An Invitation to Pray the Rosary
As Recommended in the Apostolic Letter “Rosary of the Virgin Mary” issued by Pope John Paul II, on October 16, 2002 at the start of the 25th year of his pontificate. Highlighting the “MYSTERIES OF LIGHT” on the Public Life of Jesus – to be Prayed on Thursdays (or anytime) –
THE ROSARY IS A “Compendium of the Gospel” and “Sweet chain linking us to God.” – Pope John Paul II
Speaking about the Rosary, Pope John Paul II has said: “It is my favorite prayer.”
The Rosary: The Blessed Virgin Mary invites all people to pray the Rosary because it focuses on what Jesus Christ did for her and for all of us. The Rosary is a beautiful and powerful prayer. The reflections on the life of Christ, or “mysteries”, are given to us to help us immerse our thoughts in the Lord, while reciting prayers that are based in the Scriptures. The prayers are like background music for the mysteries of the Rosary and the great drama of salvation which continues to unfold and reach out to all of humanity.
We invite you to pray the Rosary with your heart, which means praying with the knowledge that we are truly speaking to God and God is really hearing us. It means praying in a thoughtful way, without rushing or with just a superficial recitation. It means keeping our heart and mind focused on God, so that even when distractions occur we can include them by offering special prayers and blessings on anyone or anything which comes to mind.
May Jesus and Mary hold your hands and help you along on the great and sublime paths that the Rosary has to offer!
Come Holy Spirit, Creator blest, come into our hearts and take up Thy rest.
Some persons think it is charitable to not speak about Mary to non-Catholics. However, it is a lack of charity to not share such Good News with everyone you meet, because it is a truth about a treasure, Mary, who is truly humble and always draws us and our attention to Jesus and not to herself.
“Rosary of the Virgin Mary” by Pope John Paul II
This Apostolic Letter on the Rosary by Pope John Paul is 
very beautiful and contains many wonderful insights. The 23-page letter is an easy letter to read. He emphasizes that, while Marian in character, the Rosary is centered on Christ. This explains why he added a fourth set of 5 mysteries, the Mysteries of Light, focusing on the public ministry of Jesus. There are three other sets of mysteries: the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries, with ten Hail Mary’s each to meditate on.
-
The Pope hopes the Mysteries of Light will help to give the Rosary fresh life. He says the Rosary still remains, at the start of the third millennium, a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.
-
Reflecting on the mysteries of the Rosary allow us to contemplate the face of Christ. He says that no one has been devoted to the contemplation of the face of Christ as faithfully as Mary. Her experiences with Jesus were kept and pondered in her heart. (Lk.2:19) Mary’s memories were to be the rosary that she recited uninterruptedly all her earthly life.
-
The Rosary helps us to be conformed to Christ, because no one was more conformed to Him than Mary. Just as two friends tend to develop similar habits, we can become similar to Jesus and Mary.
-
To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Jesus and his Mother. It should help us see the face of Christ in others, especially in the most afflicted.
-
The Pope points out that the West has a renewed demand for meditation and an increased interest in other religions. Most young persons have not been taught the Rosary and yet it provides a great source of contemplation.
-
He said, if the Rosary is properly revitalized, it will help ecumenism. It is a great act of charity to speak about Mary to non-Catholics, because this is such Good News to share with every person you meet, because it is a truth about a treasure – Mary – who is truly humble and who always draws us and our attention to Jesus, not to herself.
-
The history of the Rosary shows that it helped the Church at difficult times, and can again help us attain peace in the world and strength for families. A prayer so easy and so rich deserves to be rediscovered by the Christian community.
The Blessed Virgin Mary invites ALL PEOPLE to pray the Rosary:
-
Anyone can pray the Rosary, since it focuses on what Jesus Christ did for Mary and for all of us. The Rosary is a beautiful and powerful prayer. The reflections on the life of Christ, or mysteries, are given to us to help us immerse our thoughts in the Lord, while reciting prayers that are based in the Scriptures. The prayers are like background music for the mysteries of the Rosary and the great drama of salvation which continues to unfold and reach out to all of humanity.
-
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) contains many paragraphs about mysteries: Christ’s whole life is a mystery. (512ff), our communion in the mysteries of Christ(519ff), the mysteries of Christ’s public life. (535ff)
-
We invite you to pray the Rosary with your heart, which means praying with the knowledge that we are truly speaking to God and God is really hearing us. It means praying in a thoughtful way, without rushing or with just a superficial recitation. It means keeping our heart and mind focused on God, so that even when distractions occur we can include them by offering special prayers and blessings on anyone or anything which comes to mind.
-
Reflecting on the Mysteries means entering into the events, being present there, seeing how God was working in those days, as he does today, experiencing the sights, sounds, and feelings of the people involved, and thinking about how we have acted in unison or contrary to the Gospels.
-
Enter into the Rosary, even daily if possible, and you will enter into union with Christ in ways that many holy saints before you have been able to do. Pope John Paul II said the Rosary was his favorite prayer.
-
May Jesus and Mary hold your hands and help you along on the great and sublime paths that the Rosary has to offer!
NOTE: This Apostolic letter should be shared with everyone. You may obtain a copy of the letter from various websites. Just do a search for “Rosary of the Virgin Mary”or “Rosarium Virginis Mariae”.
Mysteries. Mysteries have always been a part of Christianity. Is there anyone who really understands the mystery of the infinite love of God, Redemption, Resurrection, or the Trinity of God? We will never exhaust our learning and contemplation of the infinite nature of God, even though Jesus said to the apostles, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside, everything comes in parables.” (Mk.4:11) And, “whoever sees Me sees the one who sent Me.” (Jn.12:45)
St. Paul writes: “When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit…” Also: “For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:31-32)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains many paragraphs about “mysteries”: “Christ’s whole life is a mystery.” (No. 512ff) “Our communion in the mysteries of Christ.” (No. 519ff) “The mysteries of Christ’s public life.” (No. 535ff) (See Catechism)
The Mysteries of Light
1) Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan;
2) Self-manifestation of Jesus at wedding of Cana;
3) Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with the call of Jesus to conversion;
4) Transfiguration of Jesus;
5) Institution of the Eucharist as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery.
Mysteries of Light Explained
Certainly the whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light. He is the “light of the world” (Jn8:12). Yet this truth emerges in a special way during the years of his public life, when he proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom.
1) Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan – The Baptism in the Jordan is first of all a mystery of light. Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who became “sin” for our sake (cf. 2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17 and parallels), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is to carry out.
2) Self-Manifestation of Jesus at Wedding of Cana – This is the first of the signs, given at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), when Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers.
3) Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with the Call of Jesus to Conversion – Another mystery of light is the preaching by which Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48): the inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he has entrusted to his Church (cf. Jn 20:22-23).
4) Transfiguration of Jesus – The mystery of light par excellence is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to “listen to him” (cf. Lk 9:35 and parallels) and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.
5) Institution of the Eucharist as the Sacramental Expression of the Paschal Mystery – A final mystery of light is the institution of the Eucharist, in which Christ offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies “to the end” his love for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer himself in sacrifice. (Source:“Rosary of the Virgin Mary”, 21.)
In these mysteries, apart from the miracle at Cana, the presence of Mary remains in the background. The Gospels make only the briefest reference to her occasional presence at one moment or other during the preaching of Jesus (cf. Mk 3:31-5; Jn 2:12), and they give no indication that she was present at the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. Yet the role she assumed at Cana in some way accompanies Christ throughout his ministry. The revelation made directly by the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan and echoed by John the Baptist is placed upon Mary’s lips at Cana, and it becomes the great maternal counsel which Mary addresses to the Church of every age: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). This counsel is a fitting introduction to the words and signs of Christ’s public ministry and it forms the Marian foundation of all the “mysteries of light”.
How to Pray the Rosary: For helpful information, do a search on the Internet by typing in “Rosary of the Virgin Mary”.
Let NOT Your Heart Be Troubled… We urge you to not let repetition be an obstacle to any prayers, such as liturgies like the Mass or prayer services, or the Rosary. Repetition is characteristic of all prayers, liturgies, and Sunday services. Many former pastors of other churches, who have entered the Catholic Church, have said that they have always prayed in a repetitive way – praising God, thanking Him, presenting their situations, and asking God’s help and guidance. Jesus praised sincere prayer, even repetitious prayer. He praised the publican who repeated “be merciful to me” (Lk. 18:13) During His agony, Jesus prayed a third time, “saying the same words as before” (Mt.26:44). After His Resurrection, Jesus asked Peter the same question three times and Peter responded three times: “Lord, you know that I love you” (cf. Jn 21:15-17). This triple repetition is an expression of great mercy and love and a gentle forgiveness of Peter for his denial of Christ. St. Paul said to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thes.5:17). The heavenly creatures sing without pause: “Holy, Holy, Holy. . . “ (Rev.4:8).
Catholic Teaching on Mary illuminates our faith in Christ. “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.” -Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 48.
_______________________________________________________________
Prepared and published by CatholicsLoveJesus.com, P.O. Box 10097, Lansing, MI 48901
PLEASE LINK TO ANY DOCUMENTS ON THIS WEBSITE, OR PRINT THEM AS LONG AS THESE LINES AND CREDIT LINE ABOVE ARE INCLUDED.
© 2018 CatholicsLoveJesus.com • All Rights Reserved
