The Mystery of Christ
The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience

by Father Thomas Keating

Appendix I

The Rosary

    The joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary are the mysteries of divine light, life and love that the liturgy celebrates from Advent to Epiphany, from Lent to the Ascension, and from Pentecost throughout the Sundays of Ordinary Time. Christmas is the feast of divine light and Epiphany is the fullness of it. Easter is the feast of divine life and Ascension is the fullness of it. Pentecost is the feast of divine love and the rest of the year is the expression of it. The revelation of divine light, life and love grows in proportion to the growth of faith, hope and charity, and vice-versa.

    The rosary is a school of contemplative prayer. As the lips and hands are saying the beads and the mind is reflecting on the mysteries, the presence of Christ in our inmost being awakens and we rest in his presence. Whether we focus on the words of the individual prayers or reflect on the unfolding mysteries, we may feel drawn into this rest. At that time we leave behind both the words and the reflections and enjoy the presence of Christ.  When his presence begins to dissolve, we return to the prayers and reflections where we left off. In this way, we move up and down the ladder of interior prayer and allow the habit of contemplation to develop. Contemplation gradually overflows into daily life and extends the enjoyment of God's presence into the whole life.

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