Do you use the Luminous mysteries, what's your opinion on them?

[AttendeDomine]

I used the term **traditionalist point of view **to gauge how traditional Catholics feel about using them. Now we have posts talking about questioning and not questioning popes.

To be fair, the term “traditional Catholic” can bring up a lot of connotations that may not be as positive as you might think. What many people might call a “traditional Catholic” might be a de facto Sedeprivitationist.

Regarding the Mysteries, well, we are perfectly entitled to only pray the three sets of Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. However, we should also keep in mind that the Holy Father is perfectly entitled to add mysteries and to recommend that folks start praying them. Submitting to his recommendation is a form of piety, and cultivating piety is a great thing.

 

[Memaw]

Oh goodness.
Let’s just take a look at the various posts.
Someone thinks the rosary can be “traditionalist”. No, it’s for everyone.
Someone thinks a holy (and Sainted Pope) had no business “fixing” the rosary.
THOSE are the responses I’m speaking to.

I’m pretty sincere about it, yeah. I have a huge devotion to Our Lady through her rosary. I make them for people and give them away. I’ve made hundreds as Graduation gifts from the local Catholic high school.

If someone sincerely thinks that the rosary can be argued between "traditional " and “modern” …as if that’s applicable, I’d say that’s unfortunate. Wouldn’t you?

Keep up the good work!!! Let’s all don’t forget the Rosary has gone thru many revisions, all for the better. At one time it was all Psalms, then Glory Be’s, then all Our Fathers and the Hail Marys were added. then finally the Mysteries. It seems to grow as our need for it grows. We should all be on the same page for the Holy Rosary!! I’m sure that’s what Our Lady would want! God Bless, Memaw

 

[Crusaderbear]

A tiny bit off topic, but of the five Luminous Mysteries - heck, of of all the Rosary mysteries - I have a hard time meditating on the third Luminous Mystery. It’s not that there isn’t enough scripture to go off of, it’s almost that they’re far too much! It covers basically the Lord’s entire ministry between His temptation in the wilderness and His coming to Jerusalem. I guess it’s a good problem to have - lots to meditate on - but it’s one of the reasons I don’t pray the Luminous Mysteries a lot. It’s not narrow enough a time frame that I can “picture” it. Anyone else have this problem? Or anyone have any favorite aspects of that mystery to meditate on?

I thought it just referred to the Sermon on the Mount…

 

[Memaw]

I thought it just referred to the Sermon on the Mount…

I like to meditate on how the Gospel is being proclaimed now, in our time, and how I can help a little with that. I am soo thankful for Catholic Answers and EWTN and all the local Catholic radio stations. If every Catholic would send even just one dollar a month to each of them, they would be able to continue on with their amazing work. And that would not be a big sacrifice for most of us. And continue to PRAY for them!! Especially the Rosary! God Bless, Memaw

 

[seagal]

Yes! I’m glad to hear that someone else is confused by the 3rd
luminous mystery.
It seems too vague to me…I don’t know how to “picture” it.
But I do love the other luminous mysteries and the fact that they were given
to us by JPII… So, I made a substitution.

Instead of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, I mediate on the raising
of Lazarus, which is my favorite miracle of the New Testament.

It is a little vague, I usually meditate on the sermon on the mount but even that has lots of meat on it As I’m writing this I’m remembering all the parables Jesus taught where he says “the kingdom of God is like…” the pearl of great price, finding the lost sheep, a mustard seed, sowing the seed, etc. It might be a good idea just to pick one and meditate on that. I think I’ll try that.

 

[christofirst]

A tiny bit off topic, but of the five Luminous Mysteries - heck, of of all the Rosary mysteries - I have a hard time meditating on the third Luminous Mystery. It’s not that there isn’t enough scripture to go off of, it’s almost that they’re far too much! It covers basically the Lord’s entire ministry between His temptation in the wilderness and His coming to Jerusalem. I guess it’s a good problem to have - lots to meditate on - but it’s one of the reasons I don’t pray the Luminous Mysteries a lot. It’s not narrow enough a time frame that I can “picture” it. Anyone else have this problem? Or anyone have any favorite aspects of that mystery to meditate on?

