The First Glorious Mystery
The Resurrection of Jesus

(Luke 24:1-12)
      But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.  They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.  They said to them,

"Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.  Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day."

And they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.  The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.  But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

(John, 20:19-23)
     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."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again,

"Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 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."




The Second Glorious Mystery
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven


(Acts 1:7-9)

"It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
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."

(Luke 24:44-53)
He said to them,

"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.  And he said to them,

"Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.  And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.  As he blessed them he departed from them and was taken up to heaven.  They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.






The Third Glorious Mystery
The Decent of The Holy Spirit


(Acts 2:1-4)
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.


(Joel 3:1-5 )

Then afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind.
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, 
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions;
Even upon the servants and the handmaids, 
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

And I will work wonders in the heavens
and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke;
The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
At the coming of the day of the LORD,
the great and terrible day.

Then everyone shall be rescued
who calls on the name of the LORD;
For on Mount Zion there shall be a remnant,
as the LORD has said,
And in Jerusalem survivors whom the LORD shall call.,







The Fourth Glorious Mystery
The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mother


(Psalms 16:9,10)

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

(1 Thes 4:14)

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.







The Fifth Glorious Mystery
The Coronation of Mary

(Rev 12:1)

And a great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars:

(Isaiah 35:10)

Those whom the LORD has ransomed
will return and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

(Genesis 3:15)

"I will put emnities between thee and the woman,
and thy seed and her seed:
she shall crush thy head,
and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel."






Jack Wintz, O.F.M., is editor of Catholic Update. He is also the author of the inspirational book A Retreat With Pope John Paul II: Be Not Afraid (St. Anthony Messenger Press).