The Luminous Mysteries

The First Luminous Mystery

The Baptism of the Lord

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:1-2)
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.” (Mark 1:2)
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6)
“I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” (Matthew 3:11a)
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11b)
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. (Mark 1:9)
John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Matthew 3:14)
Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:15)
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. (Mark 1:10)
And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

The Second Luminous Mystery

The Manifestation at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (John 2:1)
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. (John 2:2)
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (John 2:3)
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4)
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. (John 2:6)
Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. (John 2:7)
Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. (John 2:8)
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:9-10)
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. (John 2:11)

The Third Luminous Mystery

The Proclamation of the Kingdom

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17b)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
“What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
“So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
“Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
“My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” (John 18:36)
He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

The Fourth Luminous Mystery

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Matthew 17:1)
And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:2)
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. (Matthew 17:3)
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5)
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. (Mark 9:6)
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34)
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. (Matthew 17:6)
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)
And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. (Matthew 17:8)

The Fifth Luminous Mystery

The Institution of the Eucharist

“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.” (John 6:48-50)
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)
“Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (John 6:57)
When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” (Luke 22:7-8)
When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:14-16)
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)
Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26)
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

The First Luminous Mystery

The Baptism of the Lord

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:1-2)
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.” (Mark 1:2)
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6)
“I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” (Matthew 3:11a)
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11b)
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. (Mark 1:9)
John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Matthew 3:14)
Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:15)
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. (Mark 1:10)
And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

The Second Luminous Mystery

The Manifestation at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (John 2:1)
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. (John 2:2)
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (John 2:3)
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4)
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. (John 2:6)
Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. (John 2:7)
Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. (John 2:8)
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:9-10)
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. (John 2:11)

The Third Luminous Mystery

The Proclamation of the Kingdom

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17b)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
“What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
“So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
“Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
“My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” (John 18:36)
He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

The Fourth Luminous Mystery

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Matthew 17:1)
And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:2)
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. (Matthew 17:3)
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5)
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. (Mark 9:6)
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34)
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. (Matthew 17:6)
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)
And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. (Matthew 17:8)

The Fifth Luminous Mystery

The Institution of the Eucharist

“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.” (John 6:48-50)
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)
“Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (John 6:57)
When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” (Luke 22:7-8)
When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:14-16)
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)
Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26)
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)