Mrs. Adjoubei's Rosary

As he left Bulgaria in 1934, Bishop Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, stated, "If a Slavic, whether Catholic or not, knocks on my door, it will be opened and he will be greeted like a true friend." Later, a Slavic arrived one day at the airport of Fiumicino, and he asked to see the Pope. Pope John XXIII replied immediately, "Let him come!" The meeting was set for the following March 7th. After the general audience, the Pope called for Mr. Adjoubei and his wife, Rada, a young woman from Khrushchev. He received them in his library and asked them to be seated. They spoke about many things including the saints of Russia and the beauty of Orthodox liturgy, and then John XXIII picked up a string of rosary beads that was laid on his table. "Madam, this is for you. My staff told me that I should give coins or stamps to non-Catholic princesses; but I want to give you a rosary because priests, in addition to the biblical prayer of the psalms, also have this popular form of prayer. For me, as the Pope, it is like fifteen open windows - fifteen mysteries - through which I contemplate the events of the world in the light of our Lord. "I say a rosary in the morning, another at the beginning of the afternoon, and another in the evening. I made a great impression by telling the journalists that in the fifth joyful mystery - "he listened and questioned them" - I was really praying for them... I made an impression on those people when I said that, in the third joyful mystery - the Birth of Jesus - I pray for all the babies who are to be born in the next twenty-four hours, because, Catholics or not, they will find the wishes of the Pope upon their entry into life. Now when I recite the third mystery, I will also remember your children, Madam." Mrs. Adjoubei, who held the rosary in her hands, answered, "Thank you, Holy Father, how grateful I am to you! I will tell my children what you said." The Pope looked at her smiling, "I know the name of your sons... the third is called Yan, or John like me... When you get back home, give him a special hug from me."