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300 • Part II. The Sacraments: The Faith Celebrated
Mariae
; RVM). In the letter, the Holy Father added the five additional
mysteries that he called the Luminous Mysteries: the Baptism of the
Lord, the Miracle at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God,
the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.
The repetition of the ten Hail Mary’s with each Mystery is meant to
lead us to restful and contemplative prayer related to the Mystery. Many
who say the Rosary think of the words as background music that leads
them to rest in the divine presence. The gentle repetition of the words
helps us to enter the silence of our hearts, where Christ’s Spirit dwells.
EXCERPT: POPULAR DEVOTIONAL PRACTICES:
BASIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
While the liturgy is “the summit toward which the activity
of the Church is directed” and “the font from which all her
power flows” (SC, no. 10), it is not possible for us to fill up
all of our day with participation in the liturgy. The Council
pointed out that the spiritual life “is not limited solely to par-
ticipation in the liturgy. . . . according to the teaching of the
apostle, [the Christian] must pray without ceasing” (SC, no.
12). Popular devotional practices play a crucial role in helping
to foster this ceaseless prayer. The faithful have always used
a variety of practices as a means of permeating everyday life
with prayer to God. Examples include pilgrimages, novenas,
processions and celebrations in honor of Mary and the other
saints, the rosary, the
Angelus
, the Stations of the Cross, the
veneration of relics, and the use of sacramentals. Properly
used, popular devotional practices do not replace the litur-
gical life of the Church; rather, they extend it into daily life.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council recognized the
importance of popular devotions in the life of the Church and
encouraged pastors and teachers to promote sound popular
devotions. They wrote, “Popular devotions of the Christian
people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with
the laws and norms of the Church” (SC, no. 13). More recently,
Pope John Paul II has devoted an entire apostolic letter to a