The Glorious Mysteries

Prayed on Sunday and Wednesday
Pray these mysteries in Rosarium
The First Glorious MysteryThe Resurrection
Fruit of the mystery: Faith
Scripture · Matthew 28:1–10
And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men. And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you. And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples. And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him. Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me.
Matthew 28:1–10 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
Meditation
Let us go with the women to the tomb at first light, carrying our grief with the spices. The earth shakes; the stone is rolled back; an angel sits upon it, his face like lightning. The guards become as dead men, but to the women he says: “Fear not… He is not here, for he is risen, as he said.” They run with fear and great joy, and on the road Jesus himself meets them. Death has not had the last word. We do not remain at the Cross: “He is the Risen One!” Let us ask for a living faith that runs to tell others, and that looks for him in every dawn.
Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 23
Contemplate: Where am I still looking for the living among the dead?
Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of faith.
The Second Glorious MysteryThe Ascension

Fruit of the mystery: Hope
Scripture · Acts 1:3–11
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth. For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? But he said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power: But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.
Acts 1:3–11 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
Meditation
Let us stand with the apostles on the Mount of Olives, forty days after Easter. Jesus has eaten with them, taught them, and promised the Holy Spirit. Now he tells them they will be his witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth. As they watch, he is raised up, and a cloud takes him out of their sight. They keep gazing upward until two men in white ask why they stand looking up to heaven. Jesus has not left us behind: our humanity has entered heaven in him, and where the Head has gone, the Body hopes to follow. Let us ask for hope, which keeps our eyes on heaven and our feet on the mission.
Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 666
Contemplate: Do my daily choices show that I hope for heaven?
Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of hope.
The Third Glorious MysteryThe Descent of the Holy Spirit

Fruit of the mystery: Love of God
Scripture · Acts 2:1–11
And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:1–11 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
Meditation
Let us enter the upper room where the disciples have persevered in prayer, Mary among them. Suddenly a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind, fills the whole house. Parted tongues as of fire rest upon each of them, and they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The doors open; fearful men become bold witnesses, and people from every nation hear the wonderful works of God in their own tongue. Here the Church appears as “a family gathered together with Mary”, set on fire by the Spirit. The love of God has been poured into our hearts. Let us ask that this fire burn in us, so that we may love God above all things.
Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 23
Contemplate: What would it look like to love God above all things today?
Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of love of God.
The Fourth Glorious MysteryThe Assumption of Mary

Fruit of the mystery: Grace of a happy death
Scripture · Luke 1:46–55
And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Luke 1:46–55 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
Meditation
Let us imagine the last days of Mary's earthly life, spent in quiet prayer among the disciples. She who carried the Word and stood beneath the Cross now completes her course. God does not allow the body that bore his Son to see corruption: she is taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory. In her we glimpse, ahead of time, “the destiny reserved for all the just”. The ark of the covenant is seen in the temple of heaven; the woman is clothed with the sun. Death is not the end but a passage home. Let us ask for the grace of a happy death: to die in God's friendship, with Mary at our side.
Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 23
Contemplate: If God called me home today, would my heart be ready?
Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of a happy death.
The Fifth Glorious MysteryThe Coronation of Mary

Fruit of the mystery: Trust in Mary
Scripture · Apocalypse 12:1–6
And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his heads seven diadems: And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days.
Apocalypse 12:1–6 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
Meditation
Let us lift our eyes to heaven and see the great sign: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. The lowly handmaid of Nazareth is crowned by her Son and shines as “Queen of the Angels and Saints”. Her crown does not set her far from us; it brings her nearer. All her power is the power to intercede, and all her glory is for her children. Like Judith, she is blessed above all women, because through her the Lord brought salvation. Let us ask for childlike trust in Mary: to place every need in her hands, sure that she will lead us to Jesus.
Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 23
Contemplate: What worry can I place in Mary's hands right now?
Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of trust in Mary.