The Glorious Mysteries - Meditations of St. John Paul II
The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ has brought new hope to everyone: from now on, to hope no longer means waiting for something that has yet to happen. It means being certain that it has already been accomplished, because the Lord is risen and reigns alive. We too are called to meet Him personally and to become His heralds and witnesses, following the example of the women and the disciples. Christ, my hope, is risen – we repeat today, asking Him for the courage of fidelity and perseverance in doing good. We ask Him especially for peace – the gift He won for us through His death and resurrection.
The Ascension
In Christ ascending into heaven, human nature is exalted, placed at the right hand of God, and the disciples receive the command to evangelize the world. Furthermore, by ascending into heaven, Christ does not withdraw from the earth: He has hidden Himself in the face of every human being, especially the most unfortunate – the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the persecuted…
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (Acts 1:14). Today we have this scene before our eyes once again as a fully current reality. All together, pastors and faithful, we keep our eyes fixed in prayer on the Blessed Virgin, the obedient animator of the first center of the Christian community, whose destiny was to kindle the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth and until the final close of history.
The Assumption of Mary
The Assumption of Mary reveals the great value and dignity of the human body. In the face of the profanation and degradation that the human body – especially the female body – so often experiences in contemporary society, the mystery of the Assumption speaks to us of the supernatural destiny and dignity of every human body, called by God to become an instrument of holiness and to share in His glory. Gazing at Mary, the Christian learns to discover the value of their own body and to guard it as a temple of God that awaits the resurrection.
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Christians look with confidence to Mary the Queen, which not only does not diminish but rather strengthens their filial entrustment to Her, who is their Mother in the order of grace. Thus, Mary's glorious state does not distance Her from us, but allows Her to be always close to people and to surround them with Her care. Mary knows everything that happens in our lives and supports us with maternal love in life's trials. Taken up into the glory of heaven, Mary dedicates Herself entirely to the work of salvation, so that She may bestow upon every person the happiness that has become Her share.