Some years ago I experimented with seven sets of mysteries to be prayed one day each throughout the week, the three traditional sets (this was before the Luminous Mysteries had been promulgated), plus four sets I made up to fill in the gaps. I don’t have my notebook with me where I wrote down the details, but they went more or less like this.
Monday: Mysteries of the Old Testament.
- The Creation.
- God’s Covenant with Abraham.
- The Exodus and the Ten Commandments.
- The Old Testament Prophets.
- St John the Baptist. I know he is technically not in the Old Testament, but he is a most fitting conclusion to a meditation on the Old Testament, transitioning to meditations about Jesus.
Tuesday: The Joyful Mysteries.
I know Tuesday is not a traditional day to pray these, but this was necessary to place these after the Old Testament Mysteries.
Wednesday: the Words of Jesus.
This set of Mysteries never had a set final form. I changed it around a lot, but it consisted mainly of selections from Jesus teaching and preaching ministry. An example of one way I might pray these is:
- The Prologue of St John. The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us…
- The Parables of Jesus. If a parable had been read in a recent Gospel reading at Mass I would generally use that, otherwise just choose one or more to meditate about.
- The Beatitudes.
- The Bread of Life Discourses.
- Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer.
Sometimes I would do all parables and choose five or more different ones, or all Beatitudes and choose five or more of those. Other meditations I sometimes used included Jesus’ words with the woman at the well, Jesus" words with Simon, renaming him Peter and giving him the keys, and Jesus’ words before Caiphas and Pilate.
Thursday: The Miracles of Jesus
- The Marriage at Cana.
- Jesus feeds the multitude.
- Jesus gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, heals the sick and lame, frees those posessed by evil spirits, and forvives sins.
- Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
- The institution of the Eucharist.
Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries.
Saturday: The Glorious Mysteries
Sunday: Mysteries of the Church in the World
- Jesus gives Peter authority as the first Pope.
- Paul and the the Apostles preach the Good News to the Jews andd Gentiles, and spread the Church throughout the known world.
- The Church throughout History. For this mystery, I would meditate about one or more Saints whose Feasts had been celebrated this week.
- The Church Today. For this I would pray for my own Pastor, Bishop, and our Holy Father today, and think about issues affecting the Church today.
- Christ will come again in Glory.
It’s interesting to note that except for the Transfiguration, the Luminous Mysteries tended to be included spread through here as well. I still sometimes use these mysteries when praying alone, but have found that the commonly known mysteries generally work better with group prayer.