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Rosaries of Divine Union
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The Holy Names of God Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high. All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor. With length of days, I will satisfy them and show them my saving power. In all cultures and in all times, people have had names for God which were considered special, sacred or holy and which were used sparingly or perhaps only for certain reserved situations. In some cultures, these Holy Names were to be used by the individual in a way that suggested that their use would contribute to the bringing together of God and man. The Name was considered to be synonymous with the form—that the Name was God, was the Divine, in a very real sense. There are many hundreds of Names that are holy, and many of them are well known to the Christian tradition. It was often thought throughout history that to name something, or to know its name, signified a mastery over life or a completion of a growth process. To do something "in the name of" God meant that one acted with the status of the Divine, from a place of knowingness and power. A deeper level of understanding that can be applied to this idea is that a name reflects familiarity, as if to suggest that each time it is used, it reflects a state of relationship. We have relationships with that which we name: Mother, Father, Johnny, Sally. In Genesis, we are told that man was given dominion over that which he could name. This implies a much more subtle process that occurs within the individual. Naming something is a process of dividing, of separation. When we name something we consider it unique enough, by virtue of its qualities, to be different from other things, and we seek to designate it as special or distinct. This is a process of becoming involved with creation in an intimate way: we no longer are observers, but participants in life. When we name something, we take responsibility for understanding it. In the completion of the wholeness of life—of the circle that begins with the Naming of all creatures as worthy of distinctness and separation—we are led to understand and to experience the underlying unity of all of diversity. Common to and surrounding all of life is life itself. When we name Life as our Life, as our communion with all things distinct, we begin to experience Unity of life in the Divine. In this Rosary, seven Holy Names of the Divine are selected for contemplation because each of the Names, like all names, are small glimpses of the infinity of the Divine. They represent attributes of a Divine that is in itself complete and whole, containing all attributes. In and of themselves, they are both suggestive of meaning yet obscure of definition, and this is their power: for they suggest both familiarity and mystery. In this mystery they call us as deep calls to deep, inviting us to fall into their sacred meaning and give up our conceptions of what God is in favor of the experience of what God can be. For this process is one that works from inside out: we learn of mystery from deep insight gained from deep experience. Instructions: Begin by having an intention in mind for the rosary. This intention may be stated as part of the following prayer. Prayer of Intention We who gather to pray this rosary do have in our minds and hearts the following intentions: (Here a few moments of silence allow all to clarify their intentions). We ask that these intentions may bring forth the results desired, according to Your will. Amen. General Instructions
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Heavenly Father, author of all names, we desire to experience You as the most sacred mystery of life. Bless us as we grow in Your Name, that we may fulfill the promise of our lives in Love and in service to You and your creation. Grant us the intimacy of all names, that we may know all creatures as ourselves and ourselves as You . Amen. D
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Alternate "Our Father" translated from the Aramaic (see introduction) O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, focus your light within us—make it useful. Create your reign of unity now; Your one desire acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms. Grant what we need each day in bread and insight. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strand we hold of others’ guilt. Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back. From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all; from age to age it renews. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is how and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
First Mystery of the Holy Names of God Alpha and Omega "I am the Alpha and the Omega", says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty." Revelations 1:8 Thoughts… Alpha and Omega are the beginning and end of the Greek alphabet. These names bring the qualities of encompassing and enfolding the creation, of being the first and last, the beginning and the end. In them we see the circle of life: that life begins and ends in the same place, without beginning and without end. This view of life as a circle instead of as a straight line is a view that celebrates life in all of its diversity, for all things name the Name of God. While these names are often understood in these meanings, there are other meanings that have more intimate significance for us. The Divine is the beginning and the end, and each time we search for God, we have already found God: for as we begin we end—we are already there. The path to God is no path, as there is no place to go to find where the Divine is not. As God exists in all things, Divinity lives in us, pouring out our lives each moment. All we need do is turn our attention inward—to the place where the Word dwells in us. Prayer: Heavenly Mother, lead us to hear the Holy Names written upon our hearts, and give us courage to speak them silently within our souls and to act them sincerely in our lives. Amen.
Second Mystery of the Holy Names of God The Lion of Judah "And I saw, at the right of the occupant of the throne, a book with writing on the inside and outside, sealed with seven seals. And a saw a mighty angel heralding in a loud voice "Who is worthy to open the book and break the seals upon it?" And there was no one, none in the sky or on the earth or under the earth, who could open the book or look at it. And I burst into tears because no one was found worthy to open the book or look at it. And one of the elders says to me, "Do not cry: to the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, went the triumph of opening the book and the seven seals upon it." Revelations 5:1-5. Thoughts… The revelation of John contains many Holy Names, yet this reference to the Lord as the Lion of Judah is a fascinating one. A lion, or wild cat, is courageous and fearless, yet silent in its pursuit of its goal. It also spends much time watching and waiting with patience for the right circumstances to arise before it attains its goal. In the vision of John, no one could be found who could open the seals of the book of Life. Yet the Lord was represented as having the ability to open the book because He was the lion of Judah—one who had the patience and courage and focused attention of the lion. We may gain insight from this, in that our pursuit of God—and His of us—reflects these qualities. We need the courage to undertake and continue the process of recognizing the Divine, of opening the seals which bind us in our circumstances. When we rest in the divine silence, we are both watchful and attentive. We are made into those qualities reflected in this Holy Name of the Lord, and through that Grace, we are open to the Book of Life. Prayer: O Mother of Courage, birth within us the courage to pursue our course of unity with God, the patience to continue it, and the Love and Joy of its realization. Amen.
