Vatican Council declares: “If anyone say that in Divine Revelation there are contained no mysteries properly so called, but that through reason rightly developed all the dogmas of faith can be understood and demonstrated from natural principles: let him be anathema.”
Ref Sess. III, Canons, 4. De fide et Ratione, 1
For sometime now, we have being journeying through the month and reflecting on the Word of God as summarized by the Rosary. We also looked at the contribution of Mother of God to the redemption of Man and her close union with her Son.
We shall now look at the various mysteries of the rosary meditated upon --- The Joyful, Sorrowful, Light and Glorious Mysteries are direct biblical quotation from the Scriptures.
What then is a mystery?
According to ISBE, this word “mystery” has its root in Paganism esp the Greek “Musterion” which means secret. It therefore refers to secret rites and celebrations in ancient religions only known to, and practised by those who had been initiated. In other words, A mystery is a secret imparted only to the initiated, that which is unknown until it is revealed, whether it be easy or hard to understand.
From 6th Century BC, there were more secret open cults in the Greco Roman world. The most famous Mysteries celebrated in Eleusis, Orphic Mysteries, Cult of Isis and Serapis.
In its Modern meaning, it refers to something in itself obscure or incomprehensible, difficult or impossible to understand. In the language of the early Christians, the mysteries were those religious teachings that were carefully guarded from the knowledge of the profane.
In the Old Testament, it is equivalent to secret like the Greco-Roman usage. Ref Proverbs 20:19, Judith 2:2, Sirach 22:27.
The New Testament apply the word mystery to the sublime revelation of the Gospel, Incarnation and the life of the Saviour and His manifestation by the preaching of the Apostles. Ref Matthew 13:1, I Cor 15:51, Romans 16: 25, Colossians 1:26
In sum, only faith can embrace the mysteries of God. This faith glories in weakness in order to draw itself to itself, Christ's power. The Virgin Mary is the model of this faith, for she believed that nothing will be impossible with God and was able to magnify the Lord: ‘For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is his name.’ Ref Luke 1:37 & 49
So what mysteries are in Rosary Prayers?
To Be Continued…
Mother most Prudent…..Pray for us
Compiled by:
Eric K. Dagbui
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