I guess we all have different ways of approaching the meditative aspect of the mysteries. I have a hard time trying to picture Our Lord and the events of his earthly ministry in my mind. I never picture myself in a Gospel scene either. It just seems strange to me.

When I consider the third Luminous Mystery I almost always think of the Parable of the Sower, and I pray that my heart will be like the good soil where the seed of God’s Word will take root and produce a rich harvest of faith, hope and love. Then I consider all of those who preach and teach the Good News today, from our Holy Father, to all priests and religious, to catechists and apologists, and I pray for holy enthusiasm and that we will always remain true to the Gospel message; that God will keep all who preach and teach the Gospel free from error. These are the things that go through my mind.

And yes, I do pray the Luminous Mysteries - I did so today. Once Pope St. John Paul introduced them, they became part of our Tradition.

 

[Mystrx]

To be fair, the term “traditional Catholic” can bring up a lot of connotations that may not be as positive as you might think. What many people might call a “traditional Catholic” might be a de facto Sedeprivitationist.

I’m beginning to understand that sadly. My mistake though.

 

[Mystrx]

Yes! I’m glad to hear that someone else is confused by the 3rd
luminous mystery.
It seems too vague to me…I don’t know how to “picture” it.
But I do love the other luminous mysteries and the fact that they were given
to us by JPII… So, I made a substitution.

Instead of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, I mediate on the raising
of Lazarus, which is my favorite miracle of the New Testament.

For the third mystery I always try and meditate on the key moments of His ministry, of course usually that changes a bit each time I pray them, especially if I’ve been reading around in the Gospels .

 

[The_Apostolate]

When I say my Rosary, all the Mysteries are Important, on Mondays and Saturdays I say the Joyful, Tue and Fridays I say the Sorrowful Wednesday and Sunday I say the Glories as I say the Mysteries I meditated on each one before I say each ten beads

 

[7_Sorrows]

Yes! I’m glad to hear that someone else is confused by the 3rd
luminous mystery.
It seems too vague to me…I don’t know how to “picture” it.
But I do love the other luminous mysteries and the fact that they were given
to us by JPII… So, I made a substitution.

Instead of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, I mediate on the raising
of Lazarus, which is my favorite miracle of the New Testament.

I wish they would do mysteries on the miracles, but maybe there are too many.

 

[Erich]

Yes! I’m glad to hear that someone else is confused by the 3rd
luminous mystery.
It seems too vague to me…I don’t know how to “picture” it.

I try to picture the previous Sunday’s Gospel reading and/or the homily. I tend to pay more attention on Sunday when I know “there’ll be a quiz on Thursday”

 

[CatholicFireman]

I like the Luminous mysteries. I think (correct me if I’m wrong) that we were invited to recite them. I like that.

 

[steve_b]

I don’t pray them. Pope Saint John Paul II did not need to “fix” what was already perfect.

Prior to St JPII giving us the Luminous mysteries, there was a gap in the history of Jesus life. Previously the mysteries went from Jesus at 12 yrs old (5th Joyful mystery) to the agony of the garden (1st sorrowful mystery).

by adding the luminous mysteries we connect Jesus at 12 years old being found in the temple teaching, with His next important public act, giving us the first of 7 sacraments, baptism. Then His first public miracle, changing water into wine @ Cana, a preview of the Eucharist. Then He gives us the good news the Gospel. Then He connects OT with NT at the top of Mt Tabor when He is transfigured in front of Moses and Elijah encompassing the OT Law and Prophets, and His own apostles Peter who He made the leader, James & John, of the NT Church. Then Jesus institutes the Eucharist, the height and summit of our faith. THEN comes the sorrowful mysteries.

