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The Rosary: A School for Prayer

From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have reflected on Jesus Christ through the eys of His mother, Mary. Around the year 1200, thanks to the influence of St. Dominic, a special method emerged for contemplating the Birth and Death-Resurrection of Jesus - the rosary.

Modeled on the 150 Psalms recited or sung each week by priests or religious, the rosary offers a process for prayerful reflection on the Gospels by reciting an Our Father and ten Hail Mary's.

Traditionally, the rosary has been divided into three sets of five decades each: the joyful mysteries, relflecting Christ's infancy; the sorrowful, allowing us to share anew in His suffering; and the glorious, a contemplation of His victory, Mary's share in it, and our hope to do so in the future. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added another set of mysteries, or mysteries of light, which reflect upon the public life of Jesus.

Our Holy Father has described the rosary as a "school for prayer" that has shaped his own spiritual life. Over the years, I, too, have prayed it daily and found it to be a source of consolation and inspiration. I hope this guide will encourage you to pray the rosary and appreciate the great spiritual tradition.

Through the intercession of our Lady, Queen of Peace, let us pray for peace in our hearts, our families, and our world.

†Adam Cardinal Maida
Archbishop of Detroit