Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads [Paperback]

Kevin Orlin Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 1997

A comprehensive manual on the skills of Christian meditative prayer, including the history of the Rosary, the history of the devotion, the theology behind it, and its many connections to art, architecture, liturgy, and other forms of prayer. Includes a chapter on each of the fifteen Mysteries, examining them from archaeological, anthropological, textual, and other viewpoints, and a thorough explanation of the many promises conveyed by apparitions of Mary to St. Dominic and Bl. Alan de Rupe, drawn largely from the Fathers of the Church. Throughout the text, the immense spiritual and social benefits of the Rosary and of meditative prayer emerge through the stories of the great saints who re-converted England, France, Italy, and other countries by encouraging the practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A great book on the Rosary by that great writer on Catholic mysticism, Kevin Orlin Johnson . . . " -- Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal

"The Rosary saved the West once and can do so again, if people are faithful to it. Read this book!" -- Rod Dreher, New York Post

"The best book I have yet seen on this subject." -- Michael Potemra, Literary Editor, National Review

Very informative, very interesting! A wonderful array of theology on prayer, grace, spirituality, to name only a few fields. Rosary is a book filled with knowledge ... reading it was indeed an intellectual and spiritual delight to my soul. A beautiful work, and a true work of love for Our Lady. -- Deacon Harry Prestwood, S.F.O., President, Our Lady's Rosary Makers

From the Publisher

By the author of the best-selling Why Do Catholics Do That?, this book presents an encyclopedic range of answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Rosary and the other devotional practices to which it is related, such as: Exactly what is prayer, and how does it work? How does Judeo-Christian meditation differ from Oriental practices? Why are the beads so important? How does the Rosary relate to the Bible? Doesn't Mt 6:7 prohibit repetition of prayers? Why pray to Mary in the first place? What part does Mary play in Christian concepts of salvation? Why do modern apparitions of Mary always urge people to pray the Rosary? And many, many more. In addition, the book offers powerful examinations of those episodes in Christ's life-the "Mysteries"-that the Rosary targets as the subjects of meditation, including the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Resurrection, and twelve others. Having read Johnson's compelling account of the Crucifixion-the most intense to appear in living memory-you'll never see a crucifix in the same way again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Pangaeus Press; 1 edition (June 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965366014
• ISBN-13: 978-0965366014
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I've ever read!, January 17, 1999

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O. Brown "Ms. O. Khannah-Brown" (Twopeas, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads (Paperback)

This book is one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read a lot of books! If you are looking for one book to help you understand the Rosary better, then this is it. It covers every aspect of the Rosary in depth, and adds much detail, making it a treasure chest of knowledge about the Catholic faith. It is written in a compelling way, never dry; and although it is an expensive book, it is worth every penny. I know that I will reread it over and over again; in addition, I hope to teach a class at my church this year on it. I have several other books on the Rosary, but this is worth all of them put together.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rosary deserves 6 stars!, July 9, 1999

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[e-mail] Jean Hampton (The Green Mountain State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads (Paperback)

Rosary is both scholarly and inspiring-a rare combination. I am a very fast reader, but it took me several weeks to complete this tome. I read only one chapter a day, as there is so much to absorb and digest. As a purely historical book, it is magnificent. As a spiritual book, it is equally magnificent. The author, Kevin Orlin Johnson, Phd. did extensive and profound research in writing this book and it certainly shows. This book I recommend to all Catholics, but I also highly recommend it to people of all faiths or no faith at all! I guarantee all readers will be inspired by Rosary.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rosary, January 16, 2001

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Mick Tahaney (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads (Paperback)

This is a very detailed but clearly written work on all aspects of the Rosary. As a non-Catholic who is becoming more and more interested in the Catholic Church, I found this book very enlightening. It wiped away many of the prejudices I (as a long-time Baptist) had held toward the Church. I would recommend it to everyone, especially to those seeking a better prayer life.