On the Most Holy Rosary (Rosarium Virginis
Mariae): Apostolic Letter of Pope John
Paul II (Boston, Massachusetts:
Pauline Books, 2002). Pope John Paul II's letter
introducing the Year of the Rosary (October
2002-October 2003).
This treasure of an apostolic letter is easy
to understand because it is written from the
heart. The Pope states, " . . . scarcely
two weeks after my election to the See of Peter,
I frankly admitted: 'The Rosary is my
favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer!
Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth . . .
. Against the background of the words Ave
Maria, the principal events of the life of
Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul.
. . . they put us in living communion with Jesus
through--we might say--the heart of his Mother
At the same time our heart can embrace in the
decades of the Rosary all the events that make
up the lives of individuals, families, nations,
the Church, and all mankind--our personal
concerns and those of our neighbor, especially
those who are closest to us, who are dearest to
us. Thus the simple prayer of the Rosary
marks the rhythm of human life.'"
The main reason for praying the Rosary,
according to Pope John Paul II, is
contemplation. "The Rosary belongs among
the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of
Christian contemplation." "The
contemplation of Christ has an incomparable
model in Mary. In a unique way the
face of the Son belongs to Mary. It was in
her womb that Christ was formed, receiving from
her a human resemblance which points to an even
greater spiritual closeness. No one has
ever devoted himself to the contemplation of
Christ as faithfully as Mary. The eyes of
her heart already turned to him at the
Annunciation, when she conceived him by the
power of the Holy Spirit. In the months
that followed she began to sense his presence
and to picture his features. When at last
she gave birth to him in Bethlehem, her eyes
were able to gaze tenderly on the face of her
Son, as she 'wrapped him in swaddling cloths,
and laid him in a manger (Lk. 2:7).'
Thereafter Mary's gaze, ever filled with
adoration and wonder, would never leave him."
The Pope goes on to elaborate on the
mysteries of the Rosary, seen through "Mary's
gaze" and "Mary's heart." He introduces,
for the first time, the Mysteries of Light, a
special gift of his pontificate, and explains
why they are important meditative points in the
life of Christ and his Mother. He
discusses how to pray the Rosary and why this
prayer is particularly useful in praying for
peace and the family.
No matter how many times one has prayed the
Rosary, this booklet will reveal new horizons
and previously unseen depths to this timeless
prayer. Many families think nothing of
spending $4 on a box of cereal which is soon
eaten and forgotten. The food in this
booklet is eternal.
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To learn about a disciplined,
Catholic, joyful Rule of Life that can help you
draw closer to God while living in your own
home, consult the Home Page of the Confraternity
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Thank you and God bless!
