Pope Announces Year of the Rosary

On 16th October the Pope began the twenty-fifth year of his service as Successor of Peter. He chose to celebrate his anniversary — the fifth longest Pontificate in history — by writing an Apostolic Letter: Rosarium Virginis Mariae, The Rosary of the Virgin Mary.

In one of the most beautiful of his documents Pope John Paul announces the Year of the Rosary — October 2002 - October 2003. He urges us to rediscover the Rosary: to ‘contemplate with Mary the face of Christ’ (RVM 3). The Pope also announces five further mysteries of the Holy Rosary. ‘The addition of these new mysteries, without prejudice to any essential aspect of the prayer’s traditional format, is meant to give it fresh life and to enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary’s place within Christian spirituality’ (19).

The Holy Father describes the Rosary as ‘a Christocentric prayer….it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety’ (1). The Rosary is the perfect complement to the Liturgy. It sustains and echoes our sacramental life, carrying the Gospel into every corner of our day-to-day existence. The Rosary is above all a ‘path to contemplation’ — a path the Pope himself follows, setting his daily work within the rhythm of the Rosary.

The Rosary is also a prayer for peace and for the family. At this tense time in world relations the Pope focuses on our need for pause, calm and contemplation, not rash or vindictive actions. He also speaks of the hope the Rosary offers for the difficulties of contemporary family life. ‘The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth: its members place Jesus at the centre, they share his joys and sorrows’ (41).

Many will turn first to the Pope’s additions to the Rosary. The familiar mysteries reflect the 150 Psalms of the Psalter. To deepen the Rosary’s focus on Christ, the Pope now suggests ‘a meditation on certain particularly significant moments in his public ministry: the mysteries of light’ (19). The new mysteries proposed are: the Baptism in the Jordan, the miracle at Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist. These are to occur between the present Joyful and Sorrowful mysteries.

The Holy Father has made it clear that he does not mean to insist on the mysteries of light as a burden or a distraction from current individual or pastoral practice. He offers the new mysteries as a gift. Like the familiar mysteries, they point to the greatest Mystery of all — the Word made flesh.

The Pope’s Letter continues with suggestions and advice on the manner of saying the Rosary, the symbolism of the Beads, and the rhythm of the Rosary: it ‘embodies the desire for Christ to become the breath, the soul and the “all” of one’s life’ (27). Above all, the Pope returns again and again to the Christ-centred nature of this beloved prayer. The Rosary is ‘Mary’s memories’ — her memories of Christ. ‘Those memories were to be the “rosary” which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life’ (11).

The Pope concludes by tackling those who say the Rosary has no interest for young people today. He suggests this may be because the example we give is impoverished. He recommends a ‘positive, impassioned, and creative’ presentation of the Rosary. ‘Why not try it? Young people may once more surprise adults by the way they make this prayer their own!’ (42).

The Pope appeals to bishops, priests, pastoral agents, and theologians to take up the Rosary Year, the new mysteries, and to pass on the Rosary to others (‘May this appeal of mine not go unheard!’, 43). In this spirit, I ask you all to read the Apostolic Letter. Together, let us proclaim this beloved prayer in the Rosary Year and introduce the ‘mysteries of light’ in our families and parishes.

 

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.