Joyful Mysteries Mediation: The First Mystery—The Annunciation
Leonardo da Vinci. (circa 1472). Annunciation [Painting]. Wikimedia Commons.
[Editor’s Note: Over several weeks, beginning in August 2026, the Life-Giving Wounds blog began posting meditations upon the Joyful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. These mediations were written as part of our new Joyful Mysteries booklet. We invite you to pray a whole Rosary with us, or even just a decade, at the conclusion of each meditation.]
"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary." (Lk 1:26-27)
At the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she would become the mother of the Messiah. With unwavering faith, Mary said ‘yes’ and Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, too, accepted his role in salvation history, and together they provided a secure and loving home for Jesus, one where He could grow in wisdom and grace (Cf. Lk 2:52).
As children of divorce or separation, we did not always enjoy the same security that Jesus did. We may never remember a time when there was peace in our home, or we may grieve for what we once had, but lost. The love our parents previously shared turned into anger and mistrust before our eyes, and the family unity we knew dissolved into chaos and division. This left our hearts feeling shattered and broken, just like our home. Without both parents present to take care of each other, as Mary and Joseph did, we often carried burdens that should not have been ours. This brokenness shaped our identity.
In this mystery, Gabriel announced to Mary that her Son would be great and would be called Son of the Most High. He said that the Lord would give Him the throne of David, His father, and He would rule over the house of Jacob forever (Cf. Lk 1:31-33). Jesus’ true identity was revealed from the moment of His conception, and, from the stability of His home in Nazareth, He was free to accept and embrace it.
It can be a struggle to embrace our own identity in the aftermath of parental divorce or separation. It is easy to forget that we belong to a loving God when we are just trying to survive. Yet,God tells us that He has loved us with an everlasting love (Cf. Jer 31:3), and that He knit us together in our mother’s womb (Cf. Ps 139:13).
As members of the Body of Christ, everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to us as well. The Holy Family can be a source of wisdom and grace for us, too. Even though we may not have grown up within the stability of a strong marriage, we belong first and foremost to God’s family, the Church.
Trusting God takes courage; we can turn to Mary for inspiration and grace. Her Fiat at the Annunciation would eventually take her to the foot of the Cross, where she would renew her ‘yes’ in the suffering and desolation of Calvary. May we have the courage to bring our wounds to God, who alone can heal us and give us our true identity. For, as Gabriel told Mary at the Annunciation, “nothing will be impossible for God.” (Lk 1:37)
Prayer Intention:
For every child of divorce or separation to find their true identity as a beloved son or daughter of God.
Keeping this intention and any others in mind, let us pray the first decade of the Most Holy Rosary.
About the Author:
Kristelle has been a campus minister in theArchdiocese of Boston since 2004, having served at Emerson College, MIT, and, currently, Framingham State University. In 2020, she attended a Life-Giving Woundsretreat. She is active inUnbound Ministry, is anindependent author, and holds a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry fromSt. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA.
Reflection Questions for Small Groups or Individuals:
What special burdens did/do you carry as an Adult Child of Divorce or Separation?
How has family brokenness shaped your identity?
How have you struggled to embrace our own identity in the aftermath of parental divorce or separation?
How can meditating upon the Holy Family help to reform your understanding of your identity?
Healing happens when we journey together.
If this reflection on the First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary resonated with you, consider obtaining a copy of the full Joyful Mysteries Rosary Meditations Booklet for ACODs.
You do not have to carry the darkness alone.
Together, we can walk into the light.