The Holy Mysteries

Beginning with Advent and continuing through the liturgical year, a series of painted panels by Marguerite Fletcher were installed here as an offering for individual and community meditation. These panels are visual articulations of the Mysteries of the Rosary, an ancient cycle of prayer designed to assist the spiritual journey of Christian life. The Mysteries are meant to function similarly to icons, helping to manifest true contemplation. In this case they seek to bring the principal events of the life of Jesus Christ before the eyes of the soul. Like a smaller version of our liturgy, the cycle of mysteries contains the depth and breadth of the gospel. They exist to help us in our continual becoming the body of Christ; they exist to help us as we seek to re-iterate the gospel in our study, in our prayers, in our imagination, in our relationships, in our worship, in our lives.

The original 15 Mysteries take shape in three cycles of joyful, sorrowful, and glorious. In 2001, an additional five mysteries, the Mysteries of Light or Luminous Mysteries, were added to the cycle. They cover the major events in the ministry of Jesus. Why mysteries? Each principal event in the life of Jesus carries the fathomless meaning and depth of good news, of transformational power. We are meant to hold these stories in our heart...as did Mary, pondering them. Contemplation on these stories can put us in communion with these gospel events. The Mysteries do so with an avenue through Mary's heart.

"To understand Mary, the mother of God, as part of the communion of saints, and especially as the first disciple, the one who believed and followed first, without seeing, is a profound and helpful understanding for me. She became an instantly trustworthy companion and humble guide in walking this remarkable path. I hope this series will be useful to the community of saints at First Lutheran." - Marguerite Fletcher