The
concluding short prayer
35. In current practice,
the Trinitarian doxology is followed by a brief concluding prayer which varies
according to local custom. Without in any way diminishing the value of such invocations,
it is worthwhile to note that the contemplation of the mysteries could better
express their full spiritual fruitfulness if an effort were made to conclude
each mystery with a prayer for the fruits specific to that particular mystery.
In this way the Rosary would better express its connection with the Christian life.
One fine liturgical prayer suggests as much, inviting us to pray that,
by meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary, we may come to "imitate what
they contain and obtain what they promise".38 Such a final
prayer could take on a legitimate variety of forms, as indeed it already does.
In this way the Rosary can be better adapted to different spiritual
traditions and different Christian communities. It is to be hoped, then,
that appropriate formulas will be widely circulated, after due pastoral discernment
and possibly after experimental use in centres and shrines particularly
devoted to the Rosary, so that the People of God may benefit from an abundance
of authentic spiritual riches and find nourishment for their personal
contemplation.
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