Joyful Mysteries
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Annunciation
A One Act Play
Based on a true story written by God
- Screenplay by Fr. Kelly
- Producer/Director: Jeffrey Collins
Act 1: The entire one-act play takes place in the bedroom of a young girl. The scene opens with the young girl, whose name is Mary, sitting by herself. She looks up in response to a bright light that comes from stage left.
Mary: Oh, my gosh…What is that brightness over there? What’s happening?
Angel: Good morning, Mary. You have always been good and holy. Even as a little baby…God was very happy with you.
So God would like you to have a baby. The little baby will be God’s son and the baby’s name will be Jesus. And Jesus will do wonderful things so that everyone will live in peace!
Mary: But I’m not married!
Angel: The Holy Spirit will call this baby to life within you.
And, I have even more news for you. Your cousin Elizabeth…even though she is an older lady…is also going to have a baby.
Mary: Whatever God wants me to do…I will do!
(With this the bright light dims and the angel leaves.)
Oh, my gosh! I feel something wonderful happening inside of me. I feel full of joy! Elizabeth lives a long, long way from here, but she might need me to help her out. I’d better go and visit her.
The End
The Visitation of Mary to Saint Elizabeth
A Three Act Play
Based on a true story written by God
- Screenplay by Fr. Kelly
- Producer/Director: Jeffrey Collins
ACT 1: This act takes place inside Elizabeth’s home where she is alone but “thinking out loud.” She is seated.
Elizabeth: I have been alone here at home for 5 months since I found out that Zechariah and I are going to have a baby!
What a great thing God has done for us.
An Angel told my husband Zechariah that our child should be named John. But after the Angel’s visit, Zechariah hasn’t been able to speak. I’m feeling pretty lonesome. It would be nice to have someone to talk to.
I’m also worried that because I am older, I might not have the energy to take care of a new-born baby! O well…God will provide. God always does.
ACT 2: This act takes place outside. The setting is “green rolling hills” and Mary is walking along a road. She is also “thinking out loud.”
Mary: This has been a long, long walk and it’s been very hot. But I’m glad I made the trip. Since the Angel told me that Elizabeth and I are both going to have babies, I really felt that I needed to visit her.
She is much older than I am and I think she will need my help.
I need her help too!
I need someone to talk to about what the Angel said to me.
Deep in my heart I have always known how great and powerful God is and how much God loves us.
It makes me so happy that God has asked me to do something so wonderful as to be the mother of His Son.
I just don’t feel that I’m good enough to do such a great thing.
But I just know that God will give me what I need to be a good mother to Jesus and help Him do what God has sent Him to do.
Oh good! There’s Elizabeth and Zechariah’s house. I’m glad I finally got here.
(Calling out:) Elizabeth! Elizabeth!
ACT 3: This act takes place BOTH inside Elizabeth’s house and at her front door.
The scene opens with Elizabeth sitting where we left off in Act 1. She hears someone calling her name.
A VOICE: Elizabeth! Elizabeth!
Elizabeth: Who could that be?
(Standing and putting her hand to her stomach she continues.)
O My! Even the baby heard the voice.
I think it’s Mary!
But how did she get here?
And why is she coming to see me?
I wonder if she knows that I am having a baby?
I think that God has done something special for her too. Mary has always been such a good and holy girl. I know she makes God smile.
(Elizabeth and Mary meet at the front door and hug and then the rest of the scene unfolds there as the two women talk.)
Mary: Oh Elizabeth, I am so happy to see you!
I know this is going to be hard for you to believe, but an angel told me that you were going to have a baby and I wanted to come and help you. I can stay with you for 3 whole months.
We have so much to talk about.
Elizabeth: As soon as I heard your voice…in my heart I just knew that God has asked you to do something very special too.
Even my baby was excited when he heard you call out my name.
We are both so happy that the mother of God has come to visit us.
And we are filled with joy to know that you will have a baby too and your Son will help all people live in peace.
Mary: It’s true.
God has done great things for me – things that are hard for me to understand.
Just as God has done great things for you.
We have both been blessed by God and now both our sons will have hard work to do.
God promised a long, long time ago that He would send two men to help all people.
God always keeps His promises.
And now it has happened!
And you and I are the mothers of the men that God promised the people.
Elizabeth…we have hard work ahead of us but God will help us. And people will never forget us.
