Rosarium Virginis Mariae   John Paul II

1) Pope has proclaimed Oct. 2002 – Oct. 2003 as year of the Rosary. Our millennium began with the attack on the twin towers in NY, Sept. 11, 2001. Christ is our peace since he made the two of us one and broke down the dividing wall of hostility. (Eph. 2:14) The Rosary, though clearly Marian, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. It is a compendium of the Gospel.

12) The Rosary is a contemplative prayer. Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ; ‘in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words’ (Mt. 6:7).  By its nature the rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed.

13) Mary’s contemplation is above all “a remembering” (zakar). What God accomplished centuries ago did not only affect the direct witnesses of those events; it continues to affect people in every age with its gift of grace. The Liturgy is the summit to which all activity of the Church is directed and the font from which all its power flows … the spiritual life is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy.

14) Mary teaches us to “learn him” in other words; we must not only learn about Jesus i.e., what he taught, we must learn him too. As we contemplate each mystery of her Son’s life, she invites us to do as she did at the Annunciation: to ask humbly the questions which open us to the light, in order to end with the obedience of faith: ‘Be it done …’

15) Christian spirituality is distinguished by the disciple’s commitment to become conformed to Christ, to put on the mind of Christ. (Phil. 2:5) Mary is our mentor, she continues to give birth to Christ into the mystical Body of Christ. Mary is the perfect icon of the motherhood of the Church.

19) 150 Psalms. Pope adds five more mysteries, which include mysteries of Christ’s public life between his baptism and passion. The Rosary is a compendium of the Gospels rather than a substitution for praying the psalms. The new order is as follows: Joyful, Light, Sorrowful, and then Glorious.

The Mysteries of Light: Baptism in the Jordan; Self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana;
His proclamation of the Kingdom of God, Mark 1:15; His transfiguration; His institution of the most holy Eucharist.

Each of these mysteries is a revelation of the Kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus.

25) The simple prayer of the rosary marks the rhythm of human life…anyone who contemplates Christ through the various stages of his life cannot fail to perceive in Christ the truth about man. E.g., contemplating the birth of Christ we learn the sanctity of life; seeing the household of Christ we learn the original truth of the family according to God’s plan…

26) The rosary is based on repetition. If repetition is considered superficially, there could be a temptation to see the Rosary as a dry and boring exercise. If seen correctly, repetition can be seen as being conformed to
Christ, e.g., Jesus asking Peter if he loved him three times.

28) The Rosary as a method of contemplation. The Rosary is not a substitute for Lectio Divina (holy reading) rather it presupposes and promotes it.

Begin the Rosary with the Creed or O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me.

29) In announcing each mystery the use of an icon or picture of the actual scene is helpful. Or if no picture is available suitable time spent reflecting on the scene in order to create an image in one’s mind.

31) Spend time focusing on the mystery before moving to vocal prayer.

32) Following the lifting up of one’s mind to heaven it is natural to begin the mystery with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus always leads us to the Father.

33) During the ten Hail Mary’s pause momentarily when you say the name ‘Jesus’ his name being the hinge that unites the two parts of the prayer, the first part is scriptural; the second composed by the Church. When there is a pause at the name of Jesus, and to the mystery being commemorated, the prayer of the Rosary is more meaningful and fruitful. In some parts of the world the mystery that is being contemplated is mentioned at the midpoint of the Hail Mary, i.e., at the name of Jesus. Pope Paul VI drew attention to this practice in his apostolic letter on Mary, Marialis Cultus.

34) The Gloria is the highpoint of the contemplation and should be given due prominence in the recitation of the rosary. It could be sung as a way of giving prominence and emphasis to the essentially Trinitarian structure of all Christian prayer.

35) Instead of the tradition concluding short prayer I suggest you conclude by praying for the fruits specific to that particular mystery: May I imitate what this mystery contains and obtain what this mystery promises. For e.g., Annunciation …

37) The Rosary is then ended with a prayer intention for the Pope, as if to expand the vision of the one praying to embrace all the needs of the Church. The final prayer is either the Salve Regina, i.e., the Hail Holy Queen or the Litany to Loreto. NB the ‘or’ …

38) All four mysteries can be prayed each day, i.e., the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious. To spread them over a week, the following order is suggested: Monday and Saturday, (Joyful); Thursday, (Luminous); Tuesday and Friday, (Sorrowful); Wednesday and Sunday, (Glorious). What is really important is that the Rosary should always be seen and experienced as a path of contemplation.

39) Conclusion: the Pope promotes the Rosary as a cause of peace in the world and the cause of the family.
In a previous letter, the Pope promoted the Liturgy of the Hours for family prayer, now he is promoting both!

To Priests and Religious and bishops the Pope says: “May you come to promote it (the rosary) with conviction. To families, to you who are sick and elderly, and to you, young people, confidentially take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives. Vatican, 16, October 2002.