THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
It is suggested that, while praying the Hail Mary's, you gaze at the picture below the meditation to assist in contemplating its mystery.
The First Luminous Mystery: Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan River ~ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John tried to refuse Him with the protest, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me!" Jesus answered him, "Give in for now; we must do this if we are to fulfill all of God’s demands." So John gave in. After Jesus was baptized, He came directly out of the water. Suddenly, the sky opened and He saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove, and hover over Him. With that, a voice from the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on Him." The Baptism in the Jordan is first of all a mystery of light. Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who became "sin" for our sake (cf. 2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares Him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17 and parallels), while the Spirit descends on Him to invest Him with the mission which He is to carry out.
JESUS' BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN RIVER
The Second Luminous Mystery: The Miracle at the Wedding Feast at Cana ~ The second mystery of light is the first public miracle of Jesus, when He changed water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), thus opening the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers. He reveals himself as Lord and miracle worker. In the mysteries of light, apart from the miracle at Cana, the presence of Mary remains in the background. The Gospels make only the briefest reference to her occasional presence at one moment or other during the preaching of Jesus (cf. Mk 3:31-5; John 2:12), and they give no indication that she was present at the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. Yet the role she assumed at Cana in some way accompanies Christ throughout His ministry. The revelation made directly by the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan and echoed by John the Baptist is placed upon Mary's lips at Cana, and it becomes the great maternal counsel which Mary addresses to the Church of every age: "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5) This counsel is a fitting introduction to the words and signs of Christ's public ministry and it forms the Marian foundation of all the Mysteries of Light.
THE MIRACLE AT THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA
The Third Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God ~ After John's arrest, Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the Gospel. "This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the Good News!" In this Mystery of Light, Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, calls sinners to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15), and forgives the sins of all who draw near to Him in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48). He continues to exercise this forgiveness until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which He has entrusted to His Church.
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration ~ Jesus took Peter, John, and James, and went up onto a mountain to pray. While He was praying, His face changed in appearance and His clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and spoke of His passage, which He was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him had fallen into a deep sleep; but awakening, they saw His glory and likewise saw the two men who were standing with Him. When these were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, how good it is for us to be here. Let us set up three booths, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (He did not really know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and the disciples grew fearful as they entered it. Then from the cloud came a voice which said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to Him." When the voice fell silent, Jesus was there alone. The disciples kept quiet, telling nothing of what they had seen at that time to anyone. The mystery of light "par excellence" is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to "listen to him" (cf. Lk 9:35 and parallels) and to prepare to experience with Him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with Him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.
THE TRANSFIGURATION
The Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist ~ During the meal Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. "Take this and eat it," He said. "This is my Body." Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. "All of you must drink from it," He said, "for this is my Blood, the Blood of the Covenant, to be poured out on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink this fruit of the vine from now until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." Then, after singing songs of praise, they walked out to the Mount of Olives. ~ This final mystery of light, in which Christ offers His Body and Blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies "to the end" His love for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation He will offer himself in sacrifice.
THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