(This play should end with music playing and a voice praying the Magnificat…text to follow.)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
A Five Act Play
Based on a true story written by God
- Screenplay by Fr. Kelly
- Producer/Director: Jeffrey Collins
ACT 1: Joseph and Mary discuss the trip to Bethlehem to register in the census.
This Act has two scenes. The first takes place in a room where Joseph and Mary are discussing the need to travel to Bethlehem to register in the census. The Act concludes with a “travel scene” with Mary on a donkey and Joseph next to her leading the donkey. There is no dialogue in the “travel scene” but the hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel” is the background music.
Scene 1:
Joseph: Mary, I know the Baby will be born any day, but everyone has to go to their home town to register for the census. Bethlehem is a long way away and you just got home from visiting your cousin Elizabeth. I know you must be very tired. But we don’t have any choice. It’s the law. We have to go!
Mary: Oh Joseph…you take such good care of me. I feel so safe with you. Yes…it’s true that the Baby will be born soon. But we have no choice. I’ll get things ready for the trip. You stop worrying because I know that God will protect us.
Scene 2: Traveling to Bethlehem. No dialogue. Only the music which will play long enough to give the sense of a long journey
ACT 2: No room in the inn
Mary and Joseph move from house to house looking for shelter. Mary should be on the donkey a distance from Joseph who knocks on each of 4 doors. Joseph has no speaking part.
Each door opens and after a brief pause while Joseph is saying something the audience can’t hear, the “Inn Keeper” responds.
Innkeeper 1: We have no rooms left. The whole town of Bethlehem is filled up because of the census.
Innkeeper 2: Sorry…you should have made a reservation. All our rooms are rented.
Innkeeper 3: We don’t have any rooms left, but we don’t take children anyway.
Innkeeper 4: (A woman). O my…your poor wife. She looks like her baby will be born tonight. We don’t have any rooms but our stable is very clean with lots of fresh straw and the animals keep the stable very warm. You go around back and I’ll bring you some old blankets so that when the baby is born you’ll have something to wrap The Child in.
ACT 3: The Shepherds in the fields
A black background with lots of little stars is needed for this Act. There should be one VERY bright star. There are three or four shepherds and a lot of sheep. The Shepherds are looking up in the sky. The hymn “O Holy Night” is playing softly so that the dialogue can be heard over it.
Shepherd One: What a beautiful night! I can’t ever remember seeing so many stars shining.
Shepherd Two: I know! And that one big bright star…it lights the whole night. It’s amazing.
Shepherd Three: I feel so much joy and peace in my heart…it’s like something very, very special is about to happen. This night is HOLY!
Shepherd Two: YES! That’s it…everything is so silent…and bright…it is really a Holy Night!
Shepherd One: I hear something beautiful…do you hear it?
All together! YES!
At this point the music stops…and a very bright light comes from the corner of the screen which the shepherds have been looking up toward. They fall to the ground. An angel enters.
Angel: Don’t be afraid! Get up! God sent me to deliver some really great news to you….and you should share this great news because it is for all people of all times! Everyone should know that today…in Bethlehem…The One God promised to send…God’s only Son…has been born in a stable not far from here. You are very blessed because you are invited to go there to see the Christ Child for yourselves.
With this….the Shepherds “throw up their arms in praise” and the hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High” plays.
ACT 4: The Three Magi
The magi or three Kings were astronomers, so this scene should be shot on a roof top with them looking into a dark night sky.
King One: Every night…for a long, long time…. we have been looking into the night sky searching for a star that the prophets predicted would tell us that something wonderful would happen. I am getting bored and tired.
King Two: Yes this is boring. But it is very important for us to wait patiently and watch for the sign so that when we see it we can tell others about the great things that are happening.
King Three: Our patience has paid off! Look! To the East…a great star is rising. I’ve been watching that star for nine months now. Remember? I told you it looked like it was getting brighter and brighter every single night. Now look at it! It is like the sun.
King One: We better follow that star! I am going to go and get my gold chest to give as a gift to the great ruler the star is leading us to.
King Two: A gift! Great idea. I will take some fine incense to honor this new born King.
King Three: I have read sad things in the prophets about this wonder king. I sense that He will suffer and die. I will bring myrrh to anoint His Body.
The scene ends with the song “We Three Kings”.
ACT 5: The Shepherds and the Magi adore the Infant Jesus.
