The Mysteries of the Rosary

Meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary is an integral part of the prayer of the rosary. Read on to discover the list of all 20 mysteries as well as tips for meditating on them.

The 20 mysteries of the rosary

The prayer of the Rosary includes 4 series of mysteries: the joyful mysteries, the luminous mysteries, the sorrowful mysteries and the glorious mysteries. Each of these series has 5 mysteries. There are therefore a total of 20 mysteries in the prayer of the Rosary.

Initially there were only 15, but Pope John Paul II added 5 new mysteries (the luminous mysteries).

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary
2. The visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elisabeth
3. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
4. The Presentation of the Jesus the Temple
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the call to Conversion
4. Transfiguration
5. The Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony of Jesus in the garden of olive trees
2. The Flogging of Jesus
3. The Crown of Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus on the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection of Jesus
2. Jesus' Ascension to Heaven
3. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost
4. The Dormition and Assumption of Mary into Heaven
5. The Coronation of Mary in Heaven

What does meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary bring us?

Without the meditation of mysteries, the recitation of the rosary can become a little dry. Dedicating each decade to a mystery makes it possible to remain fixed on Christ, on His life, and on the great mysteries of the Christian faith. These mysteries are events in the lives of Mary and Jesus, but they resonate in us and illuminate our own lives.

Indeed, each mystery is associated with a particular spiritual fruit. By meditating on this mystery we open our hearts to this grace, we grow this fruit which can be humility, trust, patience in trial ... (Discover the fruits associated with each mystery)

This Hozana course offers you to meditate on each series of mysteries for 4 days. Let yourself be guided and accompanied by Saint Bernadette!

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How to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary

There are several ways to meditate on these mysteries and everyone, according to their sensitivity, will be able to choose the one that best allows them to enter these mysteries. This can be:
- by reciting a passage or verse from the Gospels corresponding to the mystery. (For each series of mysteries, find the associated biblical texts: for the joyful mysteries, the luminous mysteries, the sorrowful mysteries, the glorious mysteries)
- by contemplating an image or an evocative painting of the scene
- by taking the time to visualize the scene
- by stating the mystery and its associated fruit aloud
-...

The Rosario app offers you a variety of content to help you meditate on the mysteries; download it for free!

It is not so much a question of “thinking” about this mystery as of letting it penetrate us, of contemplating it, of letting ourselves be touched by it.

We can choose to meditate on the series of mysteries in order, day after day, or pray the mysteries of the day; each day of the week being associated with a series of mysteries.