Place de la Paix: Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary Feast Day

A brief history of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Feast Day, quoted from Wikipedia [1]:

In 1571, Pope Pius V organized a coalition of forces from Spain and smaller Christian kingdoms, republics and military orders, to rescue Christian outposts in Cyprus, particularly the Venetian outpost at Famagusta which, however, surrendered after a long siege on August 1 before the Christian forces set sail. On October 7, 1571, the Holy League, a coalition of southern European Catholic maritime states, sailed from Messina, Sicily, and met a powerful Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Lepanto. Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct materiel disadvantage, the holy pontiff, Pope Pius V, called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory, and led a rosary procession in Rome.

After about five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Corinth, off western Greece, the combined navies of the Papal States, Venice and Spain managed to stop the Ottoman navy, slowing the Ottoman advance to the west and denying them access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Americas.

On praying the Holy Rosary, with reference to the Luminous Mysteries [2]:

It is widely reported that Pope John Paul added the Luminous Mysteries in 2002 in his APOSTOLIC LETTER Rosarium Virginis Mariae, and this is a true statement. What is not widely reported is that it is completely optional. Not only that, it is up to the individuals whether they wish to include the added mysteries or not. Here is the quote from section 19 where he adds the proposed addition; “I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ’s public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion.” [Emphasis original.]

"The Pope was not speaking “Ex Cathedra”, this is not a Dogmatic Constitution, it was a recommendation." [3]

Given the choice, how should one decide, meditate on the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays or on the Joyful Mysteries as many saints had done before they were added in 2002?

It probably does not matter so long as one prays the rosary attentively (easier said than done), without being distracted by a wandering mind, or having one that has gone blank and numb from an unthinking recitation of prayers.

So how did the Luminous Mysteries first come about? Quoted in part from Aleteia [4]:

What’s interesting is that while [John Paul II] never stated publicly the source for this inspiration, a year earlier in 2001 John Paul II beatified Saint George Preca, a Carmelite priest from Malta. The Vatican biography notes how Preca, “In 1957 … suggested the use of five ‘Mysteries of Light’ for the private recitation of the Rosary.”

According to the Carmelites, Preca’s own division of the “Mysteries of Light” bears a remarkable similarity to John Paul II’s.

1) After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, he was taken to the desert.
2) Jesus reveals himself as true God by word and miracles.
3) Jesus teaches the Beatitudes on the mountain.
4) Jesus is transfigured on the mountain.
5) Jesus takes his last supper with the Apostles.

The traditional mysteries of the Holy Rosary are the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries. Days of praying [5]:

Sunday
In Advent, Christmas, and Time After Epiphany: The Joyful Mysteries
In Septuagesima and Lent: The Sorrowful Mysteries
In Easter and Time After Pentecost: The Glorious Mysteries
In Advent, Christmas: The Joyful Mysteries
In Lent: The Sorrowful Mysteries
In Easter and Ordinary Time: The Glorious Mysteries
Monday: The Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday: The Glorious Mysteries
Thursday: The Joyful Mysteries
Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Saturday: The Glorious Mysteries