The Glorious Mysteries

The First Glorious Mystery

The Resurrection

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:1-2)
Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” (Matthew 28:5-6a)
“Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:6b-7)
Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. (Matthew 28:8)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:22-23)
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19)
“And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

The Second Glorious Mystery

The Ascension

“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.” (John 16:5-6)
“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. (Luke 24:50)
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7)
“But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God. (Luke 24:52-53)

The Third Glorious Mystery

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. (Acts 2:1)
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. (Acts 2:2)
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. (Acts 2:3)
And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:4)
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6)
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.” (Acts 2:14-15)
“No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:16-17)
“‘Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.’” (Acts 2:18)
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. … Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. (Acts 2:38,41)

The Fourth Glorious Mystery

The Assumption of Mary

My lover speaks and says to me, “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!” (Song of Songs 2:10)
“For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone.” (Song of Songs 2:11)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (John 14:1)
“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14:3)
“Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52a)
“For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52b)
“For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:53)
“Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55)

The Fifth Glorious Mystery

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven And Earth

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 95:8b-9, RSV)
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1)
When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13)
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year. (Revelation 12:14)
The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. (Revelation 12:15)
But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. (Revelation 12:16)
Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)
“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42b-43)
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. (Luke 1:46b-48)
“He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1:52)

The First Glorious Mystery

The Resurrection

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:1-2)
Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” (Matthew 28:5-6a)
“Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:6b-7)
Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. (Matthew 28:8)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:22-23)
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19)
“And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

The Second Glorious Mystery

The Ascension

“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.” (John 16:5-6)
“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. (Luke 24:50)
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7)
“But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God. (Luke 24:52-53)

The Third Glorious Mystery

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. (Acts 2:1)
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. (Acts 2:2)
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. (Acts 2:3)
And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:4)
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6)
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.” (Acts 2:14-15)
“No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:16-17)
“‘Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.’” (Acts 2:18)
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. … Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. (Acts 2:38,41)

The Fourth Glorious Mystery

The Assumption of Mary

My lover speaks and says to me, “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!” (Song of Songs 2:10)
“For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone.” (Song of Songs 2:11)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (John 14:1)
“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14:3)
“Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52a)
“For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52b)
“For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:53)
“Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55)

The Fifth Glorious Mystery

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven And Earth

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 95:8b-9, RSV)
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1)
When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13)
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year. (Revelation 12:14)
The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. (Revelation 12:15)
But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. (Revelation 12:16)
Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)
“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42b-43)
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. (Luke 1:46b-48)
“He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1:52)