More than Ever, The World Needs the Luminous Mysteries
Using pebbles or beads as tangible prayer minders was nothing new by the 9th century, when Monks had begun making a daily or weekly recitation of all 150 Psalms. It made perfect sense, then, when the lay faithful, who wanted a way to participate in this pious practice, yet had difficulty learning the Psalms due to various reasons (e.g., widespread illiteracy), instead recited 150 prayers daily or weekly and kept track of them by means of pebbles or beads. Eventually this practice evolved into beads being strung together on a cord. The daily prayers would typically be the "Pater Noster" (the Lord's Prayer, found in Lk 11:2-4 or Mt 6:9-13) or the "Ave [Gratia Plena]" (the "Hail, Full of Grace" found in Lk 1:28, 41-42). Gradually, the second half of what we know today as the "Hail Mary" was added, reflecting Lk 1:43 and passages regarding praying for one another (e.g., James 5:16). This recitation of prayers on beads would eventually evolve into what would later be called a "Rosary", particularly after the 12th century.
By 12th century, the Albigenses heresy had spread and, as a 15th Century legend has it, Our Lady instructed St. Dominic (in the 12th Century) “If you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter.” And she then proceeded to explain the Mysteries of the Rosary which countered the heresies and loss of faith that were being spread. This is obviously an over-simplified history, but you can find any number of well-written articles on "Where Did the Rosary Originate?". Using the phrase "my Psalter" made sense, of course, because the "150 Aves" had started as a means for the faithful to participate in the recitation of the 150 Psalms by the pious monks.
The Mysteries of the Rosary were theologically divided as follows:
Joyful: 1) The Annunciation [of the incarnation of Christ to Mary]; 2) The Visitation [of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth]; 3) The Nativity of Christ; 4) The Presentation [of the Baby Jesus in the Temple]; 5) The Finding of the Child Jesus [at the Temple when he was 12 years old].
Sorrowful: 1) Christ's Agony in the Garden; 2) The Scourging at the Pillar; 3) The Crowning with Thorns; 4) The Carrying of the Cross; 5) Christ's Crucifixion.
Glorious: 1) The Resurrection; 2) The Ascension of Christ into Heaven; 3) The Descent of the Holy Spirit [at Pentecost]; 4) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [into Heaven by God's Power]; The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Fast forward to the 20th Century, with additional truths of the faith coming under attack (e.g., the necessity of Baptism rejected by evangelicals in the late 1800s to 1900s; the rapid increase in divorce rates following World War 2 and, even more so, after the widespread acceptance of contraception and abortion; a modern rejection of the notion of eternity (that there is a Heaven and Hell); disbelief that Christ is truly God; and a decline in the belief of the reality of Christ's true presence in the Holy Eucharist).
About 1957, Saint Fr. George Preca proposed a new set of mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, which would meditate upon the ministerial life of Christ. These were eventually approved and made available to the laity by Saint Pope John Paul II. You can read more here: Why the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary? – Catholic Heart and Mind.
The Luminous Mysteries are as follows:
Luminous: 1) The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan; 2) The Wedding Feast in Cana; 3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven; 4) The Transfiguration of Christ [before Peter, James and John]; 5) The Institution of the Eucharist.
These Luminous Mysteries of the Life of Christ are timely for meditating, and more than ever we need to remind ourselves of the truths of the Gospel which they convey.
As Scripture plainly tells us, "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5) and "baptism...now saves you" (1Pet 3:20-21).
It is important that parents give this life-giving profession of faith on behalf of their children and have them Baptized to incorporate them into the family of God.
It's neat how it mirrors those whose faith was able to garner a cure for their friend (Mk 2:2-11), and those parents of our spiritual ancestors who professed this faith in God on behalf of their children in the circumcision that prefigured Baptism (e.g., Gn 17:1-14; Col 2:11-12).
Christ thought Marriage was so important that He answered His Mother's intercession with His first public miracle to help assure the continuation of the wedding celebration. We should place the same importance on Marriage that Christ did, and we can start by meditating on this mystery of Christ's life.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven
Priests used to preach on "The Four Last Things" (Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell), just like Jesus did, so that Christians would focus on something really important: living with the purpose of knowing, loving, and serving God in this life, so to be with Him in eternity. That's a message few of us hear anymore. Even less so, the need for us to proclaim the Kingdom to each other.
The Transfiguration of Christ
Jesus is really God. Aside from actually saying it (Jn 8:58, et al.), He took three of His disciples (Peter, James, and John) up to a mountain and allowed them to see it (Mt 17; Mk 9; Lk 9).
Meditating on the Transfiguration is a great way to remind ourselves of Christ's bold statement to those who thought Him to be a blasphemer: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am" (Jn 8:58).
The Institution of the Eucharist
Jesus is truly present to us in a way for all Christians, regardless of their existence in time, to participate in the Last Supper. He tells us plainly "I am the bread of life" (Jn 6:35, 48).
He goes on further, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (Jn 6:51, emphasis added).
And when the Jews grumbled about Him being able to give His actual flesh, He clarified it for them six more times over, getting more graphic as He explained it.
“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:53-58). Those who have studied the Greek (not that you need to) will recognize the word for "eat" is finally the one-same word for chew/gnaw...to literally eat.
And if there were ever any doubt, He states plainly again at the Last Supper, when taking the bread, "This is my body, which is given for you"; and "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (Lk 22:19-20).
I find it remarkable and beautiful that He identifies the New Covenant/Testament (they are the same root word) with the cup of His blood. The Eucharistic meal is literally the "New Testament".
Meditate on the mysteries of the Life of Christ. It will always bring you closer to Him, and will help us all in this fallen, and declining, world.
Photo Credits:
1. Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, Depositphotos.com
2. Wedding Feast at Cana, Callingcouplestochrist.org
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, Cradio.or.au
4. Raphael's Transfiguration, media.accentionpress.com
5. Last Supper, Christthekingtrumbull.org
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