Fr. Peyton provides a unique view of the mysteries of the rosary.  Each of the following meditations on the mysteries of the rosary are taken from the book Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book, 1984. 

The Glorious Mysteries - Hope

First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection

Just before Jesus made His last journey to Jerusalem, He gathered His disciples about Him and said plainly:  "The Son of Man is to be abandoned into the hands of men.  They are going to kill Him.  Three days later He will rise again."  These last words, which strike such a triumphant note, impressed the disciples not at all.  "They were overcome with sorrow."  Their bitter grief proved their great love for Jesus, whom death would soon take from them; but it proved also their utter lack of hope in His glorious Easter victory over sin and death.

Christ's Resurrection was not just a marvelous event.  It drove despair out of the world.  It was Christ's way of promising that we too shall live forever.

                                                                          Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book; 1984, p.15. 

Second Glorious Mystery - The Ascension

When Jesus returned to His friends on Easter day, some were too incredulous, others too heart-broken to recognize Him.  Mary Magdalen, her sight blurred by a flow of tears, thought He was the gardner.  Two disciples, meeting Him on the road to Emmaus, took Him for a stranger.  When He appeared to the Apostles, they were terrified - "A ghost!"  Yet on the day of His Ascension, when He left them, His disciples were filled with joy!  They were beginning to understand God's ways of doing things, and even Christ's departure didn't dampen their hopes for the future.

Jesus told His disciples that He must leave them for their own good.  In time of trouble, when God seems to leave me, it is for the same reason.

                                                                           Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book; 1984, p.16. 

Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Pentecost

On Easter day Jesus met two of HIs disciples near Emmaus.  They did not recognize Him; so (perhaps with a twinkle in His eye) He asked, "What makes you so gloomy?"  At once they poured out the whole heart-breaking story of their disillusioned hopes.  "We had hoped that it was Jesus who would deliver Israel; but now..." and they shook their heads.  That was Easter, a day of sorrow for the Apostles.  Pentecost was quite another day.  Then Jesus, having ascended to heaven, sent the Holy Spirit upon His disciples in the form of tongues of fire.  Immediately, they went forth to preach Jesus Christ - with firey tongues.

The Apostles, convinced of their own hopelessness, learned from the Holy Spirit to hope in Christ.  Humility is the mother of perfect hope.

                                                                            Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book; 1984, p.17.

Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption

From the moment of His conception in Mary's womb, Jesus enjoyed the serene bliss of the Beatific Vision.  Although He would live a very-down-to-earth life, His earth was a heaven because He always saw His Father face-to-face.  That is why the soul of Christ did not have the virtue of hope.  Hope is only the earth-covered root of heavenly possession, and Jesus possessed His Father from the first.  Mary's hope, then, is the most perfect ever bestowed on a human soul.

The Church calls Mary the Mother of Sacred Hope.  She is the most exaulted model of perfect confidence in God.  Hail, Holy Queen, our life, our sweetness and our hope!  After this, our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

                                                                           Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book; 1984, p.18.

Fifth Glorious Mystery - The Coronation

At her Immaculate Conception, Mary's soul was endowed with an intense degree of Hope; but the full perfection of that Hope was crowned in heaven only after a lifetime of trials.  Her Hope, like all her virtues and perfections, centered around Jesus.  Jesus was the object of her Faith - her Baby, her Boy, her Son, was her God!  Jesus was the object of her Love - her God was her Son!  And Jesus was the object of her perfect Hope.  As she stood near Him on Calvary - He with a lance in His side, she with a sword in her soul - only her boundless trust in God kept her from dying of sorrow.

While there's hope, there's life.  Mary was an optimist, even on Calvary, because she saw God's will in everything.  Hopeful optimism is a virtue God expects of me.

                                                                           Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book; 1984, p.19.

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