The Divine Love Mysteries

REFLECTIONS ON THE MYSTERY OF LOVE

Infinite Love

Enduring Love

God's Love

Greatest Love

Christian Love

The existing mysteries prayed with the Rosary (The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries) all tell the story of Jesus.  Together they bring us the life, death and resurrection of our Lord.  The new Divine Love Mysteries are a way to remind us of what Jesus has called the greatest Commandments, to Love God and Love each other.  The Holy Scripture, from it's original Greek, uses five words for Love.  Each word has its own purpose and definition.  

The Divine Love Mysteries are a way to help us to fully embrace what Jesus means by Love.  What better way than the Rosary, Mary's Prayer, to bring us to a better understanding of Love.  After all, it was Mary, who, out of her Love for God, said YES and brought Love into the world.  It was also Mary, who, at the Wedding Feast of Cana said “...Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5.   He has told us to LOVE.

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THE FIRST DIVINE LOVE MYSTERY

INFINITE LOVE

Scripture:  

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  -  Ephesians 3:14-19

Reflections: 

In what ways has your inner self been strengthened by the Holy Spirit?

How are you as a couple grounded or rooted in each others Love and in the Love of Christ?

How are you as a family filled with the fullness of God?

Spiritual Fruit: LOVE

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THE SECOND DIVINE LOVE MYSTERY

ENDURING LOVE

Scripture:  

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.  And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  -  1 Corinthians 13:1-8,13

Reflections: 

How would you describe the qualities of Love you see in your self?

How would you describe the qualities of Love you see in your loved one?

In what ways have the member’s of your family expressed their unique Love to you?

Spiritual Fruit: JOY

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THE THIRD DIVINE LOVE MYSTERY

GOD’S LOVE

Scripture:  

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.  Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.  In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.  In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.  No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.”  -  1 John 4:7-12

Reflections: 

How has God’s Love for you helped you to Love others?

How does your spouse’s Love for you bring out the best in you?

How has the Love of God been revealed through your family?

Spiritual Fruit: FAITHFULNESS

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THE FOURTH DIVINE LOVE MYSTERY

GREATEST LOVE

Scripture:  

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”  -  Matthew 22:36-40

Reflections: 

What does it mean to Love yourself?

What does it mean to Love each other with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind?  Explain each.

What would your family see as it’s two greatest commandments?  Be creative.

Spiritual Fruit: KINDNESS

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THE FIFTH DIVINE LOVE MYSTERY

CHRISTIAN LOVE

Scripture:  

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.””  -  John 21:15-17

Reflections: 

How have you met the needs of those around you?

How does it make you feel and how do you respond when your spouse repeatedly questions you?

In what practical ways does your family show it’s Love for God?

Spiritual Fruit: GOODNESS

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Elements of the Divine Love Mysteries

Mystery Title

The title of the Mystery is meant to provide an overview and an insight to God’s Divine Love.  It is meant to be simple but expressive.

Scripture

The Scriptures were chosen to provide a stepping-stone into the Divine Love Mystery.  The Scripture should motivate and inspire us to think and feel more deeply about the specific Mystery.

Reflections

There are 3 Reflection questions provided for each of the Mysteries.  These questions are designed to focus us on the Scripture and the Mystery.  They can be used individually, as a couple, as a family or as a congregation.  They may be read after the Scripture reading and discussed after praying the Rosary decade.  This would give us the opportunity to meditate, while praying on the Scripture, the Divine Love Mystery and the Reflection Question.  

In each Divine Love Mystery, Reflection Question number one is directed at self.  Reflection Question number two is directed at one-on-one relationships and Reflection Question number three is directed at Family.  It is not mandatory to use the Reflection Questions.  They are offered as a vehicle to delve deeper into the Divine Love Mystery.

Spiritual Fruit

The Spiritual Fruit reminds us of one of the many benefits we would gain from the praying and meditating on the specific Divine Love Mystery.

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Quotes

"The Holy Spirit at  work wow! I got the chills reading the Mysteries.  Sam and I will be reciting this words and will share with all couples we know .  God Bless you Mark,God is certainly using you in a profound way because it is all about LOVE and how we treat each other and others."  -  Alpine, CA

"WOW!  Your divine love mysteries are unique.pertinent and deeply enriching and spiritual.  You are the most creative man i have ever met."   -  Love from Jacksonville, FL 

"The new Divine Love mystery is the Mystery that was missing in the Rosary.  I think it is a wonderful addition to the Rosary and I’m sure most people would think the same.  You should be very proud that you came up with this idea."  -  San Diego, CA 

"Your beautiful Divine Love Mysteries have moved us. We do believe that they are worth sharing with others in the Retrouvaille community. Would you have an objection to our sharing the link to your website and the pdfs of the Mysteries and the Greek Words for Love?  May God continue to bless you and your ministry."  -  Lafayette, LA