THE MYSTERY OF THE ROSARY PART III

The Feast of the Holy Rosary on the liturgical calendar testifies to the importance of this form of prayer.  Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, "The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next.  The power of the rosary is beyond description."

The power and the true mystery of the rosary is twofold: it is a powerful way to defeat the secularism of the world; and it adds so much to one's own spiritual life with Jesus Christ and his will for our lives.  In the rosary we ponder the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother.  Her unique perspective opens us up to the reality of Christ.  We become fully acquainted with his humanness and his divinity; and, become more intimate in understanding his life.  As part of the communion of saints that Jesus began in his church, Mary lights his way for us on our path to eternal life.

We learn meditation by reflecting on his life while praying the rosary.  Meditation is an extremely powerful way to enter into a deeper relationship with God, God doesn't need our prayers, nor does prayer change God or his will, BUT it changes us.  It gives us humility, an understanding of his will, and strength to accept it, resulting in our growth in virtue.

Praying the rosary as a means to express our love for Jesus and his mother elevates the prayer.  It is easy to fall into the trap of mumbling and rushing through the prayers, but if we pray each Our Father and Hail Mary clearly and with emotion it will take us along the path of joy, suffering, rejoicing, and triumph with Jesus and Mary as they walk the same path of life that we have to walk.  Mary had to endure many sufferings and difficulties, often without knowing why, yet through prayer, she accepted them all as God's will...truly a perfect example of how we need to approach life.

The rosary has touched many people's lives in miraculous ways.  I have heard of people who are not even Catholic, but who pray the rosary as it has such a spiritual calming that helps them to open up to prayer.  I personally know two people who were on their deathbeds, totally incoherent to what was going on around them, yet they could be heard whispering the prayers of the rosary.  I also know someone with dementia who has trouble saying a coherent sentence, yet she is able to pray the rosary daily.  All that repetition that so many complain about, actually serves a purpose as late in their lives these people were able to pray during their time of deepest need.  I even found myself praying the rosary without realizing it while in the path of a tornado, when fear totally had me in its grip, subconsciously that prayer came across my lips and brought me the peace of mind I needed.  I felt strengthened and calmed in the recitation that led me into my meditation of the mysteries of the rosary and opened the portal into the life of Jesus and his mother.

The true mystery of the rosary is how it creates peace of mind, and how it elevates one into a renewed understanding of Jesus, the deep love he has for us, and all that he has done for us.  It develops into a relationship with Christ and his mother that changes us in remarkable ways.

If you have not prayed the rosary for a long time, or never have prayed it, might I suggest that you pick up your beads, dust them off and begin again.  And give it time to begin the change in you, meditation will improve as you practice it.  And try a scriptural rosary to help you begin and enhance your meditation.  It will not disappoint.

You can find the text to a scriptural rosary at this website:

http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/scriptural-rosary.html

THE MYSTERY OF THE ROSARY PART II

As we pray The Rosary and meditate on the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries, we travel back in time remembering our Lord's incarnation, His teachings, His passion and death, His resurrection from the dead and the wonder of his glorious gifts to us: his salvation, the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit.  The Rosary helps us to grow into a deeper understanding of Our Lord's life and how his life should affect us.  Meditating on his life, we realise his purpose for our lives, the meditation engages our thoughts, imagination, emotions, and desires.  This all leads to deepen our convictions of faith, and the conversion of our hearts, minds and will to follow Jesus Christ more closely.  The structured prayers of the rosary help us to focus our minds on Jesus Christ and opens us up to God's presence.  We therefore can more closely unite our lives to his and grow deeper in our faith.  We are able to follow more closely in his footsteps through his grace, and through the intercessions of his Blessed Mother, who brings all believers to her Son. 

The Mysteries of the Rosary reveal the lessons we need to learn to attain a full spiritual life.  They will help us to grow in virtue and will reveal God's plan for us all.

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES*

I.  THE ANNUNCIATION

In this mystery we learn the value of saying Yes to God and to his will in our lives.  Mary shows great courage as she surrenders herself to God's will, accepting his mission for her.  Even though her acceptance would cause her embarrassment (being found with child prior to marriage) and possibly even death (Mary, according to the law, could be stoned to death for adultery, as she was betrothed to Joseph who was not the father of the child.)   Mary said yes to God. The Fruit of this Mystery is the Desire to do God's will.

