In Brief: What Did the Pope Say About the Rosary?

by Sr. Marianne L. Trouve, FSP

1. Contemplating Christ with Mary

Pope John Paul stresses that, above all, the rosary is a contemplative prayer. The word "contemplation" might seem intimidating. Isn't that something monks and nuns do while the rest of us go about our busy lives? But the pope explains it in a simple way: to contemplate is to look upon the face of Jesus. Just as Mary did, we can look on Jesus' face in many different ways. John Paul spells out a few of the ways we can look at the Savior:

1. With a questioning look, when nothing seems to make sense;

2. With a penetrating gaze, when we want to understand Jesus more deeply;

3. With a look of sorrow, when sufferings touch our lives;

4. With a look of joy, when the mystery of Easter helps us make sense of those sufferings;

5. With a gaze afire, when the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and transforms them with his love.

Anyone who prays the rosary and looks at the Lord in these ways is contemplating. The rosary can help us deal with whatever comes into our lives. As we pray and ponder the mysteries that Jesus lived, we not only remember his life but we "learn Christ." John Paul says: "Contemplating the scenes of the rosary in union with Mary is a means of learning from her to 'read' Christ, to discover his secrets and to understand his message.

2. A new set of mysteries, the "mysteries of light"

When this document was released, most of the interest centered on the new set of mysteries the pope introduced. The newspaper headlines that screamed "Pope Changes Rosary!" might have unsettled some Catholics who have been through more changes in the past forty years than the Church has experienced in the previous four hundred. Through all the liturgical and other changes since Vatican II, the rosary was perhaps the one thing that seemed stable. For hundreds of years Catholics have been praying the rosary with the traditional three sets of mysteries: the joyful, sorrowful and glorious.

But jumping from the finding of Jesus in the Temple to his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane bypasses his entire public ministry. The pope's proposal to add a new set of mysteries broadens the rosary's scope and emphasizes Jesus as the center. John Paul says that Jesus' public ministry shows that "the mystery of Christ is most evidently a mystery of light: 'While I am in the world, I am the light of the world' (Jn 9:5)." These are the five new "mysteries of light":

1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan

2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana

3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion

4. Jesus' Transfiguration

5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist

In each of these mysteries, Jesus reveals himself as the light of the world. John Paul says that except for the Cana mystery, Mary is not explicitly present in these events of Jesus' life. She remains in the background. But her words at Cana, "Do whatever he tells you," form the backdrop for meditating on all these events.

3. A few practical points

The pope also notes a few practical ways that can help us pray the rosary in a renewed manner. The way each mystery is announced can set the stage for our focus on it. He suggests that using an icon to portray the scene of each mystery is a practical way to focus our gaze on Jesus.

Ideally, the rosary should be integrated with the Word of God. Reading a short text from the Gospels or another book in the Bible before each mystery enables us to hear the word that God speaks to us today. This simple method can greatly foster contemplation of the various mysteries that the rosary sets before us. Allowing a short period of silence after the reading will enhance this even more.

At the end of each decade of the rosary, various short prayers are often added. While these have some value, John Paul says that instead of multiplying these, it would be best to "conclude each mystery with a prayer for the fruits specific to that particular mystery." He does not propose any specific prayers, but leaves that to the local Churches to develop.

In conclusion: The Year of the Rosary

When he signed this document, Pope John Paul II inaugurated a special Year of the Rosary, which runs from October 2002 to October 2003. After the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, he notes that it is fitting to dedicate a year to Mary so as to draw greater fruits from the graces of the Jubilee. He urges the faithful to pray the rosary often throughout this year, with two particular intentions in mind: for families and for world peace.