October 24, 2002
Priests say new mysteries of rosary are welcome addition

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By Carol Zimmermann
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II's addition of five new mysteries to the centuries-old tradition of the rosary did not come as a huge surprise to some Marianist priests.

"It has always been a developing prayer. Many people have proposed changes over the years," said Marianist Father Thomas Thompson, director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton in Ohio.

The priest noted that the U.S. bishops suggested adding new mysteries to the rosary more than 25 years ago.

He was referring to the bishops' 1973 pastoral letter on Mary, titled "Behold Your Mother: Woman of Faith." Pointing out that the prayers and mysteries of the rosary are based on the Bible, the bishops suggested that Catholics "can freely experiment" with new forms of the rosary, including new sets of mysteries such as ones dealing with the public life of Christ.

As Father Thompson sees it, the pope called for the suggested addition at this time because "in times of trouble and doubt, the church looks to Mary for assistance." The rosary is a "recourse for troubled times," he told Catholic News Service in a Oct. 21 interview.

Called the "mysteries of light," the new rosary themes suggested by the pope in his Oct. 16 apostolic letter, "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" ("The Rosary of the Virgin Mary"), focus on Christ's baptism, his first miracle, his preaching ministry, his Transfiguration and his institution of the Eucharist.

In his document, the pope asks that the "mysteries of light" be recited especially on Thursdays. Mysteries of the rosary -- joyful, sorrowful and glorious -- have always been dedicated to specific days of the week.

When asked if Catholics might get confused about the day of the week they should reflect on the new set of mysteries, Father Thompson assured CNS that "people who say the rosary get it."

Those who pray the rosary, he said, should also take to heart the pope's very words that the reflection on these new mysteries was merely a suggestion.

In the document, he said, the pope continually stressed the need to look for different approaches in saying the rosary, and even went so far as to say, "Why not try it," about finding ways to make the rosary come alive for children.

Father Thompson, who has published several articles on the rosary, said the pope's apostolic letter about the rosary, and its particular references to today's troubled times, is similar to the encyclicals on the rosary that Pope Leo XIII began in 1883 when he called the rosary "a remedy for the ills of society."

"Just as popes have responded to perilous times in the past, Pope John Paul has urged people to take to prayer, especially a contemplative type of prayer to give hope and strengthen the spirit," he said.

The priest also noted that these particular mysteries of Christ all reflect Christ's power. When people reflect on the actions of Christ, he said, they are reminded that "goodness and life will prevail."

Marianist Father Johann Roten, director of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, said he has seen a renewed interest in the rosary since last year's terrorist attacks.

In the past year, he has fielded between 300 and 400 e-mails a month from people visiting the "Mary Page" at the University of Dayton's Web site. Most of the questions have been specifically about prayer in troubled times.

He thinks the rosary provides a perfect solution.

"It's hard to invent an original and creative prayer and make it your own," he said, noting that when people pray the rosary they already have prayers in place. The beads also give them something tangible to "hang onto."

The rhythm of the prayers, he said, "frees you to concentrate on the important messages of the mysteries of Christ's life. It's like the melody of a song," he added. "It brings you a sense of peace."

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