Praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary draws us beyond the sorrow of Good Friday to the joy of Easter and the resurrection of our Lord. Life springs in all its green and flowering beauty from the dead earth of winter. The land echoes the joyful strains of our Alleluia. The splendor of God's creation shines forth, and we ourselves become new in the wonder of our redemption, in the promise of salvation. Praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary draws us beyond the sorrow of Good Friday to the joy of Easter and the resurrection of our Lord. Life springs in all its green and flowering beauty from the dead earth of winter. The land echoes the joyful strains of our Alleluia. The splendor of God's creation shines forth, and we ourselves become new in the wonder of our redemption, in the promise of salvation.
Resurrection of the Lord
Laid in the earth as one dead, Jesus is raised to life on Easter morning. The incredible reality of his resurrection comes slowly to the disciples. Their world in shambles, their minds full of his death, of sorrow, bewilderment, and fear, they are unbelieving when word of the empty tomb comes to them. Then Christ's living presence breaks as the morning sun upon them. He alone opens their eyes. His are the words that burn in their hearts. Scripture does not tell us that Jesus appeared to his Mother, but surely her loving heart beat with indescribable joy as she heard the great news: The Lord is risen; he is risen indeed!
Ascension of the Lord
Forty days pass, and Jesus remains in his glorified body in the land of the living. When Jesus is taken up into heaven, his disciples are left not in fear and bewilderment but in rejoicing. Now the words of the last evening of Jesus' life have meaning for them; Christ himself has opened their eyes and hearts. Comfort and hope are with him: Behold I am with you always. Faith grows as the presence of Jesus fills all their world. We gather in the upper room with Mary and the disciples to be of one accord, devoting ourselves to prayer in union with Our Lord.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said: You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. At Pentecost Mary and the disciples are baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the promised power flames above them. It pours forth in prayer and in words which blaze through the barriers of language and prejudice. The fire which Christ came to cast upon earth so burns into the hearts of men and women that no threat, no suffering, no other demands or loyalties can quench its brightness. With all the house of Israel, we know that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus we crucified. As we open ourselves to the Spirit, we may be sent forth in the name of Christ for the world's salvation.
The Assumption of Mary
Her heart filled with the Holy Spirit, Mary awaits the fulfillment of her life and calling. The years of loving concern for her little boy, of anguish and sorrow have passed; her Son's life and work go on. Earthly cares are merely shadows along the bright horizon of God's kingdom. As Mary's life is ending, she knows that it is also beginning. Firmly rooted in the earth, she is total openness to heaven.The tree has come to full flower, and Christ gathers the incorruptible fruit into eternal glory. Mary is always one of us. In her promise and fulfillment lies our own, if we but prepare the harvest Christ is asking of us.
The Coronation of Mary
In the last mystery Mary stands before us in the fullness of grace, a woman clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, crowned with stars. She is Our Lady, exalted in heaven as queen of all things. She is Jesus' Mother— and ours. Mary, the sinless virgin, is the first of the redeemed, and the grace which flows in her from God becomes a source of our salvation. The fairest flower of humankind, Mary is also an image of the church in the full flowering of her perfection.
A great sign appeared in the sky,
a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
O Lady Queen of Paradise,
O Mary our Mother,
may we so live
that you will look on each of us
and behold your Son.