Totus Tuus - Totus 2us

The Rosary, a Christological and contemplative prayer
_{Catechesis by Pope St John Paul II
General Audience, Wednesday 29th October 2002 - also in French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish}

"1. The Year of the Rosary concludes with the month of October.

I am deeply grateful to God for this time of grace, in which the entire ecclesial Community has been able to deepen the value and importance of the Rosary, which is a Christological and contemplative prayer.

"To contemplate with Mary the face of Christ" (RVM, 3). These words, recurrent in the apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, have become, as it were, the "motto" of the Year of the Rosary. They express in summary/brief the authentic meaning of this both simple and profound prayer. At the same time, they emphasize the continuity between the proposal of the Rosay and the pathway indicated to the People of God in my previous apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte.

2. If, in fact, at the beginning of the third millennium, Christians are called to grow as "contemplators of the face of Christ" (cf NMI 16), and ecclesial Communities (are called) to become "authentic schools of prayer" (NMI, 33), the Rosary constitutes the "Marian way", hence privileged/a privileged way, to reach this double objective. Desiring to be ever more transparent to the "mystery" of Christ, the Church places herself at the school of Mary so as to meditate (on) the "mysteries" of his Gospel. This is "the way of Mary" (cf NMI 24), the way on which she accomplished her exemplary pilgrimage of faith, as the first disciple of the Word incarnate. It is, at the same time, the way of an authentic Marian devotion totally centred on the bond existing between Christ and his Most Holy Mother (cf NMI).

3. During this Year, I have wanted to entrust to the People of God two great prayer intentions: peace and the family.

The XXI century, born under the sign of the great jubilee of reconciliation, has unfortunately inherited from the past numerous and persistent outbreaks of war and violence. The bewildering attacks of 11 September 2001 and that which has happened in the world thereafter have increased the tension on a planetary/worldwide/global level. Faced with these worrying situations, to recite/reciting the (crown of the) Rosary is not an intimistic folding/withdrawal but a conscious choice of faith: by contemplating the face of Christ, our Peace and our reconciliation, we wish/want to implore from God the gift of peace, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy. We ask her for the strength necessary to be builders of peace, starting with daily life in the family.

The family! Precisely the family nucleus must be the first environment/place in which Christ's peace is welcomed, cultivated and safeguarded. In our day/s, however, without prayer it becomes more and more difficult for the family to realise this (her) vocation. This is why it would be truly useful to recover the beautiful custom of reciting the Rosary in the/at home, as was the custom/as it happened in past generations. "The family that prays together, stays together" (RVM 41).

4. I entrust these intentions to Our Lady, so that she may protect families and obtain peace for individuals and for the whole world.

I hope that all believers, together with the Virgin, will set out decisively on the way of holiness, keeping their gaze fixed on Jesus and meditating, with the Rosary, (on) the mysteries of salvation. This will be the most precious fruit of this year dedicated to the prayer of the Rosary."

<sub>Saluti:

"I extend a special welcome to the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims here today, including the groups from England, Ireland, Finland, Japan and the United States. May Mary, Queen of the Rosary, protect you and lead you ever more closely to her Son.

Je salue cordialement les pèlerins francophones, en particulier les jeunes. Puissiez-vous, en empruntant «le chemin de Marie»(Ibid., n. 24), marcher résolument sur la voie de la sainteté, en tenant le regard fixé sur Jésus et en méditant, avec le chapelet, les mystères du salut !

Von Herzen grüße ich die Pilger und Besucher aus den deutschsprachigen Ländern. Ein besonderer Gruß gilt den St.-Georgs-Pfadfindern und der Jugend 2000 aus Regensburg. Geht auf dem Weg der Heiligkeit Christus entgegen! Sein Friede sei allezeit mit euch!

Saludo cordialmente a los visitantes de España y de América Latina, en especial al grupo de Abogados, a los fieles de Getafe, Sevilla, Cieza y Barcelona, así como a los peregrinos mexicanos de Guadalajara. Pidamos a la Virgen María que seamos constructores de paz, empezando por la propia familia. Muchas gracias.

