spread the Gospel.
4. The Assumption — At the end of her earthly life, Mary is taken up body and soul into Heaven by God.
5. The Coronation — Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth by her Son, reigning with Him in glory.

In the Catholic Church, the Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year (with exceptions during Advent/Christmas for Joyful Mysteries and Lent for Sorrowful Mysteries on Sundays).

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary focus on the Passion and suffering of Jesus Christ. They are meditated upon while praying five decades of the Rosary.

The five Sorrowful Mysteries are:

1. The Agony in the Garden — Jesus prays in Gethsemane, experiencing great anguish as He accepts the Father's will, sweating blood while His disciples sleep.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar — Jesus is brutally whipped by Roman soldiers at Pilate's command.
3. The Crowning with Thorns — Soldiers mock Jesus as "King of the Jews" by placing a crown of thorns on His head and dressing Him in a purple robe.
4. The Carrying of the Cross — Jesus carries His heavy cross to Calvary, falling multiple times along the way, with help from Simon of Cyrene.
5. The Crucifixion — Jesus is nailed to the cross, suffers for three hours, forgives His executioners, and dies, with Mary and John at His side.

In the Catholic Church, the Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year, as well as on Sundays during the season of Lent.

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary focus on the early life of Jesus and the joys experienced by Mary and Joseph. They are meditated upon while praying five decades of the Rosary.

The five Joyful Mysteries are:

1. The Annunciation — The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Visitation — Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, and Elizabeth proclaims Mary's blessedness.
3. The Nativity — Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.
4. The Presentation — Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple, where Simeon and Anna recognize Him as the Messiah.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple — At age 12, Jesus is found in the Temple discussing Scripture with the teachers, after Mary and Joseph search for Him anxiously.

In the Catholic Church, the Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays throughout the year, as well as on Sundays during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Satan hates marriages and families. Protect your family from His attacks by covering your marriage and family in prayer every single day. If you’re looking for a prayer to incorporate for your marriage, look no further!! 

We are called to pray for one another, and our holy priests are definitely moved by our prayers. Consider adding this prayer to your daily or weekly rotation to cover your parish priests and the Catholic priests around the world under the protection of God. 

In this episode, we will be talking about advent season and how my family is honoring and celebrating advent season, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, and yes, Christmas. 
I’ll also dive into discussing different seasons of life, the current season that my family finds itself in, and how we can transform the lens that we are using to look at our life to give glory to God. And we will also talk about learning to really lean on God when we feel we have nothing more to give.

I also need ideas for Christmas Day meals, so please drop your suggestions and recipes to me over on Instagram @fromthiskneeler

Thanks so much for joining me and I cannot wait to continue growing and sharing our journeys together. 

As we wrap up our time together, let us finish with a powerful prayer invoking our guardian angels, patron saints, Mother Mary, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Hi! Welcome to From This Kneeler, a podcast with Mallory as we journey through motherhood raising the next generation of catholic sons and daughters for Christ our King in a world that would love to see them serving it, rather than Him. 

In this episode I talk about myself, my family and what to expect as we walk this road together! Thanks for being here. 

As we wrap up our time together, let us finish with a powerful prayer invoking our guardian angels, patron saints, Mother Mary, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

In this triumphant episode, we pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in Petition as part of the traditional 54-Day Rosary Novena. Offering a crown of golden roses to Our Lady of Victory, we meditate on the Resurrection, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Assumption, and Coronation of Mary—linking each decade to our earnest intentions, seeking her triumphant intercession for renewal and eternal hope. Join us as we recite the prayers together, reflect on the virtues of faith, hope, charity, devotion to Mary, and eternal joy inspired by these mysteries, and place our petitions in the light of Christ’s glory. Ideal for those in the petition phase of the novena or yearning for resurrection in their own lives.