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To the Venerable
Brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local
Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See.
Venerable Brethren, Greetings and
Apostolic Benediction.
Among the pleasant recollections of Our
younger days are the Encyclicals which Pope Leo XIII used to write to the whole
Catholic world as the month of October drew near, in order to urge the faithful
to devout recitation of Mary's rosary during that month in particular.1
2. These Encyclicals had
varied contents, but they were all very wise, vibrant with fresh inspiration,
and directly relevant to the practice of the Christian life. In strong and
persuasive terms they exhorted Catholics to pray to God in a spirit of faith
through the intercession of Mary, His Virgin Mother, by reciting the holy
rosary. For the rosary is a very commendable form of prayer and meditation. In
saying it we weave a mystic garland of Ave Maria's, Pater Noster's, and Gloria
Patri's. And as we recite these vocal prayers, we meditate upon the
principal mysteries of our religion; the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and the
Redemption of the human race are proposed, one event after another, for our
consideration.
Pope
John's Devotion to the Rosary
3. These pleasant memories
of Our younger days have not faded or vanished as the years of Our life have
passed. On the contrary, We want to declare in complete frankness and
simplicity that the years have made Mary's rosary all the dearer to Us. We
never fail to recite it each day in its entirety and We intend to recite it
with particular devotion during the coming month.
4. During Our first year
as pope-a year which is almost over-We have several times had occasion to urge
the clergy and laity to public and private prayer. But today We make this same
request with even greater emphasis and earnestness, for reasons which this
Encyclical will set out very briefly.
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