Timely
meditations: A brief look at the glorious mysteries
By Theresa Cavicchio
Special to the CS&T
The joyful, luminous, and sorrowful mysteries of the rosary carry us through
the earthly events that occurred between the time just before the birth
of Jesus and His death on the cross. Meditating on the glorious mysteries,
however, we shift our gaze from things of earth to things of heaven. We
travel with Jesus and Mary beyond the sadness of Calvary and into the
realm of the divine.
These are mysteries in the truest sense. Finite minds cannot comprehend
all that they encompass. We contemplate glory transcending all human experience.
Scripture, tradition, and Church dogma spur us to use our imaginations,
contemplating each of these soul-expanding events from the aspect of one
key player.
First glorious mystery — The resurrection of Jesus
Meditating upon this central tenet of Christianity, we recall the words
Jesus spoke to Martha at Lazarus’ tomb: “I am the resurrection
and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
By rising from the dead, Jesus became the embodiment and fulfillment of
this prophetic self-characterization. Only the mysterious power of Trinitarian
divinity could achieve what to human minds is impossible, incomprehensible.
We meditate on this mystery from the aspect of the Apostle James, brother
of the beloved disciple John.
Along with Simon Peter and John, James is singled out to accompany Jesus
on many important occasions throughout His ministry. The three stand in
awe at seeing Him transfigured before them on the mountaintop; they sleep
while He prays in agony in the garden of Gethsemane.
After the terrible events of the following day, James huddles with the
other disciples in fear and trembling, grief and desolation. Imagine their
shock on Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene arrives with the astonishing
news that the tomb is empty — Jesus has risen.
How profoundly relieved they are when He appears to them, and James and
his brothers see with their own eyes the proof of His resurrection. He
has not left them after all. They will never look at death the same way
again.
• Lord, help me to contemplate the prospect of my own death and
resurrection not with an attitude of pre-resurrection fear but rather
with one of post-resurrection faith.
Second
glorious mystery — The ascension of Jesus
Jesus raised Himself above the boundaries of earth, its cares, sorrows,
and temptations — all those aspects of human life that weigh us
down and keep us earthbound. Just before taking leave of His apostles,
Jesus blessed and commissioned them to teach all nations, baptizing in
the name of the Trinity. By His own divine power Jesus ascended into the
heavens while His wondering followers looked on. He went ahead to prepare
our place in the promised life to come.
We meditate on this mystery from the aspect of John, the beloved disciple.
After His resurrection, the Master walks, talks, shares meals with John
and the rest of His closest followers. They see His glorified body, witness
His promise to send His Spirit, hear His charge to go out to all nations
in His name. They watch as He prepares to leave them once again, enfolding
His mother in the gentlest embrace. As He takes her hand and places it
into John’s, the beloved disciple feels again the sweet burden of
her care, first entrusted to him from the cross. The Spirit will come
to be their mentor and guide; Mary will remain as the mother of them all.
They will not be left orphans. John’s heart swells as he sees Jesus
disappear into the welcoming clouds.
• Lord, help me to see beyond the clouds, beyond the vision of your
disciples, staring up into heaven as you ascended to the Father. Remind
me to embrace Mary as my Mother just as your beloved disciple did.
Third glorious mystery — The descent of the Holy Spirit
After the Ascension, the upper room in Jerusalem became the gathering
place for a number of Jesus’ followers, including the remaining
eleven Apostles and a group of faithful women, Mary chief among them.
It is easy to imagine the state of confusion and bewilderment in which
they found themselves after Jesus’ departure. Into this atmosphere
of very human uncertainty came the fulfillment of the Lord’s promised
Spirit to inspire the group and lift them to a higher spiritual level.
We meditate on this mystery from the aspect of Simon Peter, the leader
of the Apostles.
In spite of his leadership role, Simon Peter had denied even knowing Jesus
not so many days before. Now, the disciples are gathered together, with
Mary comforting and encouraging them to be steadfast in prayer, when the
house becomes filled with a rushing sound like a great wind. In the next
moment, fire comes down from above and rests over each of their heads.
A sensation of warmth, peace, and strength floods through Peter.
Others relay similar feelings. All break out in tongues, empowered by
the Spirit and His gifts. Gone are the fears, uncertainties, and feelings
of unworthiness and inadequacy. Peter can no longer hold back the words.
Newly emboldened, he stands with his brother Apostles and proclaims Jesus
openly, witnessing to His message and converting many in the large crowd
assembled there. Peter knows these are not his own words, that the Spirit
is speaking through him. He will never be alone again, and nothing will
ever be the same.
• Lord, help me to remember that the Holy Spirit who descended upon
Mary and the Apostles is the same Holy Spirit who deigns to dwell in my
soul. Keep me open to the sound of His voice, as Peter was, and give me
the same courage to witness to Jesus.
Fourth glorious mystery — The assumption of Mary
When the time came for her earthly work to end, Mary closed her eyes.
Onlookers might have thought she had died, but it was not death —
it was, rather, dormition, a gentle sleep. The One who had created her
and had chosen her for the role only she could fulfill would not permit
her body to be subjected to decay. She was transported to heaven, body
and soul.
We meditate on this mystery from the aspect of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
God in His goodness sees fit to let Mary know that the end of her time
on earth has arrived. She has done as much as she could to nurture her
Son’s followers and to encourage their efforts to establish His
fledgling Church. In the fullness of time, she is blessed to leave behind
the sorrows of this world. Angels surround her, lifting her ever so gently
heavenward. Father, Son, and Spirit welcome her into a place of everlasting
beauty and perfect peace.
• Lord, help me to see in Mary’s assumption the promise of
my own future home in heaven, and to anticipate the time when all will
be joined, body and spirit, in our true home.
Fifth glorious mystery — The coronation of Mary
Mary’s assumption preceded her crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The coronation placed her at the pinnacle of perfection for womanhood.
Enthroned in glory, she took her rightful place at the head of the heavenly
hosts of angels and saints. The power of the Trinity crowned Our Lady,
assigning as her royal domain the vast expanse of earth, the infinite
realm of heaven, the hearts of all humankind. We meditate on this Mystery
from the aspect of Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
How the heavens rejoice as Mary receives the crown of glory!
During the Holy Family’s time together on earth, she had reigned
over the little household at Nazareth and over Jesus’ heart and
Joseph’s as well. Now Joseph watches with quiet pride as the triune
Godhead crowns and glorifies Mary, elevating her to a height unique among
women — daughter of the Creator, mother of the Savior, spouse of
the Spirit. The stars encircling her head pale in comparison with the
sinless beauty shining forth from the ark of the new covenant.
• Lord, help me to remember that Mary is queen of my own personal
heart as she was of Joseph’s. Our Queen deserves my deepest allegiance
and sincerest love and honor.
While the other groups of mysteries move us through joy, light, and sorrow,
the glorious mysteries uplift and transport — earth to heaven, mundane
to sublime. They remind us that Calvary was not the end but only the beginning.
So their underlying sentiment is one of hope — hope for renewed
strength and purpose in this life, hope for our future in the home prepared
for us since the beginning of time. Spurred on by these supernatural events,
we contemplate the awesome power of God, and the limitless possibilities
of the life to come.
Theresa Cavicchio is a wife and mother. She works in the Religious
Education Program for her parish, St. Madeline.