Rosarium

The Luminous Mysteries

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Baptism of Christ
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo · The Baptism of Christ, c. 1655 · Gemäldegalerie, Berlin · Public domain

Prayed on Thursday

Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 38

Pray these mysteries in Rosarium

The First Luminous MysteryThe Baptism in the Jordan

Fruit of the mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit

Scripture · Matthew 3:11–17

I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him. And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:11–17 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

Meditation

Let us go down to the banks of the Jordan. Crowds of sinners wade into the river, confessing their sins. Among them, unnoticed, stands Jesus, waiting his turn. John protests, but Jesus insists: he, “the innocent one who became ‘sin’ for our sake”, goes down into the waters with us. As he comes up, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice names him the beloved Son. Here the Trinity is revealed, and our own Baptism is foreshadowed: we too were plunged into those waters and called beloved. Let us ask to be open to the Holy Spirit, who still descends gently on those who humbly wait their turn.

Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 21

Contemplate: Where is the Holy Spirit trying to move me, and where do I resist?

Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of openness to the Holy Spirit.

The Second Luminous MysteryThe Wedding at Cana

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Marriage Feast at Cana
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo · The Marriage Feast at Cana, c. 1672 · The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham · Public domain

Fruit of the mystery: To Jesus through Mary

Scripture · John 2:1–11

And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come. His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1–11 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

Meditation

Picture a village wedding: music, dancing, families crowded into a courtyard, servants hurrying back and forth. Then a quiet embarrassment: the wine has run out. Mary notices before anyone else. She does not command or complain; she simply tells her Son, “They have no wine.” Then she turns to the servants with what St John Paul II called her “great maternal counsel”: “Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.” Six stone jars of water become the best wine, and the disciples believe. Mary always points away from herself, toward Jesus. Let us bring her our own emptiness and trust her to lead us to him, ready to do whatever he tells us.

Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 21

Contemplate: What is Jesus telling me to do that I keep putting off?

Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace to go to Jesus through Mary.

The Third Luminous MysteryThe Proclamation of the Kingdom

Claude Lorrain, The Sermon on the Mount
Claude Lorrain · The Sermon on the Mount, c. 1656 · The Frick Collection, New York · Public domain

Fruit of the mystery: Repentance

Scripture · Mark 1:14–20

And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea (for they were fishermen). And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship: And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.

Mark 1:14–20 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

Meditation

Let us walk along the shore of Galilee in the early morning. Fishermen are casting and mending their nets, as on any other day. Jesus passes by, and his voice cuts through the routine: “The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.” Simon and Andrew leave their nets at once; James and John leave even their father in the boat. The Kingdom is not a distant idea: it has arrived in the person of Jesus, and it calls for a turning of the whole heart. He forgives all who come to him “in humble trust”. Let us ask for true repentance, and the courage to leave our nets behind.

Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 21

Contemplate: What net must I leave behind to follow Jesus more freely?

Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of repentance.

The Fourth Luminous MysteryThe Transfiguration

Raphael, The Transfiguration
Raphael · The Transfiguration, 1518–1520 · Pinacoteca Vaticana, Vatican City · CC BY 2.0 (photo: Richard Mortel)

Fruit of the mystery: Desire for holiness

Scripture · Matthew 17:1–9

And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Matthew 17:1–9 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

Meditation

Let us climb with Peter, James and John up the high mountain, breathless, the plain falling away below. Suddenly Jesus is transfigured before them: his face shines like the sun, his garments become white as snow. Moses and Elijah speak with him. Peter, overwhelmed, wants to build tents and stay. Then a bright cloud overshadows them and the Father speaks: “This is my beloved Son… hear ye him.” This is “the mystery of light par excellence”: the glory hidden in Jesus shines through, to strengthen the disciples for the Cross ahead. When they look up, they see only Jesus. Let us ask for a deep desire for holiness: to listen to him and be changed into his likeness.

Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 21

Contemplate: What would change if I truly listened to Jesus today?

Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of a desire for holiness.

The Fifth Luminous MysteryThe Institution of the Eucharist

Juan de Juanes, The Last Supper
Juan de Juanes · The Last Supper, c. 1562 · Museo del Prado, Madrid · Public domain

Fruit of the mystery: Adoration

Scripture · Luke 22:14–20

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them: With desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you, before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice, he gave thanks, and said: Take, and divide it among you: For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me. In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.

Luke 22:14–20 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

Meditation

Let us enter the upper room as evening falls. The lamps are lit, the table is set for the Passover, and the Twelve recline around their Master. Jesus tells them how he has longed to eat this pasch with them. Then he takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it: “This is my body, which is given for you.” He takes the chalice: “the new testament in my blood.” Here Christ gives himself as food and testifies to his love for us “to the end”. What will happen on the Cross is offered at this table, and remains with us in every Mass. Let us ask for the grace of adoration: to kneel before this gift in silence, wonder and gratitude.

Cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 21

Contemplate: How do I receive Jesus when he gives himself to me?

Through this mystery, let us ask for the grace of adoration.

Pray these mysteries in Rosarium