Roadmap to praying rosary’s mysteries

Reviewed by Michael Shackleton
No one wants to pray in empty words. The mind needs to focus on God first and then the particular words or contemplation we use to become united with him spiritually.

Bishop Bucher has come up with an enterprising method of drawing oneself into the mystery of God while praying each part of the rosary with focus, avoiding mere mechanical verbiage.

He employs the gentle pedagogic style of simple words and simple explanations.

You do not end the first part of the Hail Mary with blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Instead, you insert a reference to the specific mystery you are pondering. For instance, in the first Joyful Mystery you pray: Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, whose birth was announced by the angel Gabriel. In the next mystery you would add: Jesus, who was greeted by John in the womb of his mother Elizabeth. And so on.

Repeating this ten times for each mystery of the rosary keeps your concentration on the meaning of what you are praying.

Bishop Bucher gives you all the help you will need and provides practical guidelines and advice on the various ways the rosary can be recited: alone, in groups, in sodalities and families.

His principal purpose is to make known the spiritual benefits of praying the Living Rosary, which is a particular devotion inaugurated by Pauline-Marie Jaricot in 19th century France.

Five individuals are needed. They agree to offer five of the set mysteries over five weeks, each praying just one of them for the week. They do not get together for this. They separately make time during their day to take one mystery and give all their attention to it.

Using diagrams and texts that are simple to follow, Bishop Bucher describes how in the second and following weeks, each participant moves on to the next mystery in the sequence, so that each participant will cover the full set of mysteries over five weeks.

In this way the rosary is offered in a common prayer of union with Christ and his Mother.

The rosary has been characteristic of Catholic devotion for eight centuries and the author presents a brief history of its importance. His desire is to bring Catholics to re-experience the beauty and effectiveness of the rosary as it tends to lift the spirit and calm the mind.

In referring to the successful Rosary Crusade in the middle of the last century, Bishop Bucher mistakenly attributes its origin to Fr Alan Peyton. In fact, it was the Servant of God, Fr Patrick Peyton, who also conducted his crusade in South Africa in 1955.

With additional prayers, litanies and words of encouragement, Bishop Bucher has appreciated the signs of the times, and this little manual should fill some potholes in the pilgrim�s path to sanctity.