A contemplative prayer accessible to all

To make it clear that the Rosary orients us to the person of Jesus, Pope Saint John Paul II added the "luminous mysteries" to the three traditional mysteries: the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. The luminous mysteries comprise the Baptism of Our Lord, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.

In 1569, one of John Paul II's predecessors, Pope Pius V, solemnly encouraged the recitation of the Rosary and the different Rosary Societies (confraternities). In Rome, on the first Sunday of each month, the Fraternity of the Rosary would meet and organize processions.

On Sunday, October 7, 1571, all the prayers were directed to the protection of the Christian world from the Turkish threat. On that day, the Turkish fleet was defeated near Lepanto, Greece. The victory was attributed to the praying of the Rosary. A liturgical feast was instituted which was extended to the universal calendar in 1716.

All the Popes since Pius V have recommended the recitation of the Rosary. Pope Benedict XVI said: "The Rosary is a contemplative prayer accessible to all."

Bishop Jacques Perrier, former bishop of Lourdes

October 7, 2013. Zenit.org