Reflect
The word joyful in Latin is laetantam alleluia, which uniquely fits each of the mysteries that we walked through last week. This week we will be walking prayerfully through the Luminous Mysteries. Known as the Mysteries of Light, the Luminous Mysteries call our attention to Jesus' desire for the light of His life to dwell within us.
Our first-born was an unexpected C-section. That traumatic surgery left me broken, empty, and distanced from God. Although I couldn’t sense the Lord’s presence in prayer (I was still blaming Him for the outcome of the birth), I begged Him for His healing. I berated myself because I felt like my body failed to labor and deliver my baby, as well as nurse him. I needed to know my body wasn’t broken and that Jesus would be faithful to my prayers of surrender.
When our son was five months old, we found out we were expecting again. I wanted Jesus to heal me, and I felt like this was the opportune time. Those nine months I prayed to surrender my desires of what the outcome of my birth needed to be. I felt like a boxer who needed a rematch to vindicate the loss I had experienced—not out of pride, but because I knew I had it in me to try again. Through God’s mercy I was able to successfully have a V-BAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) with our daughter. We named her Lucia, which means light. She pierced through the darkness and brought light back into my relationship with Jesus.
In his Apostolic letter Rosarium Virginus Maries, Pope Saint John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the Rosary, and used his pontificate to encourage Catholics to draw closer to our Beloved Mother as a means to know her Son.
These mysteries offer us an opportunity to contemplate Jesus’ public ministry and invite us to recall that He “is the light of the world” and if we follow Him “we will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jonh 8:12). From the manger, to calvary, to His glorious Resurrection, we have been given life—and not just any life, but His light of life. May His light illuminate our path this week as we meditate, pray, and reflect on these mysteries.
Let Us Pray
O God, You are the Light of the world. Shine Your light on any areas in which we have not yet surrendered fully to you. Show us what we're unwilling to release to Your mercy and will, Jesus, and give us the grace to place it under Your sovereignty. As we contemplate Your public ministry and miracles, may we never stop believing that You still want to work miracles in our lives today, that You are still about Your work of healing. Amen.
For Discussion
What parts of your life or heart feel steeped in darkness right now? Have you invited Jesus into those areas? If not, what's holding you back?
What miracles are you asking Jesus to work in your life? Is the posture of your heart fearful or childlike?
Praying the Rosary
Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it!
Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary.
I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary.
Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation.
And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!
By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 10 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Mytae Carrasco Wallace is Las Vegas born and raised and holds a Masters in Public Administration. She and her husband have the privilege of leading Pre-Cana retreats for their home parish. On the daily you can find her raising her three kiddos, choreographing dance moves to entertain her children, and doing her own version of carpool karaoke. She was a contributing author to All She Had. Find out more about her here. Mytae es creada y nacida en Las Vegas, NV. Tiene su Maestría en Administración Pública. Ella y su esposo tienen el privilegio de dirigir los retiros de Pre-Cana para su parroquia. Diariamente puedes encontrarla criando a sus tres hijos, coreografiando movimientos de baile para entretener a sus hijos y cantando su propia versión de karaoke en el carro. Fue autora contribuyente de All She Had. Conozca la mejor aquí..
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