Rosary May 19, 2026

In May 1884, Don Bosco wrote in a letter from Rome: “Preach to everyone, great and small, that they should always remember they are children of Mary Help of Christians. That she herself has gathered them here to lead them away from the dangers of the world, so that they might love one another as brothers and give glory to God and to her by their good conduct. That it is Our Lady who provides them with bread and the means to study with infinite graces and wonders.” Today, in this month of May dedicated to the Help of Christians, we also wish to join in prayer and turn to Her, invoking the powerful graces of which Don Bosco wrote—in particular, peace for all young people suffering in war zones and inner peace for those who carry a war within themselves every day. May Mary teach us that “Those who know they are loved, love; and those who are loved obtain everything.”  

O God, come to my assistance…  

The first sorrowful mystery: we contemplate the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death; remain here and keep watch with me."   ·

Jesus enters Gethsemane with a heavy heart, just as we do when we feel crushed by the choices we must make. He feels fear, loneliness, and uncertainty: emotions we know well. Yet He does not run away, He does not close Himself off: He stays, He prays, He speaks with the Father. In that moment, He teaches us that peace does not come by avoiding problems, but by walking through them with trust. Gethsemane is the place where we learn to say “Thy will be done” without losing ourselves. ·

Let us pray:

Lord, grant peace to our thoughts and accompany us in the decisions that help us grow and mature. Mary, Mother of trust, stay beside us when our hearts tremble.  

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.  

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and 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.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.  

Praised always be the most holy name of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.   O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. And send us holy priests, holy sisters, holy families, and holy friends.  

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!    

The second sorrowful mystery: we contemplate the scourging of Jesus at the pillar.  

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and placed it on his head, and acknowledged him with a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' and struck him with their hands.”   ·

Jesus is struck and wounded, the victim of unjust and cruel violence. How many times do we also experience words that hurt, hasty judgments, or exclusions that leave deep marks. Jesus does not respond with anger but transforms the pain into an offering, into love that endures. He shows us that no one can take away our dignity, not even those who hurt us. He invites us to become young people capable of breaking the chain of evil.

· Let us pray: Lord, heal the wounds of young people and of us all; make us instruments of peace in our schools, families, and groups. Mary, Mother of tenderness, bind our wounds and teach us not to wound others.    

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory Be…

Praised always be the most holy name of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!    

The third sorrowful mystery: we contemplate the crowning with thorns.  

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'”   ·

Jesus is mocked, humiliated, and reduced to a caricature of a king, yet He does not lose His identity: He knows who He is, He knows for Whom He lives, He knows what His mission is. Sometimes we too feel judged, labeled, or put into boxes that do not belong to us. Vocation is born right here: in recognizing our deepest truth, the one that no one can distort. Jesus invites us not to let ourselves be defined by the gaze of others, but by the gaze of God. ·

Let us pray: Lord, help us to discover our vocation and to walk with freedom toward who we are called to become. Mary, Mother of vocation, help us understand who we are and for whom to live.  

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory Be…

Praised always be the most holy name of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!    

The fourth sorrowful mystery: we contemplate Jesus carrying the Cross to Calvary.

“They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha—which is translated Place of the Skull.”   ·

The cross is heavy, and Jesus does not play the hero: He accepts the help of Simon of Cyrene. It is a simple but revolutionary gesture: even God made man needs others. How many times instead do we pretend to always make it on our own, for fear of appearing weak. The Christian life is a shared journey, where we learn to support one another and to let ourselves be supported. The community thus becomes the place of discernment, where crosses do not crush us but unite us. ·

Let us pray: Lord, make us young people, men, and women capable of asking for and offering help, building communities that support and guide. Mary, Mother of the journey, teach us to walk together and to leave no one behind.  

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory Be…

Praised always be the most holy name of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!    

The fifth sorrowful mystery: we contemplate the crucifixion and death of Jesus.  

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.' ... It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit'; and when he had said this he breathed his last.”   ·

On the cross, Jesus gives everything, until His last breath: it is love taken to the ultimate limit. It is not a defeat, but the moment in which life opens to new life. We too are called to make choices that cost, that require courage, that make us grow. Great decisions—studies, work, relationships, vocation—are born from a heart that knows how to give itself. The cross teaches us that true love builds peace, future, and hope. ·

Let us pray: Lord, guide our important choices and make our lives a gift for those we meet. Mary, Mother of Love, accompany us in the choices that shape our future.  

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory Be…

Praised always be the most holy name of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!    

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary.