Mysteries Made Visible

Amanda Lawrence reviews Mysteries Made Visible: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art, a new devotional written and photographed by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

I adore the Rosary. The devotion is built into my daily routine. It can be prayed on a couch, in an airport, or on a stroll through the woods. And while Rosary devotionals are an excellent way to grow closer to God through Mary and Jesus, they’re not always easy to maintain.

A problem I often face involves focusing. I know and have contemplated each of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary over and over again, and sometimes my distractible mind goes on autopilot in the process. I’m always looking for meaningful, tangible ways to freshen up my routine to avoid going through the motions. When the opportunity to read Mysteries Made Visible: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art arose, I jumped on it.

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Dominican friar, author, and avid photographer Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P., has compiled stunning photographs of sacred art paired with rich contemplations of each of the twenty Mysteries of the Rosary. His profound words and beautiful images highlight and expand on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

This 85-page paperback book, published by Ignatius Press, is an excellent introduction to the Rosary and an irresistible invitation to pray it regularly. A brief, one-page exploration of each decade of the four mysteries is accompanied by Biblical quotes and glossy full-color images featuring stained-glass windows, sculptures, and mosaics. I only wish the artwork were captioned on the page presenting it; however, I understand the spatial limitations and design choice. All images are identified in appendix 4 on pages 79-83. Additionally, the short book includes a foreword, an introduction, and tips on praying the Rosary, as well as a few pages of other Marian prayers to encircle us tighter in the arms of Our Lady.

The pairing of lovely art with scriptural meditations will help all: those who struggle with this devotion and those who pray the Rosary faithfully but may seek a more profound reverence and understanding of it. The art attracts the eye, while the literature allows the reader to contemplate the twenty Mysteries of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ in more vivid and authentic detail.

Do you know someone who battles with focusing during Rosary devotions? Or someone whose prayer routine is starting to feel stale? This prayerful, tangible companion can help! Mysteries Made Visible: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art is a perfect Christmas gift that educates, invites others to pray, and offers them beautiful photographs to ponder while in worship.

Friar Lawrence Lew, who serves as prior, parish priest, and rector at the Rosary Shrine at the Priory Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Dominic in Haverstock Hill, London, has produced a thoughtful book that offers Christ-related artwork for contemplation in tandem with the Mysteries of the Rosary. He is also the photographer responsible for the stunning images included in this book's pages.

Ask for Mysteries Made Visible at your local Catholic bookseller, or order through Amazon.com or Ignatius Press, the publisher.

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