This is the simplest scene to shoot; however, some staging is necessary. We are basically filming the Nativity scene. There is no dialogue among the characters. They don’t need to move. The song “Silent Night” is playing, but the volume is low enough so that it is easy to hear the Narrator reading from “off screen.”
Narrator:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
The Presentation of Jesus to the Temple
A Three Act Play
Based on a true story written by God
- Screenplay by Fr. Kelly
- Producer/Director: Jeffrey Collins
ACT 1: Joseph and Mary discuss the trip to Jerusalem to present the Baby Jesus back to God in the Temple and to have Mary undergo special purification rituals that women who have delivered a baby are obligated to do.
This Act has two scenes. The first takes place in the manger in Bethlehem where Joseph and Mary are discussing the need to travel from Bethlehem to pray in the great Temple in Jerusalem. The Act concludes with a “travel scene” with Mary on a donkey and Joseph next to her leading the donkey. There is no dialogue in the “travel scene” but the hymn “Mary Did You Know” might be good background music.
Scene 1:
Joseph: Mary …Jesus is such a beautiful baby….always so happy and smiling….and so smart!
I felt so badly that I couldn’t find us a proper place to stay here in Bethlehem ….a place for Jesus to be born. But this manger has been perfect! I feel so happy and safe here. This is a place of perfect peace!
Mary: All babies are beautiful….but it’s true….there is something very, very special about Jesus.
And yes Joseph….I agree….this has been the most perfect place for the baby to be born. I have been so happy here. Even the animals seem to be filled with joy.
And what a great surprise! Shepherds coming to greet us….and those three Kings bringing us gifts for the baby.
I also wish we could stay here forever. This is a place of perfect peace. But it is time for us to go.
Joseph: Well, almost 40 days have passed and we have to go to the Temple in Jerusalem so that you can say the prayers that new mothers pray….and so that we can offer a sacrifice to God for sending this first born Son.
Mary: I know that the time has come for us to present Jesus in the Temple….but…Joseph….do we have enough money for the sacrifice?
Joseph: We have enough money for two turtle doves…but…even more pleasing to God are our prayers and the way we live our lives.
Mary: You are right Joseph….God is pleased with people who live in peace and charity. I will get ready for the journey. It will only take us a day to walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
Scene 2: The Holy Family traveling. Joseph is Leading Mary who is sitting on a donkey carrying Jesus.
ACT 2: There are three speaking roles in this scene. The old prophet Simeon, Joseph and Mary. The scene is shot entirely in a “courtyard” of the Temple. It opens with Simeon sitting by himself.
Scene 1:
Simeon: (Sitting alone and talking to God) Well God, I have prayed to you all morning and now it’s time for me to go home for lunch. But, I’ll be back as soon as I can.
I love being here in the Temple.
Besides, you have promised me that before I die I will see the Messiah….the One You have promised to send into the world to save us from our sins.
But Lord….I think you’d better hurry….I’m getting pretty old. I know that all things are possible for you…but….how much longer can I wait before this old body is ready to go to heaven to be with You?
(Enter the Holy Family)
Mary: Oh Joseph, the Temple is so beautiful!
Joseph: I know it is Mary…and it should be….after all…it is God’s house.
Simeon: (Turning towards the Holy Family.) Who is this? Lord! You have kept Your promise. The Holy Spirit has told me that the baby in His mother’s arms is the Messiah! Thank You God for letting me live to see our Savior!
(Speaking to Joseph and Mary)
Peace be with you!
Mary and Joseph together: And with your spirit!
Simeon: My spirit is filled with great peace this morning because I have lived long enough to see this beautiful child.
This child is very, very special. May I hold your baby, please?
Mary: O course! (Mary hands Simeon the baby.)
Simeon: Now, Lord, I can die in peace ….because You kept your promise and let me see the way that You would save the world. This child will be the Light for all people. Oh, my heart is filled with joy.
(Passing the child back to Mary…and continuing.)
But Mary…even though my heart is filled with joy to day….there will be many days that your heart will be filled with sadness…because…not everyone will have the wisdom to see what I see…
That God sent Your child into this world to bring us Good News!
Many will refuse to listen to Him and many people will treat Him badly because they do not want to hear the message He brings from God.
Mary: An angel told me that my baby would do great things and that I should name Him Jesus because He will save the people.
