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To Jesus Through Mary:
Scriptural Meditations on the Five New Mysteries of Light
in the Rosary
Praying the Rosary as Proposed by John Paul II Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 29-38 1. There are many ways to introduce the Rosary. In some places it is customary to begin with the opening words of Psalm 70: "O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me," as if to nourish in those who are praying a humble awareness of their own insufficiency. In other places, the Rosary begins with the recitation of the Creed . . . . These and similar customs, to the extent that they prepare the mind for contemplation, are all equally legitimate (37). 2. Announcing each mystery . . . perhaps even using a suitable icon to portray it, corresponds to the inner logic of the Incarnation: in Jesus, God wanted to take on human features. It is through his bodily reality that we are led into contact with the mystery of his divinity (29). 3. In order to supply greater depth to our meditation, it is helpful to proclaim a related Biblical passage, long or short. It is not a matter of recalling information but of allowing God to speak. In certain solemn communal celebrations, this word can be appropriately illustrated by a brief commentary (30). 4. Listening and meditation are nourished by silence. After the announcement of the mystery and the proclamation of the word, it is fitting to pause and focus one’s attention for a suitable period of time on the mystery concerned . . . . A discovery of the importance of silence is one of the secrets of practicing contemplation and meditation (31). 5. After listening to the word and focusing on the mystery, it is natural for the mind to be lifted up towards the Father. Acting as a kind of foundation for the Christological and Marian meditation which unfolds in the repetition of the Hail Mary, the Our Father makes meditation upon the mystery . . . an ecclesial experience (32). 6. The most substantial element in the Rosary, the repetition of the ten Hail Marys, emphasizes not only the contemplation and adoration of the mystery accomplished in the Virgin of Nazareth, but also the Name of Jesus, on which hinges the connection to the mystery of Christ being contemplated. It is precisely the emphasis given to the name of Jesus and to his mystery that is the sign of a meaningful and fruitful recitation of the Rosary. The custom of highlighting the name of Christ by the addition of a clause referring to the mystery being contemplated is praiseworthy, especially during public recitation (33). 7. Trinitarian doxology is the goal of all Christian contemplation. It is important that the Gloria, the high-point of contemplation, be given due prominence in the Rosary. In public recitation it could be sung, as a way of giving proper emphasis to the essentially Trinitarian structure of all Christian prayer (34). 8. A brief concluding prayer could better express the full spiritual fruitfulness of the contemplation of the mysteries if an effort were made to conclude each mystery with a prayer for the fruits specific to that particular mystery. In this way the Rosary would better express its connection with the Christian life . . . and can be better adapted to different spiritual traditions and different Christian communities (35). 9. The Rosary is then ended with a prayer for the intentions of the Pope, as if to expand the vision of the one praying to embrace all the needs of the Church. It is precisely in order to encourage this ecclesial dimension of the Rosary that the Church has seen fit to grant indulgences to those who recite it with the required dispositions. If prayed in this way, the Rosary truly becomes a spiritual itinerary in which Mary acts as Mother, Teacher and Guide, sustaining the faithful by her powerful intercession (37). 10. After saying this prayer and experiencing so profoundly the motherhood of Mary, the Salve Regina or the Litany of Loreto may be prayed in praise of the Blessed Virgin. This is the crowning moment of an inner journey which has brought the faithful into living contact with the mystery of Christ and his Blessed Mother (37). 11. While Thursday has been proposed by the Holy Father as a day free for meditation on the "mysteries of light," this indication is not intended to limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations (38). 12. The Rosary beads take on a symbolism which can give added depth to contemplation. The beads converge upon the Crucifix, which both opens and closes the unfolding sequence of prayer. The life and prayer of believers is centered upon Christ. Everything begins from him, everything leads towards him, everything, through him, in the Holy Spirit, attains to the Father. A fine way to expand the symbolism of the beads is to let them remind us of our many relationships, of the bond of communion and fraternity which unites us all in Christ (36). The First Mystery of Light: The Manifestation of the Messiah With Mary we ponder the Hebrew scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-5 ‘Console my people, console them,’says your God. ‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended, that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the Lord double punishment for her crimes.’ A voice cries, ‘prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway for our God across the desert. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley; then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
With Jesus we listen for the voice of the Father: Mark 1:7-11 In the course of his preaching John the Baptist said, ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you.’ Period of Sacred Silence Our Father . . . Ten Hail Marys . . . [with the addition of] . . . Jesus, beloved Son of the Father [May be sung:] Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Prayer Lord, Fruits of the First Mystery: Forgiveness of Sins Love of the Holy Trinity The Second Mystery of Light: Marriage is Sanctified by the Presence and Action of Mary and Jesus With Mary we remember the Hebrew scriptures: Genesis 2:18-24 The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.’ . . . But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed: ‘This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman, for this was taken from man.’ This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
With Jesus we listen to the voice of Mary, our Mother: John 2:1-11 There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews; each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now’ he told them ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from —only the servants who had drawn the water knew—the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.’ This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him. Period of Sacred Silence Our Father . . . Ten Hail Marys . . . [with the addition of] . . . Jesus, one Body with his Bride, the Church . . . Jesus, whose glory is present in the Sacrament of Matrimony [May be sung:] Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Prayer Lord, Fruits of the Second Mystery: Belief in the Divine Son of God Third Mystery of Light: Repent, and Believe the Good News of Salvation With Mary we treasure the Hebrew scriptures: Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord. With Jesus we pray for the fulfillment of the Kingdom: John 18:33-37 Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.’ ‘So you are a king then?’ said Pilate. ‘It is you who say it’ answered Jesus. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’ Period of Sacred Silence Our Father . . . Ten Hail Marys . . . [with the addition of] . . . Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth . . . Jesus, meek and humble of heart [May be sung:] Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Prayer Lord, you give us Jesus, the King of all creation Fruits of the Third Mystery: Humility before the Lord of Truth, Fourth Mystery of Light: I Am the Light of the World With Mary we reflect on the Hebrew scriptures: Psalm 43:3-4 O send forth your light and your truth, let these be my guide. Let them bring me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell. And I will come to the altar of God, the God of my joy. My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp, O God, my God. With Jesus we experience the radiance of the Father: Matthew 17:1-8 Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus. Period of Sacred Silence Our Father . . . Ten Hail Marys . . . [with the addition of] . . . Jesus, brightness of the Father’s glory . . . Jesus, living Word of the Father [May be sung:] Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Prayer Lord, you have revealed the true splendor of Christ Fruits of the Fourth Mystery: Praise of the Wonders of God Fifth Mystery of Light: as the Sacramental Sign of the Paschal Mystery I Am the Bread of Life With Mary we find solace in the Hebrew scriptures: Isaiah 25:6-9 The Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines. He will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, for ever. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so. That day, it will be said: See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation, the Lord is the one in whom we hoped. We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us. With Jesus we proclaim the mystery of faith John 6:51, 55-58 ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’ Period of Sacred Silence Our Father . . . Ten Hail Marys . . . [with the addition of] . . . Jesus, Bread of Angels . . . Jesus, Cup of Eternal Salvation [May be sung:] Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Prayer Lord, you give us your Body and Blood in the Eucharist Fruits of the Fifth Mystery: Reverence for the Blessed Sacrament [The following selections from a prayer written by John Paul II in the first year of his pontificate and addressed to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas may be offered as a prayer for the Intentions of the Holy Father.] O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church! You, who revealed your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection; hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer. Mother of mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you we dedicate all our being and all our love, our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities, and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church. Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole People of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God’s mysteries. Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love, protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of our children. Our hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to Him, by means of the Confession of our faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. |
