What We Can Learn From Art of the Luminous Mysteries

Did you know that these five mysteries were introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002? His Apostolic Letter of the alphabet Rosarium Virginis Mariae established a Twelvemonth of the Rosary – somewhat alike to this past year'southward Year of Mercy. For those who try to pray five decades daily, these mysteries are said on Thursdays according to the Church building'southward weekly schedule (Sunday & Wednesday – Glorious, Monday and Saturday – Joyful, Tuesday and Fri – Sorrowful, and Thursday – Glorious).

The Luminous Mysteries pertain to Our Lord's public ministry every bit an adult. Almost ii decades of His life pass in obscurity between His advent at the Temple every bit a boy and the next time we run into Him at His baptism by John: "And then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his female parent treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and human being" (Lk 2:51-52). I, for ane, find these years But AS fascinating a source of meditation in their ain right.

5 Works Of Fine art To Help You Pray the Rosary: The Luminous Mysteries

i. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Hashemite kingdom of jordan

Богоявлення Господнє (Theophany of Our Lord) | St. Nicholas Church, Watervliet, NY

This radiant icon can be found in 1 of my favorite churches in the world* – a veritable jewel box of color, on the 1 hand explosive, on the other manus, so precise and deliberate. There is something very dissimilar to iconography as compared to more Western sacred art. Indeed, icons are not described as being "painted," merely, rather, equally being written, insofar as they're not merely creative snapshots of an artist's heed, but they tell a story very specifically and symbolically.

The Eastern Churches describe this Baptismal scene above every bit the Theophany of Our Lord, meaning the moment when Jesus revealed Himself to be God, by manner of the first scriptural indication of God'south Trinitarian nature (as we hear the vocalization of God the Begetter "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Mt 3:17) and we encounter the Holy Spirit descending upon the Son in the class of a dove).

*I recommend this exquisite and highly enlightening book as a souvenir for the icon lover, the art enthusiast, or the convert in your life!

2. The Wedding ceremony Feast at Cana

Paolo Veronese, The Wedding at Cana, | Musée du Louvre, Paris

This mystery is a vivid 1 for me, personally, and at that place are many depictions throughout art history to selection from! But Paolo Veronese'due south masterpiece owns the distinction as the largest sheet painting on display in the world's virtually famous museum, measuring 21ft. alpine by 32 ft broad!

Just wait how active the scene! Even so, there'southward Christ at the very centre, serene, all the same, enveloped with a gentle glow and gazing at united states intently. Hither's an enlarged detail:

While the political party proceeds all around him, about all wedding guests are entirely oblivious to THE FIRST PUBLIC Phenomenon of Jesus, the three men in closest proximity to Our Lord stare at him in astonishment. In the foreground, we meet the servant drawing vino from one of the stone jars… What must he exist thinking? At to the lowest degree every bit Veronese has depicted information technology, I wonder here at the idea that it was a lowly servant who truly sees and understands what Jesus has just done, whilst the aristocratic partygoers bustle around utterly oblivious to the miracle that has just taken place. (Reminds me of my own occasional ingratitude for the riches of my faith and the blessings in my life. Or the tragedy of and so many fallen-away Catholics who ARE the "aristocracy" – insofar as they've been given The Fullness of the Kingdom! – but their "scraps" (the awareness of His miracles) are being "picked up" by new converts, left and correct! The lowly ones, indeed!)

So Mary's role! She had been contemplating the Incarnation of God in her son, Jesus, silently, gently, patiently from the moment of the Annunciation. Providence and grace moved her to urge Him at Just THIS MOMENT.

3. The Declaration of the Kingdom

Christus Consolator by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) – Brigham Young University Museum of Fine art

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at manus. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mk 1:14-15)

I had not realized that there is a 2nd "one-half" to this mystery – that it is often spoken aloud equally "The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the Call to Conversion ." This second half somehow renders the mystery more tangible to me, though I can't quite say why. Possibly I relate it to the epiphany of my own conversion: "Oh my God – There is a God, and I'thou not Him!"

This image is cropped downward, merely practice check out the full painting. I am moved by the facial expressions and postures of the disciples flanking Jesus (presumably Peter and John). So there is the face of Our Lord, Himself! It is manly and reassuring and urgent and loving and peaceful all at the aforementioned time. His very gaze says, authoritatively, "There IS a God, and I AM HIM."

4. The Transfiguration

Mosaic inside the Cosmic Church of the Transfiguration at Mount Tabor | Photo by Itamar Grinberg

Some other virtually vivid scene. Hearkening back to the Male parent's voice at Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan, again we hear His vocalism from heaven: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" (Mk 9:7). In this mosaic depiction, nosotros see the three apostles whom Jesus had brought with him up Mt. Tabor (Peter, James and John) standing on the basis to either side of Our Lord. Actualization on clouds to Jesus' left and right are Former Testament prophets Moses and Elijah.

I find myself relating this mystery back to Moses' encounter of God in burning bush-league (Exodus three). The Transfiguration parallels and fulfills this Quondam Attestation manifestation of God, Who revealed Himself to Moses equally "I am who am." Some 1500 years after, Christ is, and – in this moment – He uniquely reveals Himself to be that same God. Having beheld God in a fire that burns simply does not consume the bush, also brilliant to fifty-fifty plough his face towards, Moses would have been forever illuminated, never again the aforementioned man, never able to unsee what he has seen on Mt. Horeb. How much more so Peter, James and John after their witness of this bright and otherworldly coming together of Sky and Earth in the body of Jesus Christ!

5. The Establishment of the Eucharist

Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper (1495-1498) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Arguably the unmarried almost iconic work of Western religious fine art, da Vinci'southward The Last Supper inhabits the subconscious of generations, Catholics and non-Catholics, alike. We are reminded of this scene at the climax of every celebration of the Holy Mass, when the priest consecrates the Precious Body and Claret of our Lord. As such, it ought to exist one of the more visually tangible of the Mysteries of the Rosary.

On the other hand, I marvel at what must have been the electric, invisible energy in that room as Our Lord and the Twelve historic the Jewish Passover. In this moment, we run across nonetheless some other instance of what I similar to telephone call "the Catholic Both/And" – a tension between (what will exist, at least) the joyful ecstasy of His gift to u.s. in the Eucharist, and the simultaneously lurking, mendacious darkness of Judas (who also stands in representation of me and my own sins! – I am what's wrong with the world! (h/t Thousand.Grand. Chesterton). They cannot yet fully understand the meaning of Jesus' deportment and words, and yet – on some level – they must have sensed the climactic nature of events that nighttime.

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I endure; for I tell you, I will not consume it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide information technology amidst yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will non drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of breadstuff, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave information technology to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup afterwards supper, proverb, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my claret. But see, the ane who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Human being is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask ane another which one of them it could be who would do this. (Lk 22:14-23)

More From Our Praying The Rosary With Fine art Series

The Joyful Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

Rosary Resource

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Source: https://catholic-link.org/luminous-5-works-art-pray-rosary/

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