on thursday
from Apostolic Letter
ROSARIUM
VIRGINIS MARIAE
1st
- The Baptism of Jesus |
 
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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying,
"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us
to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.
At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice
from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with
him I am well pleased. (Mt 3,13-17)
The Baptism in the Jordan is first
of all a mystery of light. Here, as Christ descends into the
waters, the innocent one who became “sin” for
our sake (cf. 2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice
of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17 and
parallels), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him
with the mission which he is to carry out.
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2nd
- The wedding of Cana |
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On the third day a wedding took place
at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and
his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When
the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They
have no more wine."
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied,
"My time has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells
you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used
by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty
to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill
the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to
the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master
of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into
wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though
the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called
the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out
the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the
guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the
best till now."
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed
in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his
disciples put their faith in him. (Jn 2,1-12)
Another mystery of light is the
first of the signs, given at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), when
Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the
disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary,
the first among believers.
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3rd
- The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
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"The time has come," he said.
"The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the
good news!" (Mk 1,15)
The preaching by which Jesus proclaims
the coming of the Kingdom of God, calls to conversion
(cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near
to him in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48): the
inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues
to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through
the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he has entrusted
to his Church (cf. Jn 20:22-23).
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4th
- The Transfiguration |
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About eight days after Jesus said
this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went
up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance
of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright
as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared
in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about
his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment
at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy,
but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and
the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving
Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for
us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you,
one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know
what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped
them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my
Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the
voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The
disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at
that time what they had seen.(Luk 9,28-35)
The mystery of light par excellence
is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have
taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines
forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the
astonished Apostles to “listen to him” (cf.
Lk 9:35 and parallels) and to prepare to experience with
him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to
the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by
the Holy Spirit. |
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5th
- The institution of the Eucharist |
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While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,
and they all drank from it.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many," he said to them. "I tell you
the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the
vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom
of God." (Mk 14,22-25)
A final mystery of light is
the institution of the Eucharist, in which Christ offers
his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and
wine, and testifies “to the end” his love
for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer
himself in sacrifice. |
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