St JPII was no doubt inspired to add these mysteries. A brilliant addition.

 

[pnewton]

I like the addition, as it fills in the three years of Jesus’ ministry. I do not think the word “perfect” can be applied to something like a prayer, or if it does, it applies equally to all prayer.

I understand though why one may be attached to a prayer routine one has used for their whole life. I could also see why some people may be attached to even one set of mysteries, like one who is living with suffering may find greater comfort in the sorrowful mysteries by offering that suffering in conjunction with that of Jesus. Or maybe the glorious mysteries give a need sense of hope for one in need.

As there is not “right” way (or perfect way) to pray, why should we concern ourselves with that others are doing it differently than we?

 

[The_Apostolate]

I like the addition, as it fills in the three years of Jesus’ ministry. I do not think the word “perfect” can be applied to something like a prayer, or if it does, it applies equally to all prayer.

I understand though why one may be attached to a prayer routine one has used for their whole life. I could also see why some people may be attached to even one set of mysteries, like one who is living with suffering may find greater comfort in the sorrowful mysteries by offering that suffering in conjunction with that of Jesus. Or maybe the glorious mysteries give a need sense of hope for one in need.

As there is not “right” way (or perfect way) to pray, why should we concern ourselves with that others are doing it differently than we?

Ever one said the Rosary in their own
way,some just say the Rosary the reg way others mediated on each mysteries,before saying it, like when I say mine ,let,s use The Sorrowful Mysteries for example,if ,I,am on the third decade which is the Crowing of Thrones,i will picture it in my mine a minute about them placing the Thrones on Jesus head,than I being that decade,and so now. I hope you get what I,am saying.

 

[signit]

I say the Rosary along with EWTN at night. Since they do the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays, that’s what I do.

I think everyone prays the rosary more or less the same way.
**The entirety of the Mysteries take us through the life of Christ, while adding in particularly blessed moments in Our Lady’s life.
So yeah, the Luminous were the missing parts and a very welcome addition. **
Love them, in fact, almost prefer them. My birthday is the Feast of the Annunciation, so I really gravitate toward the Joyful as well.

Agreed.

In the introduction to the Luminous on EWTN, the priest says something like this, that they fill in parts of Christ’s life not in the other mysteries (birth, death, resurrection).

Actually, the Rosary itself is optional and NOT mandatory!!

Agreed also. Since the Rosary in any form is not required under penalty of sin, the important thing for me isn’t whether I pray this form or that form but that I’m setting aside the 30 minutes to pray it.

 

[Crusaderbear]

I appreciate the traditional…I still like to say “one in being with the Father” instead of consubstantial! I also have a really confused apostles creed - mixing in nicene elements. It’s more old age than anything else…but I still like the luminous mysteries!

 

[pnewton]

It’s more old age than anything else…but I still like the luminous mysteries!

I look forward to being old enough to say things however I mix them up and just seem like a cute, quirky old man.

 

[HelenRose]

The Luminous Mysteries are a wonderful way to use prayer to help children learn about the life of Christ.

We can tell the story of Christ’s Baptism then pray a decade.
The same with The Marriage of Cana, The Proclamation of the Gospel, The Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Children need to hear stories over again to make the stories their own. The Four Mysterious all together are a wonderful way to make the life of Jesus live in their hearts.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

I also used to say the luminous mysteries, but I grew fond of the traditional order of days and dropped the luminous mysteries. I found myself always looking forward to the other sets of mysteries yet never wanting to say the luminous mysteries. For me, I prefer the old set of mysteries since it is the original set (which corresponds to the 150 Psalms) and it has writings from many saints, including my patron.

From a traditionalist view, I don’t think the luminous mysteries are very popular since I know the SSPX missal doesn’t have them and the Latin rosary I used to listen to also didn’t have them. I am not quite sure, though, if this is true for most traditional Catholics. It mostly comes down to preference.