Rosary May Contribute to Unity, Says Protestant Theologian

ROME, DEC. 12, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The rosary has found an unlikely fan in a leading Protestant theologian.

John Paul II's recent apostolic letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" states, "To go through the scenes of the rosary with Mary is like going to the 'school" of Mary to read Christ, to penetrate his secrets, to understand his message." The rosary can even promote ecumenism, the Pope affirms.

That is a position shared by professor Stephan Tobler of the University of Tübingen, in Germany, a Reformed evangelical theologian, Vatican Radio reported.

"I must say that I read it in one go," Tobler said of the apostolic letter. "It is a letter of a spiritual and theological depth that I wasn't expecting -- a letter that breathes an evangelical dimension, which has very much surprised me."

"The letter says that it is necessary to relaunch the rosary as a Christological prayer," he added. "In fact, it does so, from the first to the last line."

When the document alludes to "the grace Mary gives us when we pray to her," it speaks of the grace that God gives us almost from Mary's hand, "but with an 'almost' as if to say she 'is and is not,'" the theologian said.

"Therefore, it is introduced in this way in the dynamic of the God-Trinity, which I see as close to the sensibility of the Reformers who appreciate the figure of Mary, but only if it does not detract from looking at Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father," he said.

In this context, the Reformation communities can be encouraged by the Pope's words, the theologian said.

"I think that the evangelical churches can rediscover Mary as the image of the person completely open to God with her 'fiat' [let it be done], with her 'Do whatever he tells you," with her standing at the foot of the cross, with her silent presence among the disciples," professor Tobler said.

"In this letter, the Pope emphasizes that the rosary, more than a prayer of words, is a contemplation of the mystery," he continued. "Certainly today's sensibility and quest is primarily to rediscover a place where the heart rests, where the soul contemplates the mysteries of God and also the ways in which this is possible. We, in our traditions, must rediscover the ways that are equivalent, the analogy."

Tobler added a note of optimism about ecumenism: "I am convinced that if Catholics pray the rosary as proposed in this apostolic letter, and if evangelicals recognize and rediscover without prejudices this new way of conceiving the rosary, then it will be a favorable occasion. But we must work on it."

But it really isn't a "new way of conceiving the rosary" - it's the way it always has been conceived.

Not true. RVM radically ignores traditional teaching on the rosary, and introduces several phenomenological-Ecumenical innovations.

For instance, it neglects the traditional concept of the rosary as Mary's weapon against the enemies of the Church and for reparation of sins, and treats it solely as a contemplative meditation, emphasizing it's "anthropological significance."

Nor is Mary described as the Mediatrix of Grace, but merely as someone "all-powerful by grace."

Another example is the proposal that additional clauses be inserted into the 150 Hail Marys every time the name of Jesus is said.

Or the notion that the Gloria is the "high-point" of Mary's Psalter.

"But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matt. 6:7

The writers of the Bible--and God Himself--used the repetition of words and expressions in prayer. The Bible uses repetition to indicate emphasis and the highest degree of something.

Is 6:3
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!" they (the Seraphim) cried one to another.

The Psalms are a good example of repetition in prayer. Psalm 150 records a twelve-fold repetition in one psalm.

The prayer of the rosary is in reality a variety of prayers, many totally scriptural.

The Apostles Creed c. 700 AD
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and on the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen

Mt 6:9-13
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.

Christian doxology (cf. Rev 4:8)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Lk 1:28
Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.
Lk 1:42
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Lk 1:43; (see also the Council of Ephesus, 431) "the mother of my Lord" (Holy Mary, Mother of God.) Prayer of petition; confession of sinfulness Pray for us sinners;
Petitioning Mary dates to 3rd century now and at the hour of our death. Amen

The sign of the cross; invoking the Holy Trinity
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

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