I pray the luminous mysteries. Change can be good. Originally, the rosary was shorter than even what you purists pray today. That is, unless you skip the part that says, "holy Mary mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death," because that wasn't officially added to the Hail Mary until the 16th century.
Change isn't always for the better. Doesn't seem to be working out all too well for the Church lately does it? If our Lady wanted the Luminous mysteries to be prayed, why wouldn't she ask for it at Fatima, Akita, etc.? No Luminous for me, I'll stick to what our Mother requested despite what un-purists say.
I love the luminous mysteries from St. George Preca. Some easy meditations on them from servant of God Fr. Peyton: Fr. Peyton's Rosary Meditations
If Saint John Paul II, a man I love and strive to emulate, says the Luminous Mysteries are added, “who am I to judge?” Every Thursday, including today
Every Thursday. For me they are all about marriage the life of the family and the Fatherhood of the Priesthood. In the first mystery The Fathers tells his son how proud he is of him. I have heard it suggested that such affirmation is the most important job of a Father. St Paul suggests that marriage reflects the union of God and his church - a permanent relationship. Sadly those who remember me here know that my marriage was annulled. I pray for all married couples and those whose marriages have fallen apart. The third reminds us that our time is limited and that we do not have forever to put them in order but also promises that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand for those who persevere in Faith and faithfulness. The fourth also promises of the wonderful transformation we can expect. It is especially dear to me. The feast of the Transfiguration is on sixth of August, my birthday. And for me the fifth luminous mystery provides the gracious and bountiful answer to the Lords Prayer that all sustenance will be provided for our Journey here on earth and our passing into Heaven: our Daily Bread. In the eucharist he is with us always. The life of Christ’s family will never end and he will never abandon us even though sometimes it can feel He Has. Our Heavenly Father is the great promise keeper. These are just some of the thoughts that come to me when telling the beads. I love these mysteries and how relevant they are to the End of Times (not the End of Time) in which we live. Corpus Domini Nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam meam/tuam in vitam aeternam Amen. (Those of you who know me know I am not a holy Joe but I do strive for holiness - some days better than others - just like everyone else in my family of faith) My edit is from Transformation to Transfiguration. You are all very charitable and did not correct me. You knew what I meant. Thank you.
The sword that slays the serpent dragon (the rosary) has been sharpened many times over the centuries, this is what St John Paul II did on the October 16, 2002! You will love this Video Brian and Fatima Pilgrim it is a Brilliant historical account of the rosary, by Father Callaway!
I strongly recommend we all try to pray 20 decades of the Rosary every day - all 20 Holy Mysteries. I believe it was because of the additional Graces required in our time that Pope St. John Paul II the Great was inspired by Heaven and Our Lady to add the 5 Luminous Mysteries to the Holy Rosary. We can have a Rosary Holy Hour and complete all 20 mysteries in about one hour. If a single Hail Mary makes the devil tremble and obtains so much Grace for us, just imagine how greatly and how quickly 200 Ave Marias from many Catholics around the world will turn the tide in this great spiritual battle we are undergoing. The Light will overcome the darkness!
Awesome, thank you! I got to know Fr. Mike Gaitley and Fr. Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA while I was volunteering with Fr. Gaitley’s Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy for a year. But I never met Fr. Calloway. I think he was at FUS in Steubenville as their vocations director at the time. The Divine Mercy Shrine is doing well despite the recent Covid restrictions in Massachusetts due to the online efforts of Fr. Chris and Fr. Calloway and others there.
I like to say the luminous mysteries. It seems such a jump to go from the finding of the child Jesus in the temple to the agony in the garden. A traditional-minded monk I know refers to the 'ludicrous mysteries' and says that the reason there were only three mysteries was that a full corded rosary, such as religious wear at their waist, had fifteen decades, and another five would cause the wearers to trip over! Can't help but chuckle, but I still like to meditate on the life and miracles of Christ.
I always accompany the prayer of the rosary with the reading of some specific psalms at the end of the mysteries, especially Psalms 51 (penitential) and 91 (to ask for protection against all danger)
I do not pray these psalms as a way to prolong prayer and thus make it more acceptable before God, but because these psalms are indicated for the present moment that brings us the need for penance and divine protection, no one is obliged to make the rosary that way, I just think that for those who like to read the psalms the time for this prayer is a good time to recite them because we are directly asking for the intercession of Our Lady
when I say that I pray at the end of the mysteries it is at the end of the Hail Holy Queen that concludes the mysteries dedicated to each day.
Oh I love the psalms! We pray them every day in Divine Office. So many times a portion of the psalm will almost leap off the page . . .it speaks to me. Maybe something I have been meditating on or wondering about will be answered in the psalms. One thing about getting older and being retired is the time I have to devote to them. This has been a great blessing.
It is said the rosary evolved from monks praying the psalms Praying the Rosary with the Psalms - Our Lady’s Psalter
