Rosary Workshop - THE YEAR OF THE ROSARY
+ 5 MYSTERIES of  LIGHT +
  honoring the ministry of Jesus on earth and his desire for love and peace
in our hearts - as he lights our way home
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Dedicated to the YEAR OF THE ROSARY, October 16th, 2002
BAPTISM  - CANA  -PROCLAMATION -TRANSFIGURATION
INSTITUTION OF EUCHARIST -   COMMENTS

First Mystery of Light

+ BAPTISM in the JORDAN +
Beginning of His public life
- in obedience to the Father, he lights the first lantern to show
us the way home.

Fruit of the Mystery - Accepting:  living in our baptism
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OUR FATHER
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10 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
HAIL MARY
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14 John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?"
HAIL MARY
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15 Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, ...
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... for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
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 16  After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water ...
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... and behold,the heavens were opened (for him),
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     ... and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.
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 17 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ...
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 ... "This is my beloved Son, ...
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... with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)
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 Second Mystery of Light

+ WEDDING  of  CANA +
His self manifestation and first miracle
The second lantern is lit and the marian theme is set,

Fruit of the Mystery - Listening:  Doing as he tells us

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OUR FATHER
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On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  2  Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
HAIL MARY
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3  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
(And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come."
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His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."
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6  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim.
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 8 Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.
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 9 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
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    10  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."
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 11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, ...
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 ... and his disciples began to believe in him.
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 12 After this, he and his mother, (his) brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days. (John 2:1- 12)
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 Third Mystery of Light

+ PROCLAMATION of the KINGDOM +
the call to conversion
In the call to repent, Jesus lights the 3rd lantern as we are
asked to forgive and be forgiven.

Fruit of the Mystery - Hearing:  our call to conversion

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OUR FATHER
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15  This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."  (Mark 1:15)
HAIL MARY
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They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.  4  Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
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When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."
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Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,  7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
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 8 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  9  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?
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 10  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- 11 he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
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     12 He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
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 13 Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them.  (Mark 2:3-13)
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 47 So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.  But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48  He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:47-48)
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 22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.  23  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."   (John 20:22-23)
HAIL MARY



Fourth Mystery of Light

+ THE TRANSFIGURATION +
Revelation of his glory to his Apsotles
'This is my chosen Son' - the 4th lantern is lit

Fruit of the Mystery - Awareness:  of his glory

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OUR FATHER
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 While he was still speaking, ...
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... a cloud came ...
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... and cast a shadow over them, ...
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... and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
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 35  Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ...
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 ... "This is my chosen Son; ...
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  ... listen to him."
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 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
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 They fell silent ...
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 ... and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.  (Luke 9:35)
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Fifth Mystery of Light

+ INSTITUTION of the EUCHARIST +
Sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery
The 5th lantern is lit. God with us,  as at Pentecost (Holy Spirit) and
Eucharistic presence (Jesus) - we are not alone

Fruit of the Mystery - Thanksgiving:  * for Gods peace and his love of us

OUR FATHER
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 1  Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
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2 The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, 3  fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, 4 he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." 8  Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
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10  Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." 11  For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." 12  So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? 13  You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. 14  If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.  15  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
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16  Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  17  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.  18  I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.'
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19  From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.  20  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
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21  When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."  22  The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.  23  One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. 24  So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. 25  He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?"
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26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So he dipped the morsel and (took it and) handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.  27 After he took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 (Now) none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.  29  Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor.  30  So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
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31 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  32 (If God is glorified in him,) God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.  33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you.
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 34  I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. 35 This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 36  Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Jesus answered (him), "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later."
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37 Peter said to him, "Master, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." (John 13:1).
HAIL MARY
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REFLECTION ON THE LAST SUPPER EVENT:
22  While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.
25  Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26  Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(Mark: 14: 22 - 26)

 The passages above are guidlines for meditation on these mysteries and are taken from the suggestions of the Holy Father in his Papal Document - ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE released October 16, 2002. 




~ COMMENTS ~

and the number 5 means ....
Do you know what this makes me think of? The 10 virgins and the lamps, 5 had oil and and 5 did not.  And the number 5 means grace ..... Carol Lehto (Living Waters, Stephenson MI)
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... and 5 were wise ...
 Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
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Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
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     While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.  Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Mt 25:1-13
... 

* ... "God's Peace and Love" ...
"The 5th Luminous mystery fruit seems to repeat the 3rd Glorious mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit which is "The Love of God". Hey, if anything is beneficial in repeating, it is certainly the Love of God. I think too that you are right on this mystery but I miss seeing Peace mentioned. I think that it is time to erase the 60's notion of peace and love with the INSPIRED LUMINOUS MYSTERIES so generously given to us through Pope John Paul by listing the Eucharistic 5th fruit as "God's Peace and Love"!
(Web Designer http://www.gracigraphics.net) - Glen Sablich (LA)
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Thanks Glen, we have added the presence of the triune God through Pentecost and Eucharist above.  Truly this presence is the sign of God's love and desire for peace within each of us and in the world. We quote the Holy Father in APOSTOLIC LETTER ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE:

... Prayer for peace and for the family ...
6. A number of historical circumstances also make a revival of the Rosary quite timely. First of all, the need to implore from God the gift of peace. The Rosary has many times been proposed by my predecessors and myself as a prayer for peace. At the start of a millennium which began with the terrifying attacks of 11 September 2001, a millennium which witnesses every day innumerous parts of the world fresh scenes of bloodshed and violence, to rediscover the Rosary means to immerse oneself in contemplation of the mystery of Christ who “is our peace”, since he made “the two of us one, and broke down the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14). Consequently, one cannot recite the Rosary without feeling caught up in a clear commitment to advancing peace, especially in the land of Jesus, still so sorely afflicted and so close to the heart of every Christian.
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For the full Apostolic Letter also see the Vatican website:
ROSARIUM - VIRGINIS MARIAE

... pilgrim lanterns on the pathway home ...
These new mysteries are lanterns on the path of our pilgrimage here on earth.   These Lumins, Luminaries or  Mysteries of Light are truly inspired for each one of us.  Why now? Because it is time:  1. BAPTISM - We are called to live in our baptism by the Lord who, himself shows us the way through is own baptism.  2. CANA - At the Marriage at Cana, Mary gives her very powerful but simple message, 'Do as he tells you' -  a message we are all called to live.  3. PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM - reminds us we must prepare, confess our sins  -  forgive and be forgiven.
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4. TRANSFIGURATION - compels, affirms Mary's words and identifies - 'This is my chosen son ... listen to him' commands the Lord himself in speaking to the apostles. When we listen to and live in him, we too have a transfiguration experience. And  5. EUCHARIST - We are called to love one another.  as we enter into the eternal now here on earth, the Mass. God with us.  Our moment of thanksgiving for the Lord who gave his only son so that we may live.  It is the Didache (Jesus teachings through the 12 Apostles) in motion.  Rosary Workshop - MI

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