Story of The Luminous Mysteries

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October 16th 2002 marked the 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's papal election.  On this day he published an apostolic letter in which he proposed five new mysteries to the Rosary.

In his letter entitled, Rosarium Virginis Mariae ("The Rosary of the Virgin Mary"), he reminds us that October is the month devoted to the Rosary.  The Rosary is a traditional prayer which, "blends easily into the spiritual journey of the Christian life and is a means of praying to Jesus, through and with his mother.

The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer,  "In the mysteries of the Rosary, the faithful follow the thoughts of the Virgin Mary as they contemplate the life of Christ.  Thus, the Rosary is 'an echo of the prayer of Mary'.  With the Rosary, the Christian people sit at the school of Mary and are led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love.  To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.  The 'Hail Mary,' is a hinge, as it were, which joins its two parts with the name of Jesus."

Pope John Paul II recalls that he has always been devoted to the Rosary, and encourages the faithful in the use of this traditional prayer.  The Rosary is a natural complement to the liturgical life of the Church.  While the Mass is the Church's public act of worship, the Rosary encourages private devotion and a quiet encounter with Christ.  Because it starts with Mary's own experience, it is an "exquisitely contemplative prayer."  He continues, "I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ's public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion."

In his apostolic letter, the Pope proclaims a special year of dedication to the Rosary.  It will begin on October 16th, 2002 and end the same day one year later.  His letter proposes the addition of five new mysteries to petition for world peace and stronger family life.  This centuries old traditional prayer will now contain five additional mysteries called "The Luminous Mysteries" or, "The Mysteries of Light," and should petition for world peace and stronger family life."

In proposing these new mysteries, the Pope identifies five significant moments "Luminous Mysteries," during the public revelation of Christ's divine nature.  These are : (1) His Baptism in the Jordan; (2) His self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana; (3) His proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion; (4) His Transfiguration; and finally, (5) His institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery.  John Paul II recommends the Joyful Mysteries be said on Monday and Saturday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, the Glorious Mysteries on Sunday and Wednesday, and the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday.

His request is not intended to "limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations."  What he feels is really important is that the Rosary should always be seen and experienced as a path of contemplation.

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