II . THE VISITATION

In this mystery we learn the value of service.  As a true disciple of God, Mary,  while carrying the Lord Jesus in her womb puts the needs of her elderly cousin ahead of hers to attend to her in her time of need.  Elizabeth is so amazed at Mary's humility she exclaims, "And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  The Fruit of this Mystery is Humility.

III. THE BIRTH OF JESUS 

In this mystery we learn what true humility is in the person of Jesus Christ. He comes into this world as a helpless baby, relying on his creation to care for him.  Instead of being born in wealth he chooses a poor family and is  born in a stable where animals live. The Fruit of this Mystery is Detachment of the Trappings of this World.

IV. THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE

In this mystery we see an example of obedience as Mary and Joseph dedicate Jesus to God, according to the Law of Moses.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Obedience. 

V. THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

In this mystery we learn that true wisdom comes as a gift from God, not from the mere attainment of knowledge. When the child Jesus hears that Mary and Joseph were looking for him for three days he asks them: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" An indication to us all today to know that in our time of need, we can always go to His Father's House to spend time with Our Lord. The Fruit of this Mystery is Vocation and Evangelization. 

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES* 

I. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

In this mystery we hear the voice of God proclaim that "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," and we learn to remain close to the Father. The Fruit of this Mystery is Keeping an Openness to the Holy Spirit.

II. THE MIRACLE AT CANA

In this mystery we meditate on the first miracle of Jesus as he transforms water into wine. We are reminded that Jesus has the ability to transform our lives and the world. The Fruit of this Mystery is Trusting in God's Providence.

III. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM

In this mystery, Jesus invites us all to conversion.  "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand"  We pray for holiness and the strength to follow in the footsteps to Jesus.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Repentance.

IV. THE TRANSFIGURATION

In this mystery, we witness who Jesus really is, the light of the world, and we pray for the spiritual courage to seek truth and light in our lives.  The Fruit of this Mystery is a Desire for Holiness.

V. THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

In this mystery we are taught how to truly love, holding nothing back and surrendering ourselves completely.  The Fruit of this Mystery is the Love for the Eucharist, Jesus' Eternal Presence in our Lives.

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES*

 I.  THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

In this mystery as in may places in the New Testament, we see Jesus praying.  It is a beautiful example how prayer helps us in our time of need.  We learn the importance of perseverance in prayer. The Fruit of this Mystery is Patience.

II. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

In this mystery our spirits are renewed for the sacrifices of each day, we learn to never despise the little things. The Fruit of this Mystery is Self-Control.

III. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

In this mystery we learn compassion for those who are mocked and rejected and we ask forgiveness for the times we have added insult to others. The Fruit of this Mystery is Moral Courage.

IV. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

In this mystery we are moved to help Jesus to carry his cross by standing up to injustice and to do what we can to influence our world in a positive way.  The Fruit of this Mystery is the desire to lay down our lives for others.

V.  THE CRUCIFIXION

In this mystery we experience the pain evil causes and feel the weight of our own sins.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Surrender.

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES*

I.  THE RESURRECTION 

In this mystery we are reminded of the reality of life after death and to learn to live with that uppermost in our minds. The Fruit of this Mystery is Faith.

II.THE ASCENSION

In this mystery we are reminded of the great commission given to all of us by Jesus.  And that is to continue his work on earth by spreading the gospel.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Hope.

III.THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
In this mystery we are reminded that we are helped in our efforts to do good by the power of the Holy Spirit ever alive in us. The Fruit of this Mystery is Wisdom.

IV. THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
In this mystery we are reminded of the beauty of purity of mind, body, spirit, and intention. And that someday we too may be with Jesus in his heavenly home.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Purity.

V. THE CROWNING OF MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN
In this mystery we learn to honor and seek counsel from those who have attain virtue in their lives.  The Fruit of this Mystery is Mary and her willingness as our Mother to pray for us.

____________________

       *Kelly, Matthew,  Rediscover Catholicism--A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose, Beacon Publishing, 2010.



In Part III, I will reveal what I have learned to be the True Mystery of the Rosary Itself.

THE MYSTERY OF THE ROSARY PART I

The Rosary has been cherished by the Catholic Church for centuries.  The recitation of The Rosary begins with the Apostle's Creed,which includes the basic tenements of our faith; the Our Father, the prayer Jesus himself taught us to pray; the Hail Mary, the prayer that gives honor to his mother and asks her for intercessions on our behalf;  the Glory Be, which praises the Trinity of God; the Fatima Prayer, which Mary taught at her appearance in Fatima and requested it to be added after each decade.  The Rosary is concluded with the Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina).  Saying The Rosary involves the praying of five decades--each decade includes the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer,.  A decade is introduced by the announcing of the Mystery of that particular decade.  During the recitation of each decade, the individual meditates on the mysteries of Jesus' life and those of his first disciple, the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the past, a complete Rosary was actually praying a rosary three times in order to complete a set of 150 Hail Marys, this was called the "poor man's psalter".  A psalter is a book of the 150 Psalms which was, and still is used for the daily recitation of prayers. Because most of the faithful were illiterate in the early years of the Church, The Rosary was developed for them as their daily prayers.  

The Rosary, for hundreds of years, had three sets of Mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious), recently, Pope Saint John Paul II added a fourth set of Mysteries (Luminous) that illuminate the life and teachings of Jesus. The Rosary has long been prayed by Catholics and its beginning was a way for the illiterate masses to come to know the life of Jesus. Even for those who could read, Bibles were not mass produced until after the printing press was invented (around 1440) before then they were meticulously copied page by page, book by book, by devoted monks. So the rosary and its mysteries became a valuable tool of learning and praising Jesus by the masses.  

The word rosary comes from the Latin word meaning "garland of roses".  Practically everyone knows what a rosary is...even if they aren't Catholic they know they are prayer beads that Catholics own.  The vast majority of Catholics have  a rosary, some even carry it with them all the time even if they don't ever pray it.  Why is that?  What is it about the rosary that is so ingrained in Catholics that it has become a part of their lives in some way or another?  That is what I call the Mystery of the Rosary.

I grew up going to Catholic elementary school which was called grade school back then--first to eighth grade.  Everyday during the months of May and October, after a shortened after-lunch recess, we all paraded into the church to pray The Rosary and to have the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  In second grade, when I received my First Holy Communion, I, along with everyone else, received my first rosary.  It was a beautiful pearl white.  In Eighth grade, at graduation, every graduate received a rosary as a graduation gift from the school...it was a sparkling blue crystal one that was stored in a box that looked like a graduation cap.  I still have that rosary today. 

I prayed the rosary often when I was young.  The Mass was in Latin in those days, so since I didn't really know what was going on during the Mass, I would read my Mass missal in the first five minutes or so, then pull out my rosary and pray that during the rest of the Mass....I wasn't the only one.  Most everyone said a rosary during the Mass... it seemed like the thing to do.

You would think that after all those years I would still be praying the rosary...after all it had become a habit...but around 8th grade, Vatican II happened, and English replaced Latin and the Mass got a lot more interesting... so since then I rarely prayed the rosary...except at the beginning of a road trip or before taking off on an airplane.  Although I rarely said the rosary anymore, I have a great collection of them; one from the Vatican that looks like red rosebuds and even smells like roses, (my favorite one these days), one from the Holy Land made from olive wood, one commemorating St. John Paul II (actually I have 2 of those) several I have received in the mail.  I have a very large wooden one that hangs on my bed, and another one that graces the frame of my picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I have a drawer in my desk with two or three in them and one that hangs in my car.  I also have two bracelet rosaries.  It seems like a Catholic can never have too many rosaries.   

Out of the blue, about a year ago,  my husband and I decided to start praying The Rosary everyday....missing a few days here and there, but always coming back and picking it up again.  Why do we do it?  Another mystery?  We have found that praying The Rosary has such a soothing effect on us both, twenty minutes of calm.  We don't pray The Rosary like we did as kids...now we pray a Scriptural Rosary, one that reads passages from the Bible that reflect on each mystery of The Rosary.  We have found it to be more meaningful, easier to meditate on the mysteries, and even on the words of  the actual prayers. We pray it out loud, the way it was meant to be prayed, at least that is what I believe, as the resonance of the words as we pray our own parts helps in the meditation. 

Mistakenly called a Marian Prayer, The Rosary is in reality a meditation on the Life of Jesus. Praying The Rosary and meditating on its Mysteries helps us to grow in the virtues that each Mystery  of the Rosary proclaims.  As those who practice true meditation know, there is a calmness of mind, heart and spirit that results in meditation.  The Rosary provides that type of meditation with an emphasis towards God and directing one's life towards God. The rosary contains 20 mysteries that proclaim 20 lessons in life, love, virtue and God's plan for us.

In Part II, I will discuss each mystery of The Rosary and the values it contains.  And from that we will understand what the true Mystery of the Rosary is.