Fifth Luminous Mystery is the institution of the Holy Eucharist. It is very obvious to see the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at play here.
‘A final mystery of light is the institution of the Holy Eucharist, in which Christ offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies 'to the end' his love for humanity (John 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer himself in sacrifice.’ The Last Supper narration in the New Testament can be found in Matthew (26:26-30), Mark (14:22-26), Luke (22:14-20) and I Corinthians (11: 23-26). Although the different accounts represent slightly different traditions, they agree in essence that Jesus gave His disciples His Flesh and Blood as food and drink under the symbols of bread and wine. By ‘doing this in memory of Him’ we become partakers in His life-giving Spirit and are nourished unto a future resurrection. This is the doctrine that John teaches us in pointedly in Chapter 6 of his Gospel.
Jesus visits us daily in the Word and the Sacrament. Jesus’ presence in the Holy Eucharist is unique. The early Church used a certain Greek word to describe this reality. They called it “Parousia”, which means “presence, arrival, coming, or advent”. Today non-Catholics and many Catholics use the word Parousia to denote the so-called second coming of Christ at the end of time- distinct from His daily coming in the Holy Eucharist. Christ comes first in the incarnation, secondly in the Eucharist and would come at the last in the new cup that we would drink with Him in His Father’s kingdom. Although a final Parousia will come one day, the Holy Eucharist is the Parousia here and now. What the ancients saw in the liturgy was the coming of Christ; and what they meant by Parousia is what we today should mean by the real presence of Christ. This is a powerful reality, full of Christ’s heavenly glory, though we cannot yet see Him in all His glory.
The fifth Luminous Mystery is a meditation on the first consecration of the Holy Eucharist and the establishment of this Holy Eucharist within the spiritual life of the Church. The Holy Eucharist is the true presence of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine with his soul and divinity. Christ is the light of the world and the light of the Church. The Holy Eucharist is a mystery of light because it is a mystery of Christ.
At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ consecrated the Holy Eucharist once for all Time and Place. All other consecrations of the Holy Eucharist, by priests and Bishops at holy Mass, are effective only because Christ Himself consecrated the Eucharist, everywhere and every-when, all at once, in one Divine act, at that first Eucharist.
In summary, the five Luminous Mysteries are a meditation on the Seven Sacraments established by Christ during His Ministry on earth. These Mysteries of Light teach us about the Sacramental Life of the Church. Whoever prays this chaplet of the Rosary should understand that the Luminous Mysteries are closely related to the Seven Sacraments. The Sacraments bring the true light of Christ to His Holy Church.
To Be Continued…
Mary Full of Grace, Pray for us!!
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