New rosary mysteries. (News in Brief: Vatican).

Vatican -- On October 16,2002, Pope John Paul II observed the 24th anniversary of his papal election with a dramatic gesture, issuing an apostolic letter in which he proposes five new mysteries to the Rosary. The letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae ("The Rosary of the Virgin Mary") explains repeatedly the "Christocentric orientation" of the Holy Rosary and its "exquisitely contemplative" dimension. The Holy Father acknowledges the Rosary as "My favourite prayer," adding: "To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ."

The Pope also proclaimed the period of October 2002 to October 2003 as "The Year of the Holy Rosary," with special emphasis on praying the Rosary for "Peace in the World" and "Unity in the Family." He also reminded the world that "The family that prays together, stays together."

The most innovative part of the Pope's proposal is the addition of five "Mysteries of Light" or (luminous mysteries). These are from the life of Christ and His public revelation of His divine nature and mission.

The "Mysteries of Light" are:

1) The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan;

2) The wedding feast at Cana;

3) The announcement of the Kingdom;

4) The Transfiguration; and

5) The institution of the Eucharist.

The Holy Father laments a "certain crisis of the Rosary which...can risk being wrongly devalued, and therefore no longer taught to the younger generation....This prayer does not conflict with the Liturgy. I turn to you my dear brother bishops, priests, and deacons, that through your own personal experience of the beauty of the Rosary may you come to promote it with conviction." The Pope concluded: "May this appeal of mine not go unheeded."