The First Glorious Mystery
The Resurrection. Matthew 28.
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary had gone down to look at the grave, when suddenly a great earthquake occurred. For an Angel of the Lord descended from the Sky and came and rolled away the stone and seated himself on it; his appearance was as dazzling as lightning and his clothing was as white as snow; and in their terror of him the men on guard trembled violently and became like dead men. But the Angel addressing the women, said “You need not be afraid I know that it is Jesus who was crucified for whom you are looking. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he was lying; and then go quickly and say to his followers, he has risen from the dead and is going before you into Galilee there you will see him. Remember I have told you.”
In the evening of the same day , the first day of the week, Jesus came and stood among them and said peace be with you afterwards he showed them his hands and his side the disciples were filled with joy when they saw the master again Jesus said to them peace be with you as the father has sent me so I am sending you after seeing this he breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit if you forgive anyone since they have been forgiven and if you retain them they have been retained.
But Thomas one of the twelve called the twin was not with them when Jesus came so the rest of his followers said to him we have seen the master unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands he exclaimed and put my finger into the Marks and put my hand into his side I will not believe it a week later the disciples were again in the house and Thomas with them after the doors have been shut Jesus came and stood among them and said peace be with you then he said to Thomas place your finger here and look at my hands and place your hand here and put it into my side and do not refuse to trust but believe and Thomas exclaimed my master and my God is it because you have seen me that you have believed said Jesus blessed are they who have not seen and yet have trusted.
Fruits of the Mystery: Strong Faith, Belief, Steadfast Love, Courage. Ability to see.
The Second Glorious Mystery.
The Ascension. John 14, John 20
“Do not touch me,” Jesus said; “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and their Father, my God and their God.” Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Master, and that he had said this to her.
In my Father’s home there are many dwellings. If it had not been so, I should have told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. And, since I go and prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am; and you know the way to the place where I am going.”
Fruits of the Mystery: Hope, Awareness, Faith
The Third Glorious Mystery
The Descent of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2
In the course of the festival of Pentecost they had all met together, when suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong wind rushing by; it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. Then there appeared tongues of what seemed to be flame, separating, so that one settled on each of them; and they were all filled with the holy Spirit, and began to speak with strange tongues as the Spirit prompted their utterances. Now there were then staying in Jerusalem religious Judeans from every country in the world; and, when this sound was heard, numbers of people collected, in the greatest excitement, because each of them heard the followers speaking in his own language.
Fruits of the Mystery: Love of God and Spirit. Surrender, Amazement and Wonder. Acceptance of the Miraculous.
The Fourth Glorious Mystery
Mary is Taken Up to Heaven, Luke 1, Romans 6
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a young woman there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary. Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying: “What joy! You have been shown great favor—the Lord is with you.”
Consequently, through sharing his death in our baptism, we were buried with him; that just as Christ was raised from the dead by a manifestation of the Father’s power, so we also may live a new life. If we have become united with him in dying this death, surely we are also united with him by his resurrection.
Fruits of the Mystery: Vision, Mary as OUR Mother. Love.
The Fifth Glorious Mystery
Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth,
Revelations 12, Sirach 24
Then a great portent was seen in the heavens—a woman whose robe was the sun, and who had the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant; and she is crying out in the pain and agony of childbirth. Another portent also was seen in the heavens.
“In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud. I am the mother of pure love. I am the mother of knowledge. I am the mother of hope.”
Fruits of the Mystery: Wonder, Fidelity, Gratitude, Holiness.
Bible verses taken from: Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.
The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
In the Glorious Mysteries, we not only see the beautiful glory of God, but we see the incredible dream that God has for each one of us. He wants us to live lives of incredible joy and purpose, and ultimately live with him for eternity.
The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection. 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.
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension. 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?
The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit. The disciples 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 Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption. Mary’s radical humility is an encyclopedia of lessons about the inner 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 just giving everything to God?
The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. 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 women on earth and in heaven. Who is greater than Mary? None but God.