The Glorious Mysteries - Meditations by Blessed Honorat Koźmiński
The Resurrection
The angel said to the women: Do not be afraid! and gave the reason why they should not be afraid: You seek Jesus (Mk 16:6). Timidity is a quality of true piety, which fears even the shadow of sin. Oh yes! However, as long as you seek Jesus, you need not fear anything: neither your malice, indifference, or sluggishness, nor the lack of virtues, for sooner or later you will remove all this and acquire every good, only do not cease seeking Jesus. The whole pious life is a search for Jesus: either as the kings of the East sought Him to know Him, or as the Mother of God sought Him to find Him through grace after losing Him, or as Magdalene sought Him to obtain comfort from Him in distress and sorrow.
Fruit of the mystery: True conversion, maintenance of the state of grace.
The Ascension
We must pay attention to the words of the Gospel, which state that the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven (Mk 16:19). It looks as though the Savior was taken up into heaven for all those speeches He had with the Apostles, because all those speeches of Christ were about God and holy things, without any blemish. And if anyone knew how to imitate the Lord Jesus in this, they could rightly be taken up into heaven for this one thing, because St. James says that whoever does not fall in speech is a perfect man (cf. Jas 3:2). Consider then, dear brothers, what would happen to you if death were to meet you suddenly after your conversations. After scandalous, carping, malicious conversations that blacken the reputation of one's neighbor, one would probably have to go to hell, or at least to purgatory for a long time, because Holy Scripture says-life and death are in the power of the tongue. The speech of a Christian, as St. Thomas teaches, should be to God, or about God and things relating to Him. Let us therefore guard our tongue better, for we shall give an account of every word.
Fruit of the mystery: Desire for heaven and dwelling there in thought.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues upon the Church gathered in the Upper Room to define its mission and His wondrous action within it. The Holy Spirit is love. Love is not only sweet and tender, not only bright and radiant, but also burning and hot like fire. When therefore the Holy Spirit descends from heaven to dwell in our hearts, He openly shows that He wants to fulfill that desire of which Christ spoke: I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! (Lk 12:49). Every faithful soul fulfills this desire of Christ when it kindles this Divine fire of love within its heart.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
Fruit of the mystery: Recollection, zeal, petition for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Assumption of Mary
Mary was rightly so exalted, because She chose the best part, which will never be taken away from Her. That part was Her total immersion in God. She lived in and for Him. She was entirely devoted to what concerns the glory of God and salvation. Prayer, listening to the word of God, conversation with the Lord Jesus-these were Her dearest occupations, which She did not neglect even during other labors. So God left Her this part for eternity and took Her to His glory. And you, why are you so saddened when you are gossiped about, why do you care so much about clothes and pleasing people? Because I would like to have a good name and be loved-you will answer. But that is not necessary, because you can be hated, persecuted, gossiped about, and you can still go to heaven. But it is necessary that God loves you, and you Him. Do you care about that? Detach yourself therefore from earthly vanities, and raise your heart to heaven. Choose for yourself here with Mary the best part, which will never be taken away from you, i.e., to love God and seek Him Alone. How much you need to imitate Mary if you want to get to heaven!
Fruit of the mystery: The grace of a good death in the presence of Mary.
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
God created Mary as the holiest and most perfect. He made Her His Mother and exalted Her to the dignity of Queen of heaven. Therefore, He cannot resist Her requests, for which He is as it were obliged to forgive sinners. He has also made His Most Holy Mother our Mother, so that Her maternal Heart, sensitive to the misery of Her earthly children, might use its maternal right of interceding for us and obtaining whatever She desires.
Rejoice that this Queen who has been given to you as a Mother possesses such power. Trust that She is preparing a place for you in Her Kingdom as well and will lead you there after death.
Fruit of the mystery: Perseverance and trust in the protection of the Queen of Heaven.