And my cousin Elizabeth knew that my baby would serve God in a special way…even before He was born.
And then shepherds came to the place where He was born….they said that angels sent them. And they knelt down and prayed to Him.
Joseph: And God sent an angel to me in my dreams to help me understand what is going on. Then…three Wise Men came and brought Jesus special gifts….
Gold, because they said He was a King…frankincense, because they said He is holy….and the third gift was a special oil that is used to anoint people after they die…because …like you…they know that someday….this little baby will suffer and die.
Mary: I have been holding all of these things in my heart and praying about them. I don’t understand everything that is happening but I know that God keeps God’s promises and God has promised that I will have the grace to do all that is expected of me.
So…Let it be done to me according to God’s will!
Now it is time for me to go to the place where women pray after they have had a baby. And then Joseph….as a family…we will offer God the sacrifice in thanksgiving for this first born Son.
Simeon: Go in peace! And Thanks be to God!
(Exit The Holy Family)
ACT 3: There are two speaking roles in this scene: the old prophetess Anna and Mary. The scene is shot entirely in a room in the Temple. It opens with Mary walking in with the baby and encountering Anna.
Mary: Peace be with you!
Anna: And with your spirit!
Mary: I have come here to say the prayers that women who have had a baby prayer….40 days after the birth. Why are you here?
Anna: My name is Anna. I am an old woman ….84 years old…My poor husband died many years ago….and I don’t have much family…or much money….so there is not a whole lot that I can do to serve God anymore…beside sitting here in the Temple praying and fasting and giving God Glory and praise.
Mary: That is right and just!
Anna: It must be God’s will that I be here because…I feel special things…and hear special messages from God.
May I see your baby?
(Mary hands the baby to Anna who “exclaims.”)
Glory to God in the highest…this child will bring peace on earth and good will to all who believe and trust in God.
I feel that this child is sent by God to do great things!
Thank You Lord for permitting me to hold this baby in my arms.
(Anna passes the baby back to Mary and continues…)
I must go and tell everyone what I have seen!
Peace be with you!
Mary: And with your spirit! Now I must pray…and then go and find my husband Joseph so that we can begin the long trip home to Nazareth.
The End!
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
A One Act Play
Based on a true story written by God
- Screenplay by Fr. Kelly
- Producer/Director: Jeffrey Collins
ACT ONE: Joseph and Mary are traveling in a caravan. There should be other people in the scene which opens with Mary and Joseph discussing the trip to Jerusalem to pray in the Temple for Passover.
This Act has two scenes. The first takes place “on the road” so it is a travel scene. The second is set around a camp fire.
Scene 1:
Joseph: Mary…I love coming to Jerusalem for the Passover. It is so wonderful to be with so many people in the Temple…praying and singing….and remembering how God parted the Red Sea so that Moses and our people could escape from slavery in Egypt …to begin the search for the Promised Land.
But I have to tell you…Nazareth seems like the Promised Land to me right now.
It’ll be good to get home to the peace and quiet of our little town after all of the noise and confusion of the big city. Now that He is 12 years old….I think Jesus really enjoyed our time in Jerusalem. He has always loved to pray…no matter how old he is …or where he is …but it seemed to me that this year…he was especially excited to be in the Temple.
Mary: I love this Passover trip as well but….it is a long journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem. At least we have company for the trip. Remember when you and I made the journey on our own? It was lonely…and a little scary. But the trip had a wonderful ending! Jesus was born on that trip!
Speaking of Jesus….where is He? I haven’t seen Him all day. The last time I spoke to him was when we were still in the Temple.
Joseph: Don’t worry Mary…you know how much fun Jesus has when he’s with His cousins and friends. He’ll find us when we set up camp for the night and it’s time for supper.
Scene 2: Joseph and Mary are standing around a camp fire where Mary is preparing the evening meal.
Mary: Joseph, the supper is almost ready and you have finished setting up the tent for the night and Jesus is still gone. It’s unlike Him not to help you with the tent or to find fire wood for me to cook over. I’m really getting nervous. I’ve already asked my cousins Rachael and Hannah if they’ve seen Him and they said the last place they talked to Jesus was in Jerusalem.
Joseph: I didn’t want to scare you but I’m getting pretty nervous myself. It’s just not like the boy to disappear like this. I’ve been keeping an eye out for Him and I haven’t seen Him with any of the kids his age. We better start looking.
