Pope John Paul II is about to announce the first changes to the Rosary since it took its current form more than 500 years ago.
Vatican sources have indicated that, to mark the 24th anniversary of his election as Pope on October 16th 1978, he will issue a document tomorrow proposing that Catholics meditate on five more events in Jesus's life when saying the Rosary.
The Rosary involves reciting 15 decades of Hail Marys with an Our Father between each decade. At the end of each of these 15 decades people are encouraged to reflect on the Mysteries of the Redemption.
Today, people usually say just five decades rather than all 15 (often referred to as the Dominican Rosary). Meditation is on the "Joyful", "Sorrowful" and "Glorious" Mysteries.
The Joyful Mysteries (said on Mondays and Thursdays) are the Annunciation to Mary that she is to be the Mother of Jesus; the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth; the Nativity of Jesus; the Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple; and the Finding of the child Jesus in the Temple.
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays) are the Agony in the Garden: the Scourging; the Crowning with Thorns; the Carrying of the Cross; and the Crucifixion.
The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays) are the Resurrection; the Ascension; the Descent of the Holy Spirit; the Assumption of Mary; and the Coronation of Mary in Heaven.
Despite that basic template, people are free to choose other events from the Scriptures. These could include: the Baptism of Jesus; the Temptations in the Desert; the Sermon on the Mount; the Transfiguration; the Last Supper; and the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
The Rosary developed in the Middle Ages from the Psalter of Mary, which consisted of 150 Avés (Hail Marys) said by those who did not have time to recite the psalms in full. Avés took the place of psalms and became a symbol of roses which the faithful wished to offer to Mary. This later became the Rosary.
The arrangement of the decades, separated by Paters (Our Fathers), is traditionally ascribed to St Dominic, while meditation on the Mysteries is attributed to another Dominican, Blessed Alan de la Roche (1470).