Rosary fans' reaction to change is no mystery: They like it

Last week, the Pope announced the addition of five new mysteries to the Rosary, the "mysteries of light," denoting events in the life of Christ. He encouraged the Rosary as a family prayer and announced that this month is the start of a year of the Rosary.

"It's another gift from the Holy Spirit from our great pope!" exulted Alice Vogt of Immaculate Conception parish in Hoosick Falls. She chairs "In Defense of Life," a group that holds a monthly recitation of the Rosary. She was eager to start including the new mysteries as soon as her group gets more information on them.

'Senior moment'

The mysteries of light are Christ's Baptism, the marriage at Cana, His announcement of the kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the institution of the Eucharist.

Miss Kitts joked that she thought she was having a "senior moment" when she first heard the changes announced on CNN. She called the changes "a big thing, after 500 years," and said she hopes there isn't "a lot of negativism" from people who don't want to see any changes made.

"The Rosary itself will not be changed; it's just these mysteries," she added. While she said she's a fan of a 54-day Miraculous Medal novena, she still wants to squeeze in the new mysteries: "I think we're obliged to fit them in. I don't think we can say, `Well, we don't have to change.'"

New beads?

Another member remarked that the changes will "get people back to their Bibles" to research the mysteries' themes.

Ms. Charbeneau said that her group will probably use the new mysteries at their council meetings; she said the group's consensus was that "it's a bridge from the Joyful Mysteries to the Sorrowful Mysteries."

Family prayer

"Some people probably never say the Rosary. That's amazing to me," Miss Kitts remarked. "I teach first- and second-grade Sunday school, and before I'm finished with them they know [how to say it]."

She remembered that as a child, her mother had her family say the Rosary together. With three young children, "it was a little more unruly than my mother would have liked, but we did it! Just seeing her do it was enough inspiration to say, `This is what we do.'"

Mrs. Vogt also hoped to see more families using their rosaries.

"I rarely see our little children saying the Rosary any more," she stated. "I believe that's where we have to start. Years ago, we used to get on our knees [and pray], and it was a way for families to be together."

Taking time

Mrs. Vogt said her pastor, Rev. Joseph Manerowski, brought up a similar point at Mass recently.

"He asked us to say our prayers more slowly. We all kind of go, `HailMaryfullofgrace,' and it's a greeting: `Hail, Mary.'"

(10-24-02) [[In-content Ad]]