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Manila Bulletin devider devider The rosary

The rosary

Published Jul 19, 2019 12:23 am
VOICE FROM THE SOUTH By FR. EMETERIO BARCELON, SJ Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ The rosary is a time machine that brings us back to the time of Our Lord on this earth. While our lips are saying the vocal prayers like the “Hail Mary,” our thoughts are in the mysteries of the Rosary. In the Joyous Mysteries we imagine the Angel Gabriel announcing to the virgin called Mary that she was chosen of all the women of the world in all the years to be the bearer of His Son and Our Savior. She could not have possibly understood what the angel was saying. But she answered “Be it done unto me” as the Lord wanted. Have you ever seen an angel? How did Mary look like? What kind of a house or cave did she live in? We can imagine the sound of her voice and that of the angel.  We can go on like this for the whole decade of “Hail Marys.” In the second Joyful Mystery, she takes it upon herself to go to her cousin Elisabeth and help her in the house chores. It is a long journey of about 100 kilometers. (It was about as long as from Manila to Tarlac.) She could not possibly have walked alone but had to wait for a caravan to make the journey.  And when she arrived, Elisabeth her cousin bowed in adoration as the infant in her womb jumped for joy. Mary spent about six months there helping in chores of the house. Then the next mystery is an easy one for we celebrate Christmas. We know how Joseph and Mary, following an edict of census, of the Roman Empire, could not find a place to stay so Jesus was born in a manger. The quiet of the manger is in contrast to our celebrations.  Then the star appeared and the Magi came to adore the King of Israel. Then Joseph had to bring Mary and Child to Egypt for Herod wanted to kill Him (potential rival to his throne) but instead he killed the holy innocents. But before the flight into Egypt, He was offered as a child to God His Father. The old man Simeon who received Him in the temple sang the hymn of joy that he was able to see the Savior. He thanked the Lord and said that he could now die for he had seen the Savior of Israel. The last mystery is not only Jesus talking with the priests and scribes of the temple but is a decade when we can think of all the years he spent in Nazareth learning the trade of a carpenter and helping Joseph and Mary till He was ready to start his public life at about the age of thirty. The Luminous Mysteries are start of His public life. The first mystery is His baptism at the Jordan River with John the Baptist. John demurred but Jesus asked him to go ahead and baptize Him. Many people at that time came to John to be washed of their sins. John must have looked like a wild man as he supported himself with locusts and wild honey. The second mystery is the wedding at Cana where Mary was concerned about the embarrassment of the couple as they run out of wine. All she said was: “They have no wine.” And He understood her request. This was his first public miracle.  He turned six 25 gallon jars of water into wine. The third mystery is the propagation of the kingdom.  It was not a kingdom like that of the Romans which the Jews expected but one of humility and lowliness. “If you are slapped on one cheek, offer also the other cheek.” This was instead of seeking for revenge. The fourth is the transfiguration, when Jesus appears in glory with Moses and the prophet Elias.  Our Lord knew what he had to suffer so He was afraid His disciples would be too discouraged. He arranged to be seen in glory. The last mystery is for us.  He wanted to be with us till the end of time. So He made the mystery so that at consecration time, the bread became His Body and the wine became His Blood. His ordained priests will make it possible for Him to be with us in the Blessed Sacrament till the end of time. (Another article will treat the Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.)  
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