Posted on 05/13/2008 11:38:31 AM PDT by NYer
Pope Benedict XVI holds a rosary on the occasion of a Rosary prayer inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome, Saturday, May 3, 2008.
Vatican City - A recording of Pope Benedict XVI reciting the Rosary in Latin is to go on sale as a four-CD box set, the Vatican announced Tuesday. "It was born as an answer to listeners and from several Catholic radio stations," Vatican Radio director, Father Federico Lombardi, said explaining the initiative.
Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, on several occasions recited the Rosary live on Vatican Radio, providing the faithful with "great consolation" while "facilitating their prayer and devotion" Lombardi said.
However, John Paul stopped the practice as his health grew frail, and while tape recordings of the late pontiff's recitals exist, listeners were eager to hear versions of the Rosary by Benedict after his election as pope in 2005, Lombardi said.
According to Lombardi, who is also the papal spokesman, Latin was chosen because it is "most easily understood for the Rosary" and the universal language of the Catholic Church.
The decision also appears to be in line with Benedict's attempts to revive the use of Latin since he began his pontificate.
The pontiff last year eased restrictions for priests who wish to celebrate the Latin Mass and last week the Vatican launched a Latin version of its website.
The Rosary mostly consists of repetitions of the Hail Mary, a prayer in which the faithful ask Jesus' mother for her intercession with God, while focusing on different phases of the life of Mary and Jesus.
The CD box set will initially be available from the Vatican official bookshop on St Peter's Square at a cost of 15 euros (23 dollars).
.- On Saturday, the Holy Father presided at the praying of the Rosary in the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major. He noted that when one prays the Marian prayer authentically, it brings peace and reconciliation.
Pope Benedict reflected on his experiences with the Rosary especially during May, the month of Mary. He recalled how evenings in May evoke pleasant memories of paying homage to the Virgin Mary. He also noted that the holy Rosary is not some pious practice relegated to the past, a prayer of distant times to be thought of nostalgically. Indeed, the Rosary is experiencing what is almost a new springtime.
The Rosary is especially needed today, because it helps us to place Christ at the center, as did the Virgin who meditated upon everything that was said about her Son and upon what He Himself did and said. When we recite the Rosary we relive important monuments of the history of salvation, we again go over the various stages of Christ's mission. With Mary we turn our hearts to the mystery of Jesus."
The Holy Father called on the Blessed Mother to help us welcome within ourselves the grace that emanates from these mysteries, so that through us this grace can 'irrigate' society, starting with our everyday relationships, purifying it from many negative forces and opening it to the novelty of God.
The Pontiff added that the Marian prayer can bring healing to the world. "The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic manner - not mechanically and superficially, but profoundly - brings peace and reconciliation. It contains the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the heart of each Hail Mary."
Benedict XVI then called on those present to ensure they remained united to Mary during these days leading up to Pentecost, "invoking a renewed effusion of the Holy Spirit for the Church." In conclusion, he also entrusted them with "the most urgent intentions" of his ministry: "the needs of the Church, the great problems of humanity, peace in the world, the unity of Christians, and dialogue between cultures", as well as the pastoral objectives of the diocese of Rome.
And don't get me started about "Rosary Races" - I know His Holiness wouldn't be doing any such thing!!!
I guess it could be set up so that each CD contains one set of the Mysteries, so that you can easily pop it into your car's player on the appropriate day.
Nice to have it in Latin, guess that's next on my list of Catholic Things to Learn -- I've got the Pater Noster and the Ave Maria down pat, but the Credo and the Salve Regina are going to take some work!
Very cool. Viva Il Papa!
Wonder how long till the popcorn call.
Very cool. Viva Il Papa!
Wonder how long till the popcorn call.
Don't forget the Gloria Patri and the Fatima prayer (O, my Jesus, forgive us our sins ...)! Plus it's the Apostles Creed not the Nicene Creed.
"Symbolum Apostolorum," then, if it makes you feel better! < g >
Had to look around a bit for the Fatima Prayer:
Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordiae tuae maxime indigent.
Just too lazy to scroll through all of that to hunt for something that may or may not be there (although I see that it is.)
You're probably right. I watched it on EWTN and, even with the chanted intentions, it took less than 1 hour, which raises the question - what is on the other 3 CDs? If these include the Vespers sung at the National Shrine in DC, then I will gladly lay down the Euro$ to purchase it. I wrote to the Director at the Shrine inquiring if they would make the Vespes available on CD. So far, no response. It was just magnificent!
It was "Tu Es Petrus" by Henri Mulet, an early 20th-c French composer. (So I was RIGHT that it was 20th c. French! I KNEW it sounded familiar!)
Our music director/choirmaster knew all about him, of course. Apparently he just chucked a big time musical career in Paris and went to raise livestock on a farm in Provence. What's funny is that our choirmaster left a big musical career in Manhattan and lives on a farm here -- but he still is an organist, composer, and music director and his WIFE keeps the livestock!
When are they going to start putting these type of things on iTunes? ;P
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