Third Mystery of the Holy Names of God The Son of Man "Foxes have their dens and the birds have their nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head." Matthew 8:20 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man...." Matthew 20:26-27 Thoughts… This Holy Name of the Lord is perhaps one of the most confusing phrases that people encounter. The Lord is born of man, and in that sense is the son of man. Yet He is also the next step for man, just as one’s children are the next generation. In this sense, the Lord says the son of man has no place to reside, no place to be located. Christ, as the cosmic Christ, is present everywhere at once, and thus a part of all beings. To be ready to receive the son of man, we must be ready to be what we already are—children of God. We need not look out in the desert to find Christ. We need not look into the inner rooms to find Christ. Christ is already there, and there is no place that Christ is not. The son of Man is the glory of mankind, the potential and property of all of mankind, awaiting its own fulfillment. Prayer: Mother of Holy Names, help us hear the Holy Names of the Lord deeply in our beings. Amen.
Fourth Mystery of the Holy Names of God King of Kings "…for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and those with him are called the chosen and faithful." Matthew 17:14 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are alone and chosen: you will find the kingdom. For you have come from it, and you will return there again." Thoughts… The phrase "king of kings" implies not simply authority, but causation. What makes a person like royalty? The recognition that we are a part of God. When are we called chosen and faithful? When we experience unity in Love with all of creation. We are created in the image of God, and therefore we are of God. The Divine in us is the same divinity that lives in all creatures. Yet we become the chosen not by the will of the Divine, but by our experience of who we already are in God. By our faith we chose, and by our faith we become chosen. Prayer O Mother Mary, Queen of the Rosary, remind us of our Royal status and help us chose each moment that we may be chosen. Amen.
Fifth Mystery of the Holy Names of God Morning Star And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 Thoughts… The morning star appears in the heavens just before dawn, heralding the rising sun. The singular beauty of the Morning Star is captivating in its own way, yet points to something other than itself—something more encompassing and brighter in aspect through which all can be seen. As we discover Christ in us, we are captivated by it’s singular beauty. Yet the dawning of Love spreads its light slowly at first, then outshines all and simultaneously illuminates all. Through the light of Love life is seen as its own reflection. Through the light of Christ the unity of all life is lived as Love, in Love, by Love and with Love. Prayer Heavenly Mother, Bearer of Light, bring us to the dawn that we may witness the rise of the bright and morning star. Guide us to spread that light to all creation. Amen.
Sixth Mystery of the Holy Names of God Good Shepherd "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…" John 10:14-16 Thoughts… It is often said that "it takes one to know one". This is a true and clear statement of our relationship with the Shepherd. When we acknowledge the Divine Shepherd who constantly calls us, we are invited to gather our fragmented selves into the oneness of the flock. We are invited to see that the source of Divinity in us is the same Divinity in all of life, and we experience Divinity as the deepest part of our being in common with all beings. As the Shepherd, God constantly whispers the promise of our potential to know Him as He knows us—in this sense the Sheep and the Shepherd become one. Prayer O Mother of Life, Bringer of Grace, gather us into the fold that we in turn may gather others. Amen.
Seventh Mystery of the Holy Names of God The True Vine "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5 Thoughts… Purification is a part of the pathless path, as we discard concepts, thoughts, habits and ways of thinking and feeling. As our spiritual houses are cleaned, we become lighter and more able to reflect the light of the Divine. As we sink into and remain in the love of Christ, in the light of Christ, we reflect more and more the qualities of Christ and bear fruit for all to enjoy. Prayer Heavenly Mary, full of Grace, purify us with grace that we may shine as the bright and morning stars, that by the light of Love we may live in love always. Amen After the last decade has been said, and the connecting medal has been reached, the following prayer is said: I give myself this day to the strong power of Love To the obedience of Angels, the faith of confessors, the preaching of Apostles, to the purity of simple souls. I give myself this day to the virtues of the starlit heavens, the brightness of the sun, the whiteness of the moon, the flashing of lightening, the restlessness of wind, the stability of earth, and the deepness of the sea. I give unto myself this day the power of God to lead me, His eye to watch over me, His hand to guide me, His Word to give me speech. Christ with me, Christ beside me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me, Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting, Christ in rising up, Christ in the heart of every person who may think of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who may speak of me, Christ in the eye of everyone who may look on me, Christ in the ear of everyone who may hear me. I give myself this day to the strong power of Love. Amen. |
