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The word joyful in Latin is laetantam alleluia, which uniquely fits each of the mysteries that we walked through last week. This week we will be walking prayerfully through the Luminous mysteries. Known as the Mysteries of Light, the Luminous Mysteries call our attention to Jesus’ desire for us to have the light of His life within us. 

By December 31st each year, I set a few intentional goals and choose a word to focus on throughout the coming year. My word for 2020 was joy.

Last summer, my husband and I loaded our preschooler son and baby daughter into the car to make the short drive to the beach. We could hardly wait to see family members and soak in a beautiful new environment after months of quarantine. 

Sharing my children doesn’t come easily to me. Perhaps it’s because we live far away from our family members and go about our day-to-day lives pretty independently, or perhaps it’s because of my own pride or selfishness. It’s probably a little bit of both.

My mom collects nativity scenes. Through over a decade of living and traveling abroad, she has amassed quite the collection, each one more unique than the last.

Not five minutes after I hit “publish” on my pregnancy announcement Instagram post, two of my dearest college friends texted me almost identical messages.

“Congratulations!!! I’m pregnant too!”

So began a group text thread between the three of us former roommates, spread out across the country and all due with our first babies within a few weeks of one another.

If there is someone who knows what it feels like when plans are completely turned upside down, it’s Mary.

This week, we begin our annual Prayer Pledge by reflecting on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Stepping into this new year, I desire few things more deeply than joy—heart-filling, head thrown back in laughter, completely in-the-moment joy.