The Luminous Mysteries

Prayed on Thursdays and Sundays in Ordinary Time after Theophany until Lent

The Luminous Mysteries, introduced by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002, recall the major events of Jesus’ public ministry and especially focus on the theme of light. Light shines from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, the apostles begin to understand who Jesus is, Jesus sends out the apostles to preach to the surrounding villages, Jesus becomes more radiant than the sun, and the Eucharist is celebrated for the very first time.

1st Mystery: The Baptism in the Jordan

OF: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Is 40:3,5)

1. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mk 1:4)

2. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Mk 1:5)

3. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. (Mk 1:6)

4. The people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ. (Lk 3:15)

5. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Lk 3:16)

6.Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Mt 3:13)

7. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Mt 3:14)

8. But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (Mt 3:15)

9. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him. (Mt 3:16)

10. And behold, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17)

2nd Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana

OF: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.” (Amos 9:13)

1. On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. (Jn 2:1-2)

2. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (Jn 2:3)

3. And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?My hour has not yet come.” (Jn 2:4)

4. His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5)

5. Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (Jn 2:6-7)

6. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. (Jn 2:8)

7. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom. (Jn 2:9)

8. He said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” (Jn 2:10)

9. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (Jn 2:11)

10. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brethren and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days. (Jn 2:12)

3rd Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

OF: Your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Is 30:20-21)

1. These Twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 10:5-6)

2. Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Mt 10:7)

3. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay. (Mt 10:8)

4. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. (Mt 10:9-10)

5. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. (Mt 10:11)

6. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. (Mt 10:12-13)

7. And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor’rah than for that town. (Mt 10:14-15)

8. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mt 11:28)

9. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Mt 11:29)

10. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:30)

4th Mystery: The Transfiguration

OF: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father. (Jn 1:14)

1. And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. (Mt 17:1)

2. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. (Mt 17:2)

3. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Lk 9:30-31)

4. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep but kept awake, and they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. (Lk 9:32)

5. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. (Lk 9:33)

6. He was still speaking, when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17:5)

7. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” (Mt 17:6-7)

8. And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. (Mk 9:8)

9. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.” (Mt 17:9)

10. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. (Lk 9:36b)

5th Mystery: The Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist

OF: Instead of these things you gave your people the food of angels… for your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit every one’s liking. (Wis 20a, 21)

1. Jesus said to them, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (Jn 6:51)

2. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn 6:54)

3. Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (Jn 13:1)

4. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and tied a towel around himself. (Jn 13:3-4)

5. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. (Jn 13:5)

6. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Lk 22:14-15)

7. Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (Mt 26:26)

8. And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mt 26:27-28)

9. “Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mk 14:25)

10.When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. (Jn 18:1)