“Saint Dominic has divided up the lives of Our Lord and Our Lady into fifteen mysteries which stand for their virtues and their most important actions. These are the fifteen tableaux; or pictures whose every detail must rule and inspire our lives.” St. Louis de Montfort
At Fatima, in the early part of the last century, Our Lady asked us to pray the Rosary every day. The Rosary is composed of fifteen mysteries. The fifteen mysteries are mini-glimpses into the lives of Our Lord and Our Lady. They are little pictures, or tableaux, of the important moments of their lives. These fifteen tableaux are the Rosary.
In the above tableau we can “see” the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion of Our Lord. When we pray the Rosary, we picture the happenings of the mystery, and in a sense, enter into the scene. We, then, also couple the mental image with remembering the scriptural references (or those from the catechism, or homilies we have heard) to the scene; as in, the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery we remember:
“And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ …
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last” (Lk 23:33-46).
“‘Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures’ (1 Cor 15:3)” (CCC, 619). (source)
Praying over, and remembering, such moments in the life of Our Lord, and Our Lady, is the Rosary.
Today, in Ireland, the people are voting on whether to allow state sanctioned abortion. Let us pray our Rosaries today that this might be defeated.
If you do not know how to pray the Rosary, here is a thorough guide: link.
Today is the 25th of the month, so I wish you all a very happy Little Christmas!*
Have a beautiful Friday!
•SCF
*information on Little Christmas
