|
The
Mysteries of the Epiphany* The Star of
Bethlehem . . . Jesus, whom the three kings from the East found by following a star until it came and stood over Him in Bethlehem. Holy Mary, . . . . . . Jesus,
to whom the Magi from the East brought gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Holy Mary, . . . The Baptism of
Our Lord . . . Jesus,
at whose approach for his own baptism John said: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world. Holy Mary, . . . . . . Jesus, whose divinity was made known by the
descent upon Him of the Holy Spirit in
the form of a dove. Holy Mary, . . . The First Miracle
at Cana . . . Jesus, our Lord and Master of whom His mother said: Do whatever He tells you. Holy Mary, . . . . .
. Jesus, who began his public ministry by turning jars of water into wine for
the wedding guests at Cana. Holy Mary,
. . . The Cleansing of
the Leper .
. . Jesus, whom the leper adored, saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me
clean. Holy
Mary, . . .. . . . . . Jesus, who stretched forth his hand, touched and healed him, saying: I will, be thou made clean. Holy Mary, . . . The Calming of
the Raging Sea .
. . Jesus, to whom his disciples came in the boat when a great tempest arose
in the sea saying: Lord, save us, lest
we perish. Holy Mary, . . . . .
. Jesus, who replied: Why are you
fearful, O ye of little faith? And then commanded the winds, and the sea, and
there came a great calm. Holy Mary, . . . *Based
on a blog
post by the prior of the traditional Benedictine monastery of
Silverstream Priory in Ireland. From
Article 200, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy,
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican
City, 2001: Those who
recite a third of the Rosary sometimes assign the various mysteries to particular
days: joyful (Monday and Thursday), sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday), glorious
(Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday). Where this
system is rigidly adhered to, conflict can arise between the content of the
mysteries and that of the Liturgy of the day: the recitation of the sorrowful
mysteries on Christmas day, should it fall on a Friday. In cases such as this
it can be reckoned that “the liturgical character of a given day takes
precedence over the usual assignment of a mystery of the Rosary to a given day;
the Rosary is such that, on particular days, it can appropriately substitute
meditation on a mystery so as to harmonize this pious practice with the
liturgical season”(242). Hence, the faithful act correctly when, for example,
they contemplate the arrival of the three Kings on the Solemnity of the
Epiphany, rather than the finding of Jesus in the Temple. Clearly, such
substitutions can only take place after much careful thought, adherence to
Sacred Scripture and liturgical propriety. Thus in private prayer, at least, the mysteries of the Rosary
need not limited to the familiar joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious
mysteries. On special occasions like the Solemnity of the Epiphany, other
appropriate mysteries based on holy Scripture, sacred Tradition, or the
Liturgy of the Church may be selected for contemplation. |