Over the past couple of week I was talking about other forms of the Rosary notably the Brigittine and Carmelite Rosary which have six mysteries for each decade, and the Franciscan Crown which has seven decades. During the next couple of weeks I’ll be reflecting on these extra mysteries.
We start with the Joyful Mysteries the Brigittines and Carmelites add a mystery for the Immaculate Conception. This is the beginning of the Life of Mary so it is a fitting start for a Rosary. At the Immaculate Conception, Mary is conceived without sin in Anne. This is a big deal as no one had been born without sin since the Garden of Eden, but even before her birth Mary had a divine purpose, and the Lord it seemed knew that Mary was going to respond with a Yes. For the Lord is above time and sees all. Mary was born without sin and there was a place for Jesus to be eventually born without sin as well.
This mystery is followed by the regular ones, Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation and Finding. By adding this extra mystery is does ground the rosary with Mary as so many of the mysteries later on Mary isn’t a figure in them like the whole of the sorrowful mysteries only to reappear in the end of the Glorious mysteries. The other added mysteries do the same by adding Mary to the various mysteries.
