History
St. John Paul II and the Mysteries of Light
Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002
'The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and in its depth.' So said St. John Paul II (1920–2005) just two weeks after his election in October 1978. His motto, Totus Tuus, 'Totally yours', expressed his entrustment to Mary. After he was shot in St. Peter's Square on 13 May 1981, the feast of Our Lady of Fátima, he credited her protection with saving his life.
On 16 October 2002 he published the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae and proclaimed a Year of the Rosary. In it he proposed five new Luminous Mysteries, or Mysteries of Light, drawn from Christ's public life: his Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist. He suggested praying them on Thursdays.
The letter calls the Rosary 'a compendium of the Gospel' and a way of contemplating the face of Christ in the company of his Mother. The new mysteries were offered as a proposal, not an obligation, filling the gap between Christ's hidden childhood and his Passion. John Paul also encouraged praying slowly: announcing each mystery, perhaps reading a short passage of Scripture, and pausing in silence before the Our Father.