On October 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Letter entitled Rosarium Virginis Mariae in which he proclaimed October 2002 to October 2003 "The Year of the Rosary." In the beginning the 25th year of his Pontificate, he wanted in this way to thank the Lord and his Most Holy Mother for the many graces he had received in the course of his life and ministry through the Rosary. At the same time he thought it opportune, in light of the special needs of the people of the 21st Century, to suggest the addition of five new decades to the Rosary to encourage meditation on the public life of Jesus. He called these new mysteries, The Mysteries of Light. This little booklet -- illustrated with full color cartoons -- is offered as an aid to little children to enter into and become familiar with all 20 mysteries of their faith: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and the Mysteries of Light.