Anyone who says the rosary prayer is all about Mary is absolutely ignorant about it.
Apart from the “Hail Mary” and a few other prayers, which are scriptural-based anyway, which relate to Mary’s intercession, all the things we pray about and meditate upon in all the four mysteries relate to Jesus and not Mary per se. In any case, when we honour Mary, it is God himself who receives the praise for bestowing such graces on her.
The rosary is not just a series of “Hail Mary” prayers but we pause to meditate on the life of Jesus from his conception up to his ascension, and even to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
I call this genuine ignorance but it ceases to be genuine when the ignorant person refuses to be taught or to study to know about what he or she is criticizing.
For those who wish to know more about what goes into the praying of the rosary and what we meditate on, the following will be a guide:
Meditation on the Mysteries
Before the Lord’s prayer and the decade of “Hail Marys”, we are presented with a mystery in the life of Jesus or Mary to reflect on. There are four groups of mysteries, each containing five scenes. I have added some virtues that can be deduced from each of these scenes:
Joyful Mysteries:
1. The Annunciation (Humility) Luke 1: 26-38; John 1:14
2. The Visitation (Charity/Love of Neighbor) Luke 1: 39-56
3. The Nativity (Poverty) Luke 2: 6-20; Matthew 1:18-25
4. The Presentation (Obedience) Luke 2: 22-39
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Joy in finding Jesus; prudence) Luke 2: 41-51
Luminous Mysteries:
1. The Baptism of Jesus (Fidelity to our baptismal promises) Matthew 3:11-17; Luke 3:15-22; John 1:22-34
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana (Faith in Mary‘s intercession and maternal care)
John 2: 1-12
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Conversion of heart) Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 5:1-8; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:21
4. The Transfiguration (Become a new person in Christ) Luke 9:28-36; Matthew 17:1-8
5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Love of the Eucharist; active participation at Mass) Matthew 26:26-28; John 6: 33-59
Note: The five Luminous Mysteries, or Mysteries of Light, were introduced in 2002 by Pope John Paul II in Rosary of the Virgin Mary.
Sorrowful Mysteries:
1. The Agony in the Garden (True sorrow for sin; repentance) Matthew 26: 36-46;
Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22: 39-46
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Modesty and purity; mortification or self-denial) Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1
3. The Crowning of Thorns (Moral courage; love of our enemies) Matthew 27:29-30;
Mark 15:16-20; John 1: 2-3
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Patience, especially when suffering; fortitude)
Luke 23: 26-32; Matthew 27:31-32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23: 26-32
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance; mercy) Luke 23: 33-46; Matthew 27: 33-54;
Mark 15: 22-39; Luke 23: 33-47; John 19: 17-37
Glorious Mysteries:
1. The Resurrection (Faith) Matthew 28: 1-10; Mark 16: 1-18; Luke 24: 1-49;
John 20:1-29
2. The Ascension (Hope) Mark: 16: 19-20; Luke 24: 50-51; Acts 1: 6-11
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Love of God; gifts of the Holy Spirit)
Acts 2: 1-41
4. The Assumption (Grace of a happy death; eternal happiness)
Revelation 12:1
5. Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (True devotion to Mary)
Revelation 12:1
These mysteries offer us a summary of the Gospel. By meditating on the various mysteries therefore, we come to grasp the essential aspects of the life of Christ and his mother.
No wonder St. Pope John Paul II described the rosary as a “Compendium of the Gospel” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae #18).
Do not forget to pray the rosary with devotion and faith!
“Through Christ Our Lord ”
I think the traditional concluding Prayer Tells it all;
“Oh God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, WE MAY IMITATE WHAT THEY CONTAIN AND OBTAIN WHAT THEY PROMISE. Through Christ Our Lord. AMEN!”
God bless you!
Padre Antonio
(WhatsApp number: +233 541 859198)
(You may whatsapp your questions and contributions for further clarifications)
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