THE MERCIFUL MYSTERIES
KYRIE ELEISON
PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW 5 MYSTERIES OF MERCY OF THE
ROSARY
A new set of five mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed
Virgin Mary that concentrate on the Mercy of Jesus for the salvation of the
world is proposed by John N. Lupia, Editor, Roman Catholic News. This
proposed addition to the traditional pattern of the Rosary was first received
during reflection on March 28, 2011. For three days revisions were made to the
initial conception so that the new 5 Mysteries of Mercy, conform more
consistently with the traditional patterns as we have received them. In order
to bring out more fully the Christological and Soteriological depth of the
Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which,
while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to
include the mysteries of Christ from His conception in Mary's womb to His post
resurrection appearances. In the course of those mysteries we contemplate
important aspects of the person of Christ as the definitive revelation of God’s
mercy. Consequently, for the Rosary to become more fully a “compendium of the
Gospel”, it is fitting to add, following all of the reflections on the
Incarnation and the hidden life of Christ (the
joyful mysteries), the meditation on certain particularly significant
moments in his public ministry (the
mysteries of light), and focusing on the sufferings of his Passion (the sorrowful mysteries) and the triumph
of his Resurrection (the glorious mysteries),
a meditation that draws from each of these in order to reveal more perfectly
the vision of the Christ as the Sha'ar Harachamim (שער הרחמים), the Gate of Mercy (the mysteries of mercy). Jesus tells us, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved”
(John 10:9). This addition of these new mysteries, without prejudice to any
essential aspect of the prayer's traditional format, is meant to give it fresh
life and to enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary's place within Christian
spirituality as a true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ, an
infinite ocean of mercy, joy and of light, of suffering and of glory. The
5 Mysteries of Mercy rest aloft as a crown upon the four pillars of the Rosary
: The Joyful Mysteries, The Mysteries of Light, The Sorrowful Mysteries and The
Glorious Mysteries. "Divine
Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork" --- Sister Faustina. “A great portent appeared in
heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her
head a crown of twelve stars.”
Revelations 12:1. And these twelve stars shine forth the mercy of God that
form the crown of Mary, Mother and Queen of Mercy.
Scripture
citations given herein are taken from the New Revised Standard Version
(NRSV).
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1. FIRST MYSTERY : MARY’S MAGNIFICAT
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Luke 1:50 His mercy is for
those who fear him
from
generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has
scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and
lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and
sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in
remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to
Abraham and to his descendants forever."
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2. SECOND MYSTERY : JESUS ABSOLVES THE PARALYTIC. Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:5; Luke
5: 17-26
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Luke 5:17 One day, while he
was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had
come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power
of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 Just then some men
came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and
lay him before Jesus; 19 but finding no way to bring him in
because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed
through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus.
20 When he saw their
faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21 Then the scribes
and the Pharisees began to question, "Who is this who is speaking
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 When Jesus
perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you raise such
questions in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, "Your sins
are forgiven you,' or to say, "Stand up and walk'? 24 But so that you
may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he
said to the one who was paralyzed—"I say to you, stand up and take your
bed and go to your home." 25 Immediately he stood up before them,
took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized
all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We
have seen strange things today."
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3. THIRD MYSTERY : JESUS ABSOLVES THE
PENITENT WOMAN.
Luke 7:36-50
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Luke 7: 36 One of the
Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the
Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the
city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's
house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind
him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry
them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with
the ointment. 39 Now when the
Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were
a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is
touching him—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him,
"Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he
replied, "speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two
debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could
not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love
him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one
for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to
him, "You have judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said
to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no
water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them
with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I
came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint
my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell
you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great
love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48 Then he said to
her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the table with him
began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the
woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
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4. FOURTH MYSTERY : JESUS FORGIVES ALL SINNERS ON THE CROSS.
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Luke 23:33 When they came to
the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the
criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said,
"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."]
And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
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5. FIFTH MYSTERY : JESUS INSTITUTES THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION.
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John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the
first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met
were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
"Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them
again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said
this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the
sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained."
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These new 5 Mysteries of Mercy
are proposed in the same spirit as those 5 Mysteries of Light given to the
Church by Blessed Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, October 16, 2002. The New Testament passages selected for
the 5 Mysteries of Mercy reveal the Mercy of God as His plan of sheer goodness so
that we may share in His own blessed life for ever. Moreover, they provide
insight and understanding of God’s mercy in theological depth as taught by the
Roman Catholic Church through the Holy See and recorded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
published by Blessed John Paul II, 1994, 1997.
Please write to your local bishop asking him to
endorse this proposal to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, so that these Mysteries of Mercy may be
established with the seal of the Church's approval for the benefit of the whole
Church throughout the world; so that we may become more perfectly a people of
Hope, Faith, and Charity and shine forth the Light and Mercy of Jesus Christ in
our interactions and transactions with our neighbors throughout the world.
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