Mysteries of the Rosary · Mysteria Luminosa
The Luminous Mysteries
The public life of Jesus, from the Jordan to the Upper Room. St John Paul II added them to the Rosary in 2002, so that the prayer would also contemplate the years in which Christ revealed himself as the light of the world.
Prayed on ThursdaysThe five mysteries
Prayed on Thursdays
First mystery · Luminous
The Baptism of the Lord
Baptisma in Iordane
And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17Fruit of the mysteryOpenness to the Holy Spirit
The Holy One joins the queue of sinners and goes down into water he did not need. There the Father calls him his beloved Son. Let us remember our own Baptism: that word was spoken over us too, and it is by it that we live.
Second mystery · Luminous
The Wedding at Cana
Nuptiae in Cana
His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye. (…) This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:5, 11Fruit of the mysteryTo Jesus through Mary
Mary notices what is lacking before anyone else and quietly brings it to her Son. Then she gives the only instruction of hers the Gospel records: do whatever he tells you. Let us hand her what is lacking in our homes, and do what Jesus asks.
Third mystery · Luminous
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Annuntiatio Regni Dei
The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15Fruit of the mysteryRepentance and trust in God
The Kingdom begins with a simple invitation: turn back to God and believe. Jesus forgives sins and heals, and he goes on doing so in the sacrament of Confession. Let us ask for the grace of a real conversion, one with a name and a date.
Fourth mystery · Luminous
The Transfiguration
Transfiguratio
And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. (…) This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.
Matthew 17:2, 5Fruit of the mysteryDesire for holiness
On the mountain the apostles glimpse for a moment the glory the Passion will hide. It is a light given to carry them through the darkness that follows. Let us keep God's consolations for the days of the cross, and listen to the Son.
Fifth mystery · Luminous
The Institution of the Eucharist
Institutio Eucharistiae
And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me. In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.
Luke 22:19-20Fruit of the mysteryAdoration
On the eve of his death, Jesus finds a way to stay. Every Mass places us in the Upper Room, and every tabernacle keeps the same Presence. Let us ask to receive him with greater faith and to visit him more often.
How to pray the Rosary
- Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed, holding the crucifix.
- On the first large bead pray one Our Father; on the three small beads, three Hail Marys (for faith, hope and charity); then the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery of the day and, if you wish, read the Scripture passage and the meditation.
- Pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys while contemplating the mystery, the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. That is one decade.
- Do the same for the second, third, fourth and fifth mysteries.
- At the end, pray the Hail, Holy Queen and finish with the Sign of the Cross.
The prayers of the Rosary
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen. In Latin and English →
The other mysteries
Frequently asked questions
On which days are The Luminous Mysteries prayed?
The Luminous Mysteries are prayed on Thursdays, following the pattern proposed by St John Paul II in Rosarium Virginis Mariae (no. 38). It is not binding: they may be prayed on any day.
When were the Luminous Mysteries added to the Rosary?
On 16 October 2002, when St John Paul II published the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae and proposed five mysteries from the public life of Jesus. Before then the Rosary had fifteen mysteries, with the Joyful Mysteries on Thursday and the Glorious on Saturday.
How many Hail Marys are in one set of mysteries?
Each set has five decades, and each decade is one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and the Glory Be. With the three Hail Marys at the beginning, one set is fifty-three Hail Marys. The whole Rosary is all four sets, twenty mysteries in all.
Image: Gerard David, The Marriage at Cana (detail)