What is the rosary?
The rosary is a powerful prayer by means of which the faithful honor Jesus and His Blessed Mother while meditating on the principal mysteries of our Redemption which God began through Mary.
The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses", that is to say that every time people say the full Rosary devoutly they place a crown upon the heads of Jesus and Mary. Being heavenly flowers, these roses will never fade or lose their exquisite beauty.
History of the rosary:
At an early date among the monastic orders the practice of the recitation of the 150 psalms was constantly enjoined. To count these accurately there is every reason to believe that already in the eleventh and twelfth centuries a practice had come in of using pebbles, berries or discs of bone threaded on a string. Similar strings of beads have been found in the tomb of St. Rosalia (AD 1160). In the times before St. Dominic we can see that the Our Father's were prayed on pebbles or a string of beads.
St. Dominic, seeing the gravity of people's sins was hindering the conversion of the Albigensians, withdrew into a forest where he prayed unceasingly for three days and three nights. Tradition tells that our Lady appeared to him while he prayed. "My son," the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls. Pray my Psalter and teach it to your people. That prayer will never fail." The Our Lady's Psalter was an old tradition of praying 150 Hail Mary's. He frequently prayed the Psalter as he walked along the road. Many people did. Those who could not read Holy Scripture and those who could not understand it often said a Hail Mary for each of the Psalms. Tradition tells that it was then that she taught him the way she wanted the Psalter said, the prayer that was to become her Rosary."Make clear to them the mysteries of their religion, the divine truths that God has revealed but that they cannot understand. Teach them to picture in their minds the events of my Son's life." Filled with new zeal, Saint Dominic began to teach his listeners to picture the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as they prayed the Rosary.
The simple words of the prayer kept their thoughts on heavenly matters for as long as their beads slipped through their fingers. The Rosary then became a prayer that everyone could understand. Those with little learning or scholars with profound knowledge could now picture the divine life, each in his own way.
The petition, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" had been included by the common man as "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners", and forms similar to this long before it was made official by the Church. The prayer book for the dying, by St. Anselm of Canterbury, a native Italian (died 1109), contains a Latin prayer in verse in which the last line is a petition to Mary for assistance at the hour of death. Very much like the "Holy Mary," it runs as follows: "Mary, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, protect us against the Evil Spirit and take us to heaven at the hour of our death."
In 1568 the Hail Mary was added to the Our Father to become the prescribed form exactly as we pray it today. The Glory Be to the Father and the Fatima Prayer portion have been added and approved by the Church through the years to arrive at its present form as it is prayed today.
How to pray the rosary:
First kiss the cross of your Rosary and make the Sign of the Cross with it in honor of, and in union with the exceeding great love of the Son of God when He kissed and took upon His shoulders the burden of the Cross (Saint John Eudes).
1. Say the Apostles' Creed.
2. Say the Our Father.
3. Say three Hail Mary's.
4. Say the Glory be to the Father.
5. Announce the Mystery, then say the Our Father.
6. Say ten Hail Mary's while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the Glory Be.
8. Say the Fatima Prayer.
After the last decade, say the Hail, Holy Queen, the versicle, and the concluding prayer.
Make the Sign of the Cross to conclude the prayer.
Prayers of the Rosary:
The Sign of the Cross:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell: the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come 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.
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.
The Hail Mary:
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.
The Glory Be:
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.
Fatima Prayer:
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.
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!
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Concluding Prayer:
O God, Whose only begotten Son by His Life, Death and Resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
The Mysteries of the Rosary:
Joyful (said on Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation
2. The Vistitation
3. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Sorrowful (said on Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Luminous (said on Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Glorious (said on Wednesdays and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension into Heaven
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin