On October 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter on the Most Holy Rosary, Rosarium Virginisi Mariae, introduced to the Church five new mysteries for the Rosary. Until then, there had been three sets of mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. This new set John Paul II called the Luminous Mysteries or the Mysteries of Light. The five new mysteries are: the baptism in the Jordan, the wedding at Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration, and the institution of the Eucharist. This was a bold step on the part of the Pope. 2002 was also when the Year of the Rosary started, so it was appropriate to begin that special year with a new set of mysteries that fit between the Joyful mysteries and the Sorrowful mysteries.

Tim Gray in this book presents these new mysteries with passages from scripture, followed by reflections on particular verses from the scripture passage - similar to what is done in Lectio Divina. He continues with points of reflection that are meant to help the reader in his or her meditation. After that Gray provides a reading from the Church Fathers connected to the scripture passage or the mystery, including St. Hippolytus, St. John Chrysostom, Origen, and St. Leo the Great. Gray quotes from the scriptures, Church Fathers, and the Apostolic Letter on the Rosary throughout his reflections. Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis provides the foreword.

Tim Gray is a speaker, author, and professor of scripture and holds a Th.M. in scripture from Duke University and an M.A. in theology from Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio. He has taught at Christendom College and helped to launch the Great Adventure Bible Study Program. He is the author of Mission of the Messiah (1998), Boys to Men (2001), and Sacraments in Scripture (2001).

This book is recommended to those who are just discovering the Luminous Mysteries and for those who want to expand on this knowledge. It is a great tool for prayer and reflection.