Dzisiejsza katecheza ma szczególny charakter, bowiem zamyka kończący się w październiku Rok Różańca Świętego. Był to czas łaski, w którym Kościół miał okazję pogłębić istotę modlitwy różańcowej, jako modlitwy chrystologicznej i kontemplacyjnej. Przewodnią myślą tego Roku były słowa z Listu Apostolskiego Rosarium Virginis Mariae: „kontemplować z Maryją oblicze Chrystusa". Z Maryją odkrywaliśmy wartość modlitwy różańcowej: prostej i głębokiej. Na progu trzeciego tysiąclecia każda wspólnota wierzących jest wezwana, by kontemplować oblicze Chrystusa, by stawać się szkołą modlitwy. Maryjną drogę wiary i modlitwy wskazuje nam Różaniec. Na tej drodze przewodzi nam Matka Zbawiciela, Ta, która nosiła w łonie Bożego Syna.

Rok Różańca Świętego był szczególną okazją do modlitwy o pokój w świecie i w intencji rodziny. Niepokojące zamachy terrorystyczne, mające miejsce 11 września 2001 r. w Stanach Zjednoczonych, które zrodziły nowe zagrożenie w świecie mogą być powstrzymane przez modlitwą różańcową i błaganie w intencji pokoju. To właśnie Wspólnota wierzących pragnie uczynić przede wszystkim poprzez modlitwę rodzinną. Wspomniany List Rosarium Virginis Mariae podkreśla: „jako modlitwa o pokój, różaniec był też zawsze modlitwą rodziny i za rodzinę" (n. 41). Serdecznie pozdrawiam moich Rodaków. Maryi, Królowej Różańca Świętego zawierzam wszystkie polskie rodziny. W mojej modlitwie upraszam pokój dla Polski i dla całego świata. Wszystkim, którzy się w tę modlitwę włączają z serca błogosławię. Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus.

Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini di lingua italiana, in particolare la Federazione Scuole Materne del Molise, i ragazzi dell’Azione Cattolica di S. Benedetto del Tronto, i rappresentanti dell’Accademia di Storia dell’Arte Sanitaria.

Rivolgo poi il mio affettuoso saluto ai giovani, ai malati e agli sposi novelli. Tutti vi esorto a fondare la vostra vita sulla Parola di Dio, per essere costruttori della civiltà dell’amore, di cui è simbolo eloquente la croce di Cristo, sorgente di luce, di conforto e di speranza per gli uomini di tutti i tempi."</sub>

Pope Francis at the General Audience in the Jubilee of Mercy
_{Wednesday 24 August 2016 - in Arabic, Croatian, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese & Spanish}

<sub>"I had prepared the Catechesis for today, as for all Wednesdays during this Year of Mercy, focusing on the closeness of Jesus. However, on hearing the news of the earthquake that struck central Italy, which has devastated entire areas and left many wounded, I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones affected. I also express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones and my spiritual support to those who are anxious and afraid. Hearing the Mayor of Amatrice say that “the town no longer exists”, and learning that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened.

For this reason I want to assure all the people of Accumoli, Amatrice, and beyond, in the Dioceses of Rieti, Ascoli Piceno, and all the people of Lazio, Umbria and le Marche, of the prayer and close solidarity of the entire Church who in these moments extends her maternal love. We too present in this square offer you our embrace.

In thanking all the volunteer and rescue personnel who are assisting these people, I ask you to join me in praying to the Lord Jesus, who is always moved by compassion before the reality of human suffering, that he may console the broken hearted and, by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, bring them peace.

With Jesus let our hearts be moved with compassion.

And so we will postpone this week’s catechesis to next Wednesday. I invite you to pray with me a part of the Holy Rosary, the Sorrowful Mysteries:

1. Jesus’ Agony in the Garden;
2. The Scourging at the Pillar;
3. The Crowning of Thorns;
4. Jesus carries his Cross to Calvary;
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus."</sub>

<sub>Saluti:

"Je salue cordialement les pèlerins de langue française. A la veille de la fête de Saint Louis, je prie particulièrement pour le peuple de France, et pour ses dirigeants. Avec confiance osons nous approcher de Jésus, malgré nos hontes et nos faiblesses : il nous invite à l’espérance et il nous accueille avec miséricorde. Que Dieu vous bénisse et vous garde !

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from Ireland, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States of America. My special greeting goes to the members of the International Paralympic Committee and the athletes preparing for the forthcoming Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. I also greet the participants in the General Assembly promoted by the World Conference of Secular Institutes. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Einen herzlichen Gruß richte ich an alle Pilger deutscher Sprache. Wir berühren Jesus, wenn wir hinausgehen, um den Brüdern und Schwestern in Not zu helfen. So wird in der Berührung mit Christus, dem Heiland, unser Leben erneuert. Gott segne euch alle.

Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en particular a los venidos de España y Latinoamérica. Los invito a salir al encuentro de las necesidades del prójimo, para que cada uno de nosotros pueda experimentar en su vida la mirada misericordiosa de Dios, y ser curado en el cuerpo y en el espíritu, recuperando la dignidad de ser hijos de un mismo Padre. Muchas gracias.

Saúdo os peregrinos de língua portuguesa, do Brasil e de Portugal. Queridos amigos, Jesus vos chama a levar aos outros a alegria do Evangelho, que nos ensina que homens e mulheres participam da mesma dignidade, porque somos todos uma só coisa em Cristo Jesus! Que Deus vos abençoe a todos!

أتوجه بتحية حارة للحجاج الناطقين باللغة العربية، وخاصة القادمين من مصر والعراق والشرق ‏الأوسط. ليبارككم الرب جميعا ‏ويحرسكم من الشرير!‏

Serdecznie pozdrawiam polskich pielgrzymów. Drodzy bracia i siostry, przechodząc przez Świętą Bramę miłosierdzia pamiętajcie, że Chrystus jest jedynym źródłem błogosławieństwa, z którego wypływa zbawienie dla wszystkich ludzi, a wiara, nadzieja i miłość uzdalniają nas do przyjęcia tej łaski. Z serca wam błogosławię."

APPEAL FOR UKRAINE

"In recent weeks international observers have expressed concern for the exacerbation of the situation in eastern Ukraine. Today, while that dear nation celebrates its national holiday, which coincides this year with the 25th anniversary of independence, I assure my prayers for peace and I renew my appeal to all parties involved and to the international bodies to strengthen initiatives to resolve the conflict, to release hostages and respond to the humanitarian emergency.

* * *

Dò il benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana! Accolgo i partecipanti al Congresso che celebra i 50 anni di attività dell’Associazione Teologica Italiana per lo Studio della Morale e li esorto a spezzare il pane della misericordia nell’insegnamento di tale importante disciplina. Saluto i gruppi parrocchiali; i seminaristi di Verona; i partecipanti al congresso di esperanto e l’Associazione Amici dei bambini di Mezzano di San Giuliano Milanese.

Lastly I address a thought to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. Today is the Feast Day of the Apostle St Bartholomew. Dear young people, learn from him that true strength is humility; dear sick people, do not tire of asking in prayer for the Lord’s help; and you, dear newlyweds, vie to esteem and help one another."</sub>

Pope Benedict XVI - at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
_{- address before praying the rosary - in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish}

_{".. Brothers and sisters, in this place it is amazing to think how three children entrusted themselves to the interior force which had enflamed them in the apparitions of the Angel and of our heavenly Mother. In this place where we were repeatedly requested to recite the rosary, let us allow ourselves to be attracted by the mysteries of Christ, the mysteries of Mary’s rosary. The recitation of the rosary allows us to fix our gaze and our hearts upon Jesus, just like his Mother, the supreme model of contemplation of the Son. Meditating upon the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries as we pray our Hail Marys, let us reflect upon the interior mystery of Jesus, from the Incarnation, through the Cross, to the glory of the Resurrection; let us contemplate the intimate participation of Mary in the mystery of our life in Christ today, a life which is also made up of joy and sorrow, of darkness and light, of fear and hope. Grace invades our hearts, provoking a wish for an incisive and evangelical change of life so that we can say with Saint Paul: “For me to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21) in a communion of life and destiny with Christ."}

Our Lady has 117 titles but at Fatima she said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary."

St Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying is - pray the rosary.

St Thomas Aquinas preached for 40 days in Rome on just the Hail Mary.

St John Vianney, patron of priests, was seldom seen without a rosary in his hand.

Pope Adrian VI - "The rosary is the scourge of the devil."

Pope Paul V - "The Rosary is a treasure of graces."

St Padre Pio - "The Rosary is THE WEAPON."

Pope Leo XIII wrote 9 encyclicals on the rosary.

Pope John XXIII spoke 38 times about Our Lady and the Rosary. He prayed 15 decades daily.

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort - "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother."