The Glorious Mysteries

Prayed on Wednesdays, Sundays during Easter, and Sundays in Ordinary Time after Easter until Advent

These mysteries recall the major events from the Resurrection of Jesus to the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are marked with a tone of present and coming glory: Jesus rises after three days in the Tomb, Jesus ascends to his Father on high, the Holy Spirit descends to the apostles to initiate their preaching, Mary is assumed into heaven as the first fruits of the Resurrection, and she is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

1st Mystery: The Resurrection

OF: In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD; and in your help how greatly he exults! He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days for ever and ever. (Ps 21:1, 4)

1. Now on the first day of the week, Mary Mag’dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” (Jn 20:1-2)

2. Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. (Jn 20:3)

3. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. (Jn 20:4-5)

4. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. (Jn 20:6-7)

5. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. (Jn 20:8-10)

6.But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. (Jn 20:11-12)

7.They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” (Jn 20:1:13)

8. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo’ni!” (which means Teacher). (Jn 20:16)

9.Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (Jn 20:17)

10.Mary Mag’dalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (Jn 20:18)

2nd Mystery: The Ascension

OF: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens. (Ps 68:32-33)

1. Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. (Mt 28:16-17)

2. So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

3. He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7)

4. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar’ia and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b)

5. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:18-19)

6. “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mt 28:20)

7. And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)

8. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes (Acts 1:10)

9. And they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?” (Acts 1:11a)

10. “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11b)

3rd Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost

OF: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:28-29)

1.All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14)

2. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-2)

3. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3-4)

4. At this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:6, 12)

5.But Peter,standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.” (Acts 2:14)

6. “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:22b-23)

7. “But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.” (Acts 2:24)

8. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

9. And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

10.So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they held steadfastly to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)

4th Mystery: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

OF: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting"

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

2.