STRONG PAPAL REMINDER ON THE ROSARY
Julian Fox
ROME: 16th October -- The Holy Father has released, today, an apostolic letter on the Rosary, simply titled 'Rosarium Virginis Mariae'. He has also proclaimed October 2002-3 a Year of the Rosary. It is one of the Pope's responses to the events that have overtaken world peace since Sept 11th 2001 and so recently in the Bali bombings which almost certainly appear to be terrorist-inspired and perpetrated. As the Pope says in his introductory words to the Letter: "At the start of a millennium which began with the terrifying attacks of 11 September 2001, a millennium which witnesses every day in numerous parts of the world fresh scenes of bloodshed and violence, to rediscover the Rosary means to immerse oneself in contemplation of the mystery of Christ who “is our peace”, since he made “the two of us one, and broke down the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14)."
Readers will find the Letter eminently readable, replete with the Pope's personal reminiscences and the fruits of his meditation in a language (perhaps the translators have worked hard on this one!) that is largely devoid of the difficult phraseology of many papal documents. Chapter 1 contemplates 'Christ with Mary' while Chapter 2 offers some innovative approaches to incorporating the 'mysteries' into the recitation of the Rosary. In fact, the Holy Father proposes to add to the mysteries, since the original pattern was determined by a set number, 150, being the number of psalms in the psalter. The Holy Father proposes we add mysteries relating to the period fo Christ's public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion.
The entire Letter is practical - each sub-heading directs one to some feature of the Rosary as we know it, be it the mysteries we contemplate, or the prayers that make it up (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...) or the instrument itself - the beads - or the people who recite it: family, children especially. He returns to the Rosary as a prayer for peace and a prayer which is both simple popular devotion and has theological depth.
No doubt copies of this Letter will be available locally in due time. The date of the 'release' of this document is today, noon, Rome time. It is not a long letter, and I have a copy in Word format if you so desire. You only need to ask and I will attach it. Please indicate if you are able to also open it in zipped form.
