Cæli enarrant I come to the end of my Marian sojourn attuned again to the calendar, for August 15 presents even Anglicans an opportunity to celebrate “Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (1979 BCP, p. 26), just as the final mysteries of the rosary return to the figure of Mary herself, whom we have accompanied from the start, or vice versa. We have walked … [Read more...] about Assumption, Coronation
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Descent of the Holy Spirit
Cæli enarrant The third glorious mystery of the rosary marks the continuing transit of human beings to God and of God to human beings, in a further divine descent. God is in the business of building communion and extending his family, founded within the original love of the Trinity, and all the divine missions serve this cause of touching human beings — “with a mighty hand … [Read more...] about Descent of the Holy Spirit
Resurrection, Ascension
Cæli enarrant Our faith is not some scholastic puzzle or elite curriculum, and certainly not reserved for the clever. Our faith unveils Truth in time; Truth incarnate and crucified; Truth, in turn, triumphant. And it endeavors to speak to God and of God, following his lead — and repeating after him, to guarantee truthfulness and accuracy. “Pray then in this way: Our Father … [Read more...] about Resurrection, Ascension
Thorns, Cross, Crucifixion
Cæli enarrant If the first two sorrowful mysteries — our Lord’s agony in the garden and scourging at the pillar — directly confronted us with the Passion, dropping us in the deep end, the last three only repeat and intensify the regimen. Their sole purpose is to fix our attention on things as they are: the form of God’s suffering love. To pray these mysteries — traditionally … [Read more...] about Thorns, Cross, Crucifixion
Christ’s Agony and Scourging
liz west/Flickr Cæli enarrant By Christopher Wells The great gift and power of the rosary is its laser focus on the “mysteries” — the sacraments — of our faith (see Eph. 5:32), which God would break open before and in us. He seeks to show himself to us entirely, and in so doing to place us in the flesh of his Son. Every feeling, hope, dream, and fear; every love, … [Read more...] about Christ’s Agony and Scourging
Presentation, Finding
liz west/Flickr Cæli enarrant By Christopher Wells The second chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke delivers the narrative basis for the fourth and fifth joyful mysteries of the rosary, both ordered around the cultic center of Jewish worship: the Presentation (vv. 22-40) and the Finding (vv. 41-52) of our Lord in the Temple. And the Presentation occasions our third … [Read more...] about Presentation, Finding
Visitation, Nativity
Cæli enarrant For Emily and Audra Visitation, as a divine act, in several scenes. First, a miraculously expectant Mary hastens to Elizabeth, herself wonderfully pregnant and “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Elizabeth, St. Luke says, cries out with a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And her prophecy continues: “Why has this … [Read more...] about Visitation, Nativity
Annunciation
liz west/Flickr Cæli enarrant For more than a decade, I have come to treasure praying the rosary in the car at the outset of a drive: five mysteries, according to the day of the week, rotating between Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. I have yet to incorporate the Luminous Mysteries of John Paul II’s invention, but look forward to doing so. A dear Roman Catholic … [Read more...] about Annunciation