Rosarium Virginis Mariae

Brief History
Outline
Link to Complete Document
Source

Brief History

Rosarium Virginis Mariae was published by Pope John Paul II at the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of his pontificate in 2002. In gratitude to the "many graces" the Holy Father "received in these years from the Blessed Virgin through the Rosary: Magnificat anima mea Dominum!" he wished to offer "thanks to the Lord in the words of his Most Holy Mother, under whose protection I have placed my Petrine ministry: Totus Tuus!" [# 3] As a sign of that gratitude Pope John Paul II proclaimed October 2002 - October 2003: The Year of the Rosary. He wished this document to be "a kind of Marian complement to" Novo Millennio Ineunte written for the millennial jubilee where he "invited the people of God 'start afresh from Christ.'" [#3] The document looks to Mary as a model of contemplation, "her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word, ... [his memories] impressed upon her heart." [# 10-11] This is the essence of the Rosary prayer. In the desire to have the Rosary "become more fully a 'compendium of the Gospel,'" [#19] the Holy Father instituted a fourth series of meditations to be inserted between the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries, the Mysteries of Light [luminous mysteries]. [# 21] These mysteries are to concentrate on the public life of Jesus. The document, lengthy and diversified in content, can be considered a practical pastoral instrument in various ways: How to pray the Rosary as a form of contemplative prayer, brief explanations of the mysteries, the meanings of the "Our Father," the ten "Hail Marys," the "Gloria," the concluding prayers, the beads, and the chain. These and the dispositions of peace and silence are shown within the context of the Rosary as a prayer of the community and family.

Outline

Introduction 1-8 The Popes and the Rosary 2 October 2002 - October 2003: The Year of the Rosary 3 Objections to the Rosary 4 A path of contemplation 5 Prayer for peace and for the family 6 "Behold, your Mother!" (Jn 19:27) 7 Following the witnesses 8 Chapter I: Contemplating Christ with Mary 9-17 A face radiant as the sun 9 Mary, model of contemplation 10 Mary's memories 11 The Rosary, a contemplative prayer 12 Remembering Christ with Mary 13 Learning Christ from Mary 14 Being conformed to Christ with Mary 15 Praying to Christ with Mary 16 Proclaiming Christ with Mary 17 Chapter II: Mysteries of Christ - Mysteries of His Mother 18-25 The Rosary, "a compendium of the Gospel" 18 A proposed addition to the traditional pattern 19 The Joyful Mysteries 20 The Mysteries of Light 21 The Sorrowful Mysteries 22 The Glorious Mysterieis 23 From "mysteries" to the "Mystery": Mary's way 24 Mystery of Christ, mystery of man 25 Chapter III: "For Me, to Live Is Christ" 26-38 The Rosary, a way of assimilating the mystery 26 A valid method... 27 ... which can nevertheless be improved 28 Announcing each mystery 29 Listening to the word of God 30 Silence 31 The "Our Father" 32 The ten "Hail Marys" The "Gloria" 34 The concluding short prayer 35 The Rosary beads 36 The opening and closing 37 Distribution over time 38 Conclusion 39-43 "Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain linking us to God" 39 Peace 40 The family: parents... 41 ... and children 42 The Rosary, a treasure to be rediscovered 43

Link to complete document

This document is found on the Vatican site at: Rosarium Virginis Mariae Note: To locate a specific quote once you have reached the document, use ctrl+f to search.

Source

AAS 95 (7 Jan 2003):5-36 St Paul Editions, 2002

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