The Holy Rosary
The Rosary is a very ancient form of Christian prayer, and tradition holds that the Blessed Virgin gave the Rosary to St. Dominic as a means of teaching the mysteries of Christianity to people who were mostly illiterate. This beautiful devotion has been one of the most popular devotional practices within the Church for more than seven centuries.
Prayer of the Rosary is both vocal and mental. Reading the lives of the Saints, one will see that there is rarely a Saint or holy person who did not have a strong devotion to this form of prayer. It is a means of prayerful meditation on the basic mysteries of Christianity, from the incarnation of the Eternal Word to the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one is led to contemplate Christ's act of redemption and how they affect our lives.
The Rosary is made up of 15 mysteries, divided into three groups of five mysteries.
The Joyful Mysteries (said on Monday & Thursday)
The Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
The Presentation of Jesus in the temple by Mary & Joseph
The Finding of Jesus in the temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries (said on Tuesday & Friday)
The Agony of Jesus in the garden
The Scourging of our Lord at the pillar
The Crowning of Jesus with thorns
Jesus carries His cross
The Crucifixion and death of Jesus
The Glorious Mysteries (said on Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday)
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
The Ascension of our Lord into heaven
The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary & the Apostles
The Assumption of Mary, body & soul into heaven
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of heaven and earth
Begin the Rosary by making the Sign of the Cross and reciting the Apostles Creed.
- "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."
On the first bead, pray the "Our Father".
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."
On the next three beads, pray the "Hail Mary", and add one "Glory Be" at the end.
- " Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen"
Begin each decade by announcing mystery, than on the large beads pray the "Our Father" and on the 10 small beads, the "Hail Mary". At the end of each decade add the "Glory Be" and the "O My Jesus".
- "O My Jesus, Forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."
After the final decade, finish with the "Hail, Holy Queen".
- "Hail, Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary."
Closing prayer.
- V. "Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God."
R. "That we may be made worth of the promises of Christ."
- "Let us pray.
O God, whose only begotten Son, who by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the reward of eternal salvation, grant we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen."
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."