The First Glorious Mystery
The Resurrection
Faith: we believe in God and believe all that He has said and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through Scripture and the Sacred Tradition of His Church.
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Jo-anna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. – Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28: 1-10; Mark 16: 1-18; John 20:1-29
Reflection
It must have been astonishing Sunday morning. The city would have been drowning in gossip and emotion. But few, if any, would have recognized that this was the main event of human history. Jesus rose from the dead. On that day there was no doubt many who ignored it, and many others who doubted it, rejected it, were skeptical or cynical. These people have existed in every age and exist today, but you see them wandering through their lives confused. It is simply impossible to make sense of life and history without acknowledging the Resurrection.
Jesus did as he foretold, he rose from death, thus securing for us everlasting life in heaven with him and his father. An angel greets the women who went to visit him. He gives them this good news. They see him on their way to Galilee and he tells them to tell the disciples of his resurrection. I imagine the joy they feel when they see the one they love living again, the celebration of the disciples and Mary when they are able to touch him and talk to him. I pray for faith that I too may one day be with Jesus in heaven.
The Second Glorious Mystery
The Ascension
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:6-11; Mark: 16: 19-20; Luke 24: 50-51
Reflection
After spending 40 days with his disciples, Jesus ascended body and soul into heaven. Jesus did exactly what he said he would do. He was a man of his word. Why do we ignore and doubt his words so often? He said he would return one day. Do you ever think about it? Imagine if he came today. Are you ready? Would you recognize him?
As Jesus ascends to heaven he tells his followers to go and make disciples. He sends them to the world to share his story and he promises he will always be with them. I imagine their surprise to see him lifted up and away to the clouds and their wonderment as all that occurred. I imagine them considering what will happen next and how they will do as he told them. They are filled with hope and maybe fear. I pray for hope when I don’t know the way forward or when times seem dark.
The Third Glorious Mystery
Descent of the Holy Spirit
Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These are supernatural gifts provided by God through Baptism to help us in the process of our perfection.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4
Reflection
The apostles were afraid. Most of us have probably never experienced fear like the fear they were gripped with. They were afraid they would be killed for being Jesus’ followers. But if they weren’t killed, what were they to do, now that Jesus was gone? Then the Holy Spirit descended upon them and transformed them. Their fear was banished and they were filled with courage. This is the greatest before- and-after sequence the world has ever seen.
The apostles and Mary are hiding in the upper room in fear of the future. When the Holy Spirit, the Advocate Jesus said he would send, comes to them, they are filled with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are the gifts they need to go out into the world and spread the Good News of the Gospel: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We receive these same gifts at our baptism and confirmation. I pray that I can use these gifts to share the love of Jesus and the story of his Good News.
The Fourth Glorious Mystery
The Assumption of Mary
Grace of a Happy Death We pray for a death while in good moral and religious circumstances after living a life of loving service to God, to Jesus, to Mary and to our neighbors.
Sacred Tradition of the Church
For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. – Munificentissimus Deus #44; Luke 1:46–55 (i.e. The Magnificat)
Reflection
Mary’s radical humility is an encyclopedia of lessons about the inner spiritual life. Imagine how rich her inner life must have been. Imagine what it was like for the first Christians to seek her counsel and guidance. Then at the end of her life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. Her reward for a life lived entirely for God. What’s keeping you from giving everything to God?
Mary is taken to heaven to her rightful place with Jesus where she intercedes for us in prayer. I imagine her excitement at being with her son again, and her pleasure at being in heaven with God. I pray for her intercession and help in growing closer to Jesus, while asking her to help me love him more. She will keep pointing the way toward her son.
The Fifth Glorious Mystery
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
True Devotion to Mary for She is the Queen of Heaven, enjoying forever her rightful place next to her Son as the Mother of God. Through devotion to her we pray that we may one day share in her eternal happiness and a complete union with the Blessed Trinity.
And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. – Revelation 12:1-6
Reflection
Mary’s courage, fidelity, and humility greatly pleased the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They crowned her queen of heaven. There is no greater title on earth than “Mother of God”—and no greater creature than Mary has ever existed. This Mary, your spiritual mother and the Queen of heaven, is the most celebrated woman on earth and in heaven. Who is greater than Mary? None but God.
Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth. She listened to God’s will and stayed true to his plan for her life. Mary suffered but her reward in heaven is great. She is our queen too, and if asked she will help us in all facets of our life. I imagine her lovingly looking down at us and her happiness at our requests for help. I pray for her humility, patience, and trust.