What is The Rosary

The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. The rosary is a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers. First are the introductory prayers: one Apostles’ Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord’s Prayer), three Hail Mary’s (Ave’s), one Glory Be (Gloria Patri). The Rosary is divided into decades. Each decade is devoted to a mystery regarding the life of Jesus or his mother. Here the word mystery refers to a truth of the faith, not to something incomprehensible. The fifteen mysteries are divided into three groups of five: the Joyful, the Sorrowful, the Glorious. When people speak of “saying the rosary” they usually mean saying any set of five (which takes about fifteen minutes) rather than the recitation of all fifteen mysteries.

Meditation is Key

When Catholics recite the twelve prayers that form a decade of the rosary, they meditate on the mystery associated with that decade. Meditation is the key to unlocking the power of the rosary. Merely reciting the prayers, while a good start misses the essence of the rosary. Without meditation, the rosary can be boring and repetitive. Christ forbade meaningless repetition (Matt. 6:7), but the Bible itself prescribes some prayers that involve repetition. Look at Psalms 136, which is a litany (a prayer with a recurring refrain) meant to be sung in the Jewish Temple. In the psalm, the refrain is “His mercy endures forever.” Sometimes in Psalms 136, the refrain starts before a sentence is finished, meaning it is more repetitious than the rosary, though this prayer was written directly under the inspiration of God.

Why Pray

Many great popes, saints, and Christian leaders have exhorted us to pray the rosary. It’s a powerful prayer, they say, one that can change your life, strengthen the family, bring peace to the world, convert entire nations, and win the salvation of souls. When we pray the rosary in its ideal setting, doing a whole set of mysteries, the prayer can slow us down, calm our hearts, and enable us to rest in God’s presence. It draws out the deepest desires in our souls, desires for God and God alone. It is truly Christ-centered prayer. Many Protestants now say the rosary, recognizing it as a truly biblical form of prayer—after all, the prayers that comprise it comes mainly from the Bible.

Purpose

The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation and to thank and praise God for them. While some worry about the repetitive nature of the rosary, God knows what he is doing. The rhythm of the repetitious prayers can have a profound spiritual effect. In this, it is much like the traditional “Jesus Prayer” many early Christians recited: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” They would slowly repeat these words repeatedly throughout the day, such that the rhythm of this prayer was linked to the rhythm of their breathing.

As John Paul II explained, this loving repetition “embodies the desire for Christ to become the breath, soul and all of one’s life”  In the same way, the repeated prayers in the rosary help us get more in touch with the deepest desires in our souls for God.

St. Catherine of Siena taught that the greatest gift we can give to God in prayer is not the finite work of saying the words but our “infinitely desirous love” for God expressed in those words being drawn out of our souls in prayer. To get closer than ever, we encourage a reading of Edward Sri's book "Praying The Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the wonder of heaven and earth."

The Mysteries

Joyful Mystery	Sorrowful Mystery	Glorious Mystery	Luminous
The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary Luke 1:26-38	The Agony of Jesus in the Garden Matt. 26:36-46	The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Luke 24:1-12	The Baptism in the Jordan Matt. 3:13
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth Luke 1:40-56	The Scourging at the Pillar Matt. 27:26	The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven Luke 24:50-51	The Wedding at Cana John 2
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Luke 2:6-20	Jesus is Crowned with Thorns Matt. 27:29	The Descent of the Holy Ghost Acts 2:1-4	The Proclamation of the Kingdom Mark 1:14-15
The Presentation of our Lord Luke 2:21-39	Jesus Carried the Cross John 19:17	The Assumption of Mary into Heaven Rev. 12	The Transfiguration Matt 17:1
Finding Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:41-51	The Crucifixion of our Lord Luke 23:33-46	Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth Rev. 12:1	The Institution of the Eucharist John 6:35

How to Pray The Rosary

The following example uses the Joyful Mysteries. The custom is to pray each set of mysteries on the days of the week indicated -- but that is just a custom.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostle's 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, and 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 Spririt, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
2. Say 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.
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
   • 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.
4. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
   • Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
   • The time for the Incarnation is at hand.
     Of all women, God prepared Mary from her conception to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
   • The Angel Gabriel announces: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee."
   • Mary wonders at this salutation.
   • The Angel assures her; "Fear not...you shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son."
   • Mary is trouble for she has made a vow of virginity.
   • The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and her Son will be called the Son of God.
   • The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent.
   • Mary answers; "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word."
     The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
6. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
8. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
   • Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age...for nothing is impossible with God.
     Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her need.
     The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty miles requiring four or five days.
     Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears with her the Incarnate Word.
     At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his mother's womb.
   • Elizabeth exclaims; "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
     "How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
     Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."
   • Mary replies: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."
   • Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the birth of John the Baptist.
9. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
10. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
11. Announce the Third Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
    • Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caesar Augustus.
      The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in the inn.
      In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a cave, Mary remaining a Virgin.
      She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.
      In unspeakable joy, Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her virginity.
      Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly things.
    • The angel announces to the shepherds: "Today there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord."
    • The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth."
    • The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant Jesus.
    • The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.
12. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
13. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
14. Announce the Fourth Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
    • Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family should be consecrated to the Lord.
      Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the price paid by the poor. Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach obediance, submits to it. Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility, she submits to it.
      God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah.
    • Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word."
    • "This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed."
    • And to Mary Simeon reveals: "And your own soul a sword shall pierce."
    • After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth.
15. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
16. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
17. Announce the Fifth Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
    • When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus. At the end of the first day's journey, they discover Jesus is missing. His parents return immediately looking for Him, and This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph.
      On the third day, they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom.
    • Mary: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow."
    • Jesus: "Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
    • Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them.
      Mary keeps all these things in her heart.
18. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
19. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
20. Mysteries in the same manner.