John Paul II´s Apostolic Letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae"

Zenit News Agency ^ | October 16, 2002 | Pope John Paul II

[Coleus]

Thanks, I've been needing to get bifocals and have been procrastinating to do so. Which, in turn, gives me great eye fatigue when reading on a computer screen, especially large posts. I don't know how people can look at computer screens all day. I had a hard time before and now it's getting worse.

[D-fendr]

the new mysteries fit so well, it seems like a place has been waiting for them.

My favorite part of the letter:

A path of contemplation

But the most important reason for strongly encouraging the practice of the Rosary is that it represents a most effective means of fostering among the faithful that commitment to the contemplation of the Christian mystery which I have proposed in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte as a genuine "training in holiness": "What is needed is a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer".

Inasmuch as contemporary culture, even amid so many indications to the contrary, has witnessed the flowering of a new call for spirituality, due also to the influence of other religions, it is more urgent than ever that our Christian communities should become "genuine schools of prayer".

The Rosary belongs among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation. Developed in the West, it is a typically meditative prayer, corresponding in some way to the "prayer of the heart" or "Jesus prayer" which took root in the soil of the Christian East.

Chrisitan comtemplation and meditation has for too long been forgotten and neglected. There is a hunger for it in the world today and I believe it can be a key element in rejuvenating Christianity in the West.

God bless you, Pope John Paul II…

[Siobhan]

Thank you ELS for posting the entire text of the Holy Father's letter. This is awesome and wonderful, and the timing is absolutely divine. Tomorrow my family will gather at my father's grave, and for the first time we will pray these Luminous Mysteries. Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis!!!

[Siobhan]

Thank you for that excellent post. God bless!

Also, pinging more of the faithful...

[drstevej]

May God be with you tomorrow as you gather at your dad's grave. We miss his posts here on FR.

drstevej

[Siobhan]

Thank you for that kindness. God be with you.

[TotusTuus]

I wish to lift up my thanks to the Lord in the words of his Most Holy Mother, under whose protection I have placed my Petrine ministry: Totus Tuus!

A Totus Tuus BUMP!

[Dusty Rose]

Thank you for posting this in its entirety! May our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

[TotusTuus]

May God be with you tomorrow as you gather at your dad's grave.

I didn't know. Prayers for him in Today's Rosary.

[Siobhan]

[Siobhan]

[ELS]

I thought of you when I read that. Good to "see" you.

[Siobhan]

Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos

[F16Fighter]

"Besides the intensification of the Rosary's power to convert its practitioner..."

Are you saying the beads are magic? What make "rosary beads any different than a crystal, a rabbit's foot, or a any other 'good luck charm'?? Is it because it's a "tradition"? while that may be true, it has NO scriptural basis at all.

Can anyone seriously imagine Jesus Christ Himself walking arould clutching a set of beads or any other amulets, or charms while muttering prayers?

[Desdemona]

I think this is a record. Post 54 before the thread was invaded with someone asking questions about magic beads.

Speaking of whick, mine are calling me, "Desdemona, come clutch us. Two handed please."

[TotusTuus]

Are you saying the beads are magic?

Are you sure you read the same Post #17 that I did from pseudo-justin? I didn't see any mention of "magic" or, quite frankly, "beads" of whatever kind. I'm sure, by the Rosary, he meant the power of the prayer. The Rosary can be prayed without any beads at all!

[TotusTuus]

You forgot to mention the snide remarks about "tradition" and "it has NO scriptural basis at all" comment.

It's scary. This flyboy is apparently entrusted by us to fly multi-million dollar Falcons for our protection. I now think I'm beginning to understand why so many F-16's have been crashing in the desert out of Luke AFB here in AZ.

[F16Fighter]

"I didn't see any mention of "magic" or, quite frankly, "beads" of whatever kind. I'm sure, by the Rosary, he meant the power of the prayer."

Is the 'Rosary' not an inanimate object? But through this object or "Rosary" beads, God's power or Mary's "power" is supposedly obtained. But by who's authority??

The Bible commands, nay Christ Himself commands that we ask anything IN HIS NAME we shall receive. Nothing scriptural about being commanded to clutch and count a bunch of magic beads in conjunction with prayers to Mary.

[ELS]

Did you skip the letter at the beginning of this thread and go right to pseudo-justin's reply? Do you often jump into a thread without reading the main post? Try reading the letter from John Paul II. You may notice the many Scriptural citations. I think it will answer your questions.

[TotusTuus]

Thank You for the Post. I'm still contemplating it...