center of religious devotion. In this letter John Paul II introduces the "Mysteries of Light" into the cycle of the mysteries of the life of Christ that are to be contemplated while praying the rosary. These five "luminous mysteries" focus devotion on the events of the public ministry of Jesus Christ: (1) his baptism in the Jordan, (2) his self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana, (3) his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, (4) his Transfiguration, and (5) his institution of the Eucharist. The document states that each mystery "is a revelation of the Kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus". Lengthy and diversified in content, the apostolic letter can be considered a practical pastoral instrument in various ways: How to pray the Rosary as a form of contemplative prayer, brief explanations of the mysteries, the meanings of the "Our Father", the ten "Hail Marys", the "Gloria", the concluding prayers, the beads, and the chain. See also Christi Matri Marian papal encyclicals and Apostolic Letters Octobri mense Marialis Cultus References External links The International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton The Marian Library at the University of Dayton Documents of Pope John Paul II 2002 documents 2002 in Christianity