THE ROSARY IS THE COMPENDIUM OF THE GOSPEL, SEASON III, PART 4

THE LUMINIOUS MYSTERIES AND THE SACRAMENTS (A).

There are four Mysteries of the Rosary. These are Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous (Light) and Glorious Mysteries. All of them developed with time. Of  much interest to the subject under discussion is the Luminous Mystery also known as "The Mystery of Light".  The Luminous Mystery was a later development by Saint Pope John Paul II in 2002 to reflect Jesus the Light of the world, who displayed the light of his truth in a special way during the years of his public life.

The five decades of the Luminous mysteries are: Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (Luke 3:21-22) , The self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1-12), The proclamation of the Kingdom of God ( Mark 1:14-15), The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8) and The Institution of the Eucharist (Mark 14:22-25).

These five mysteries of the Rosary were derived by St Pope John Paul II from the work of Saint George Preca of Malta. He (St. George) and his followers have prayed a similar form of the rosary for many years. In devising these five new mysteries of the Rosary, Saint Pope John Paul II drew upon the work of Saint George Preca, who founded the Society of Christian Doctrine (SDC) in 1907. Fr. George Preca was beatified by Pope John Paul II in May of 2001, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2007.

In 1957, Saint George Preca proposed to the members of the SDC the following five mysteries of light: The first mystery is when Our Lord was baptized at the Jordan; the second consists in meditating the events of Christ's miracles; the third, when Jesus Christ taught the Beatitudes; The fourth about Our Lord's transfiguration; and the fifth is about the Last Supper.

Notice that the Pope changed some of the mysteries from those practiced by Saint George and his Society. The first, fourth, and fifth mysteries are nearly the same. The Pope changed the second mystery from a meditation on Christ's miracles in general to the particular miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana. And the third mystery was changed from the teaching of the Beatitudes to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with an emphasis on the call to repentance and conversion, which is essential to an acceptance of that proclamation.

The Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification. This was solemnly defined by the Council of Trent (1545-1563) that there are seven sacraments. The Church celebrates these seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance & Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.

There are five decades of a Rosary and there are seven sacraments in the Church. These are perfect numbers. Hence it is plausible to say, the rosary and the sacraments are ordered for our sanctification and perfection.

To Be Continued…

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, Pray for us!!!