Catholics/Glorious Myteries 4 and 5

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/4/2008


Question
Hi Father Timothy,

I hope you don't mind me asking you so many questions. I have been saying the Rosary with a Catholic friend of mine for several weeks now, even though I am not a Catholic. I am a Christian and attend a non-denominational church weekly. I am very interested in Catholicism, but have a couple of questions regarding the Glorious Mysteries, specifically 4 and 5. When we say the Rosary, after each mystery, we read the corresponding Bible verse before saying the Our Father prayer. The Glorious Mysteries 4 and 5 (The Assumption of Mary into Heaven & The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth) do not have corresponding Bible verses. This bothers me because I have grown up in church and have never heard this taught. Why do the Catholics believe this if it's not in the Bible and where did it originate from?

Thank you for your time.

Becca

Answer
Hi, Becca:
And thanks for the question.
You have a very good question here, and there are a lot of angles I have seen taken in its regard.  I am surprised that the meditation card or brochure (or book) you are using would not have some kind of Scriptural meditation given for the Assumption and the Coronation.
Now let me address one point I think you are getting at with the question, though...
In other words, there is no passage of a narrative or story of the Blessed Virgin Mary being assumed into heaven, and then crowned, right?  This is true that no such Scripture exists.
However, I once remember putting together some Scripture verses for a friend to meditate upon for those two Mysteries that touched upon aspects of God's work in Mary and His blessings upon her from such books (as I remember) Judith, Esther, and Revelation.  Sadly this was probably over 20-years ago, and I don't know whether I ever even kept a copy of the sequence of these verses - *sigh*
Right now I look at the clock and see that I have to get things ready for a weekend Mass within 30-min.  I would be happy to try to follow up on this, and come back to my train of thought here.
Thanks again.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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