Holy Rosary - praying with the Mother of God - Catechesis with Pope St John Paul II - Totus2us

St John Paul II, 28 October 1981: "At the end of October I desire, together with you brothers and sisters, to take a look at the simplicity and, at the same time, the depth of this prayer, to which the most holy Mother in a particular way invites us, spurs us and encourages us. Reciting the Rosary, we penetrate the mysteries of the life of Jesus, which are contemporaneously the mysteries of his Mother. This is felt very clearly in the joyful mysteries, beginning with the annunciation, through the visitation and the birth in the night in Bethlehem, and then through the presentation of the Lord, ending with the finding in the Temple, when Jesus was twelve years old. Although it may seem that the sorrowful mysteries do not directly show us the Mother of Jesus - with the exception of the last two: the way of the cross and the crucifixion - how can we nevertheless think that the Mother was spiritually absent, when her Son suffered in such a terrible way in Gethsemane, at the scourging and the crowning with thorns? And the glorious mysteries are also mysteries of Christ, in which we find the spiritual presence of Mary - first among them all the mystery of the Resurrection. Speaking of the ascension, Holy Scripture does not mention the presence of Mary - but how could she not be present, if immediately after we read that she was in the Upper Room with the apostles themselves, those who had just before hailed Christ as he ascended to heaven? Together with them Mary prepares for the coming of the Holy Spirit and participates at Pentecost in his descent. The last two glorious mysteries orientate our thoughts directly towards the Mother of God, when we contemplate her assumption and coronation in heavenly glory. The Rosary is a prayer regarding Mary united to Christ in his salvific mission. It is at the same time a prayer to Mary, our best mediator before the Son. And finally a prayer that in a special way we recite with Mary, just as the apostles prayed together with her in the Upper Room, preparing themselves to receive the Holy Spirit." (General Audience, 28 October 1981) Music: Ave Maria sung by Anna Johnstone. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, Mother Mary, it is inspired by our Holy Fathers St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.