A history of the Rosary?

[allaussie]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anybody knows of a good history of the rosary both as a prayer and the associated beads? I’m involved in a medieval recreation group and I’m thinking about making some rosaries to either sell or give away (I’m not decided yet, I think my first attempts will probably be for my own use or gifts to friends and once I’m a more accomplished rosary maker I might sell them). I don’t want these to be just a pretty set of beads, I would like to accompany the beads with a little booklet telling people about the associated prayers and devotions (including a bibliography for anyone interested in further reading). Even a list of the mysteries and days they were associated with before Pope John Paul II introduced the glorious mysteries would be helpful.
Books or websites are both OK.
thanks,
Elizabeth

 

[jkarp]

While I don’t have a complete history of the rosary, the great Pope John Paul II didn’t introduce the glorious mysteries, the Holy Father added the Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light:

• The Baptism of the Lord
• The Wedding of Cana
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom
• The Transfiguration
• The Institution of the Eucharist

Hope this helps!

 

[allaussie]

oops, yes I meant the Luminous mysteries thanks for correcting my mistake

 

[byers]

The most wonderful history of the rosary I have ever read and one of the best Catholic books too has got to be Dr. Kevin Orlin Johnson’s fairly recent
Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations and the Telling of the Beads

He is a marvelous witty writer and not only will you learn about the rosary, but in the process learn much about the Church. Check out the reviews at amazon.

 

[Belle10]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anybody knows of a good history of the rosary both as a prayer and the associated beads? th

You can order the Rosary (and chaplet of Divine Mercy) on CD from www.catholicity.com for free (or a small donation) and at the end of the CD, they give a brief history of the Rosary, which I found very interesting.