Looking Forward to Lent, Part 2: An Additional Rosary "Bouquet"

Palm Sunday, 2020, was a rather sad beginning to Holy Week; we were still under complete lockdown and were looking toward the entire Triduum being closed to in-person attendance. So, perhaps it was fitting that, during that time, I got a “bonus” to add to my prayer life.

I was just about to begin my Rosary for that Sunday morning when I found myself still deep in thought about Palm Sunday and Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. It was a huge moment—one with significance even beyond the understanding of most of those present!—and I could only imagine how riotously happy the scene must have been. In recent years, I’ve found myself feeling almost sad that the liturgy moves on so quickly from that scene into the reading of the Passion; it seems like Palm Sunday gets “short shrift” in that context, when we all too quickly shift our attention to suffering and death. And I said, out loud, “It’s a shame that Palm Sunday isn’t a mystery of the Rosary.”

At which point, a small voice inside replied, “Well, why can’t it be?”

Over time, I’d learned about many different “versions” of the Rosary—which, to a girl who grew up with fifteen mysteries, period, was a big surprise. The Luminous Mysteries, of course, were added to that number and approved by the Church; however, there are many additional “private” versions of the Rosary that I’ve encountered over the years as well. The small voice reminded me of those, assured me that there was no prohibition on exercising a little spiritual imagination to deepen one’s understanding and/or meditative life...and prompted me to go with that notion and see where it led.

A little thought, and a little while, later, I had the following “mysteries” to pray, each of which is not only a moment of the Passion but a revelation of some aspect of Jesus. Therefore, I’ve given them the name Revelatory Mysteries. I’ve shared them with my pastor, who loved them so much we did a parish podcast about them—and so, should you want to use them during this upcoming Lent, I offer them here:

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Holy Week Mysteries, or “Revelatory” Mysteries

 1. Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph (Luke 19:37-40)

—reveals Him as King

Meditation: honor and praise Jesus for his Kingship in our lives; ask for the grace of complete surrender to Him as Lord.

2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas (Luke 22:3-6, 47-48)

—reveals Him as willing Victim

Meditation: thank Jesus for sacrificing Himself for us; ask for the grace of self-denial for His sake.

3. Jesus testifies before Pilate (John 18:37-38)

—reveals Him as Truth

Meditation: honor and praise Jesus as the Truth and the Life; ask for the grace to witness to this Truth in our lives.

4. Jesus imprints His image on Veronica’s veil (Tradition)

—reveals Him as the face of Love

Meditation: thank Jesus for His constant presence; ask for the grace to recognize Him in the world around us. (Additional meditations on the Holy Face, here, would also be appropriate.)

5. Jesus gives His Mother to all (John 19:26-27)

—reveals Him as our Brother

Meditation: thank Jesus for the gift of His Mother; ask for the grace to truly apprehend and appreciate her loving care.

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These are, of course, not “official” mysteries; they’re simply a private devotion that I believe was given to me, in a particularly trying time, as a particular grace for which I’m very grateful. I think they “work” especially well during Holy Week, but they’re good to pray anytime, especially as an adjunct to the Sorrowful Mysteries, should you be so inclined.

May they bless you as they have me!