THE word “mystery” for many people reminds them of television programmes or whodunnit novels in which the aim is to solve the mystery. Christian mystery is not like that. In Christian mystery, God draws us into the mystery to become part of it.

This book invites the reader to explore the mysteries of the rosary and of icons. The author, Addison Hodges Hart, is an Anglican priest living in Norway with his iconographer wife, Solrunn Nes, who is a Roman Catholic. She has provided a beautiful set of 20 Byzantine-style icons to accompany each of the mysteries of the rosary.

The rosary was developed in the Middle Ages as an aid to prayer, with its 15 mysteries divided into five groups: the Sorrowful, the Joyful, and the Glorious Mysteries. In 2002, Pope St John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries: the baptism of Jesus, the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God, the transfiguration, and the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

The subtitle of the book is “A Contemplative, Exegetical and Iconographic Tour Through the Mysteries”. So each mystery is illustrated with an icon and is accompanied by a text to bring biblical, historical, doctrinal, and spiritual insights to the reader. The author is a former university chaplain, who has written seven previous books on scripture, spirituality, interfaith dialogue, and doctrine. His commentaries draw on his wide knowledge of the scriptures, the Fathers, iconography, and his own Christian experience.

This is a devotional book that needs to be read slowly, almost pausing to reflect on each paragraph, so that the reader is drawn into the mystery through contemplative prayer and silence. It will be an excellent book for Lent, and provide preachers with plenty of fresh ideas. My only criticism is that the icons were not reproduced full-page, which they deserve to be.

The opening chapters provide a useful background to the history of the rosary, the part played by Mary, and how to look upon icons and allow them to look upon us. The rosary and icons have long been treasured by many Christians, including those who are not Roman Catholic or Orthodox; and this book makes them comfortably accessible to others.

The Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS is a former Bishop of Monmouth.

Silent Rosary: A contemplative, exegetical, and iconographic tour through the mysteries
Addison Hodges Hart
Solrunn Nes, iconographer
Cascade Books £19
(978-1-7252-7232-3)
Church Times Bookshop £17.10