(Turning in opposite directions they start calling out). “Jesus….supper’s ready.” Jesus…we leave early in the morning….you need to get some sleep.” “Jesus…are you there?” People in the distance pick up the call: “Jesus your parents are looking for you!” “Joshua…is Jesus with you?”
Mary: Joseph, we have to face the facts, He’s not here. Jesus is not with the caravan. He either got lost or hurt along the way, or He’s still back in Jerusalem. We have to go searching for Him.
Joseph: I know Mary. But we can’t ask the whole caravan to turn around. Our family and friends have to get back to Nazareth to care for the crops and the live stock. We’re still two days from home.
Mary: Joseph, like you said before…You and I have made this trip by ourselves…just the two of us…and in the winter. It’s spring time and there is plenty of day light…and beside all of that…God will be with us!
Joseph: There is nothing we can do tonight but pray that God protects Jesus as well…wherever Jesus is. Let’s try to get some sleep. It’ll be hard. How can we sleep when we are so worried about our child?
Mary: Well, let’s at least rest. We have a long day ahead of us. But before we try to sleep let’s pray!
Scene 3: Joseph and Mary are “traveling” back to Jerusalem. This should be a little longer than the typical “travel scene” so that the viewer gets the sense of great distance. As they move along, they are calling out to Jesus as any parent would looking for a lost child.
At the very end of the scene they stop and look into the horizon.
Joseph: There is The Holy City…Jerusalem!
Mary: It’s so large! How will we every find Jesus? Where will we even begin?
ACT TWO: Joseph and Mary are searching in the city. This Act can go as long as the director sees fit. It should be staged much like Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem….a “door to door” search. But it might also be effective to “stop some people on the street” as well.
The dialogue should be the typical kind of questions.
“Have you seen a boy about 12 years old?”
“Excuse me, but our son went missing when we were here for Passover…have you seen a boy about 4 feet tall with a red cloak?”
In order to convey the concern of Mary and Joseph and their lack of success.
This Act concludes at the “gate to the Temple.”
Joseph knocks…and a guard opens the door.
Guard: Can’t you see the sign? The Temple is closed today. We are cleaning up after all the visitors for Passover. Only authorized people with business are allowed in today!
Mary: Please help us out! We traveled here from Nazareth with our family to celebrate Passover. When the holy days were over, we started back to our village. We thought our 12 year old son, Jesus, was with the caravan, but when we stopped for the first night of the trip we discovered He was missing.
Joseph: We search the whole camp. We asked everyone we were traveling with. No one remembers seeing Jesus after our group left Jerusalem to return home.
My wife and I came back here ourselves to look for Him. We called out all along the way and there was no sign of Him.
Mary: We have gone door to door for three days and no one has seen Him. We asked everyone on the street and have had no luck. I am so worried and scared that my heart is about to break.
Guard: I’m sorry for you. I have a son about you kid’s age and I know how much parents worry…
Wait a minute!
When I was doing my rounds this morning…I saw a young boy sitting with a group of older group of older teachers. I thought it was unusual for the old guys to be so patient with the young kid. The boy kept asking them questions and they were amazed at how smart He was.
Because the boy was with these men…and because He was so smart….I thought He was probably the grandchild of one of the old men.
Maybe it’s your son? Come in.
Joseph: That sounds just like our Jesus! Thank you so much. He is very smart and He knows so much about God that it amazes our Rabbi back home in Nazareth!
Mary: O GOD, PLEASE LET THIS BE JESUS!
Guard: Come in and see for yourselves!
Joseph and Mary go through the door into the Temple.
ACT THREE: The scene opens with Jesus sitting across from “a few older men” Enter Joseph and Mary!
Mary: Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety!
Joseph: Jesus…we have traveled all the way back here by ourselves and we have looked for you everywhere for three days! We both have been so worried, and your mother could not stop crying, she was so afraid we would never see you again!
Jesus: (standing and walking over to them) Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?
Joseph: Mary what is He talking about?
Mary: I don’t know, Joseph! I don’t always understand Jesus. Sometimes I have to think about things He says to me for a long, long time before I understand what He means or why He does something. But….I am sure that He did not do this to hurt us or make us worry!
Jesus: I’m sorry I worried you. My work here at the Temple is finished for now. Can we go home to Nazareth, please?
The family departs as a voice off screen says:
He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
The End!