Seven Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

Santuário San Rafael Ascension Catholic church

An independent ministry in the Catholic Tradition

As prayed on the Seraphic Rosary

(or Franciscan Crown)

If you do not have a seven decade Rosary, you can request one from Fr. Foss, or you can use a regular (Domincan) Rosary, and repeat two decades.

These mysteries of Light, like the mysteries recommended by the beloved Pope John Paul II to be considered with the traditional rosary, are a meditation on the life and saving work of Christ. There are many different ways to understand how the Christian message is developed in the context of each person; we recall the words of St. Paul who said, “If we are saved by [Jesus’] death, how much more are we saved by his life?” Rom. 5:10. The mystery of how the light of the Christ enters, enlightens, and raises up each soul is a deep mystery which pertains to the depths of our being, and may manifest differently in each soul.

Seven Mysteries of Light

1. The Creation of the World through the power of the Logos. (Gen 1:1-3; Jn 1:1-5) “In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. And God said: Be light made. And light was made. And God saw the light that it was good.” “In the beginning was the Logos, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by the Logos: and nothing was made without the Logos. In the Logos was life, and the life was the light of all.. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

2. The Epiphany of the Logos (Mt. 2:1-2) “When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is the one that is born the ruler of the Judeans? For we have seen the light of a star in the east, and are come to adore.”

3. The Baptism in the Jordan. (Mk 1:9-11) “And it came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And forthwith coming up out of he water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on him. And there came a voice from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

4. The Illumination of the Human Soul (John 9:1-5 ) “And Jesus passing by, saw a man, who was blind from his birth: And his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered: Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of the One that sent me, whilst it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

5. The Transfiguration. (Mk 9:1-3) “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, and was transfigured before them. And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no one upon earth can make white. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.”

6. The Sacrificial Mystery of Eucharist. (Jn 6:54ff) Amen, amen I say unto you: the one that believeth in me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any one eat of it, the same may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. The one who eats of this bread shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. Jesus said to them: Doth this scandalize you? It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.

7. The Triple Mystery of Jesus’ Return to the Fullness. (Luke 23:44ff; 24:1-10; 50-51)

“And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.” […] And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, [the women] came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen […] And he led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up to heaven.

Hail, holy Queen,

mother of mercy;

our life, our sweetness,

and our hope!

To thee do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To thee do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping

in this vale of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

thine eyes of mercy

toward us,

and after this exile,

show us the blessed fruit

of thy womb Jesus.

O clement! O loving!

O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R. That we may be made worthy

of the promises of Christ.

Amen.

Memorare of Our Lady of Light

Remember, O most loving Blessed Mary, Our Lady of Light, the wonders of the Divine Presence which hovered over thee at the words of Holy Gabriel, the Angel of God, who announced to thee the unfolding mystery of light which we have come to know as Jesus the Christ. Filled with confidence in thy gracious and tender embrace, we approach thee and beg thy protection and intercession to calm our fears, to heal our wounded and broken hearts, to assuage our fevers and sufferings, and to enlighten our minds and souls with the radiance of God’s ineffable light. Let our love for thee open the portals of our hearts that we may receive from the Sacred Heart of Jesus all the graces of love and mercy, light and salvation, power and knowledge which flow forth as rays of holy light to gather us once again into the realm of God’s presence. Grant our earthly desires and needs

(here mention your request or intention)

and keep us ever mindful of the Holy Word of God which binds us to thee and to all sentient creatures.

+Amen.

How to Pray the Rosary of Light

1. Using beads for the Franciscan Crown (a rosary of seven decades), hold the cross and make a Sign of the Cross: +In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. May substitute an alternative formula like “In the Name of God, the Living One, Word, and Spirit. Amen.”

2. Then form a specific intention, and take a moment to focus on it: I offer this Rosary for the following intention (name your intention) and ask God’s blessing on it.

3. Then, announce the First Mystery and pray the Our Father on the single bead just before the medallion.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Many people prefer to use an alternative prayer to affirm that God is beyond all gender. One such prayer might be:

Our Mother, with us on earth, holy is your name, your true reign come, your will be done, within us, as it is within you. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those whose sins have oppressed us, and lead us not into confusion, but enlighten us with your wisdom.

Amen.

4. Pray one Hail Mary for each of the ten beads.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us* now , and at the hour of death. Amen.

*Traditional language adds “sinners.”

5. On the chain at the end of the decade, pray the Gloria Patri:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Or an alternative formula:

Glory to you, O God, Living One, Word, and Spirit, now and for all ages and aeons. Amen.

6. On the single bead between the decades, announce the next Mystery and then pray the Our Father. Continue as in Step 3 for the remaining Mysteries.

7. After the last Mystery, pray one Hail Mary each on the fourth and third beads from the Cross to complete 72 years of Mary’s Life.

8. Pray the Our Father and the Gloria Patri for the intentions of all Christians on the 2nd bead from the Cross.

9. Pray a Hail Mary on the single bead closest to the Cross. Conclude with the Salve Regina.

10. While praying each decade, focus on the divine light which comes through each mystery.

Our Lady of Light, Pray for us

that the wisdom and light of Christ

may be born in our Souls.

Amen.

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