Saturday, June 9, 2012

                                                            THE ROSARY

The Rosary is a Marian prayer that depicts the Biblical life of Jesus.Pope John Paul II calls the Rosary a "compendium of the Gospel message" in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, published October 16, 2002. The 5 Mysteries of Light or the Luminous Mysteries were added to the traditional Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries with the publication of this Apostolic Letter.
The Rosary was once thought to originate from the ancient prayer or worry beads of the Middle East and Asia, although those beads largely have 33 beads. Others point to prayer beads that were used to count the 150 Psalms. But it was St. Dominic in 1208 who began to spread devotion to the Rosary.
Domingo de Guzman was a Spanish preacher who went to southern France to preserve the faith against the Albigensian heresy. In 1208 while he was praying for three days in a chapel in Prouille, Dominic saw Mary, who gave him the Rosary and taught him how to pray the Rosary. St. Dominic founded the Dominican Friars, and established monasteries all over the world. The heresy ended during his lifetime. The most famous Dominican was St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), one of greatest theologians of the Catholic Church, the author of Summa Theologica.
The Blessed Mother also gave 15 reassuring promises to St. Dominic for those who faithfully recite the rosary: (1) Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces. (2) I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary. (3) The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies. (4) It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. (5) The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish. (6) Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life. (7) Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. (8) Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise. (9) I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. (10) The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven. (11) You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary. (12) All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. (13) I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death. (14) All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ. (15) Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
In addition, the Blessed Virgin Mary, during an appearance on December 10, 1925 to Sister Lucy, one of the Fatima children, promised the graces necessary for salvation at the hour of death to all those who, for five first Saturdays in a row, went to Confession, Mass, Communion, recited the Rosary, and kept her company for 15 minutes while meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to the Blessed Mother.


 
 
The 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 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 to the dead, the third day he arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth 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.



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.




Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are 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 Prayer

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.




The Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, please forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.




Prayers at The Conclusion


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 towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Oh clement, Oh loving, Oh sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, Oh Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let Us Pray

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, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen



Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the other evil spirits, who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.



Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come; before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in Your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen. (You may make your petition here).









The Mysteries of the Rosary



The Mysteries of the Rosary trace key events in the Biblical life of Jesus.
The Traditional 15 Mysteries are divided up into 3 groups of five each, the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. The Joyful Mysteries were said Mondays and Thursdays, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays (and daily during Lent), and the Glorious Mysteries were said Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The new Mysteries of Light, or the Luminous Mysteries, form the fourth group of Mysteries of the Rosary. Looking at the life of Jesus, the Mysteries of Light would fall between the Joyful and Sorrowful mysteries. Pope John Paul II suggests moving the second meditation of the Joyful mysteries to Saturday and praying the Mysteries of Light on Thursday, but respects the "rightful freedom in personal and community prayer." We often pray the new Mysteries of Light on Sunday. Some say 15 mysteries of the Rosaries at one sitting, going around the Rosary beads three times, choosing 3 of the 4 groups.







The Joyful Mysteries




The Joyful Mysteries recount the Announcement, Birth, and Childhood of Jesus.




The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation, recalling the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear a son conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38).
Fruit of the Mystery: Humility

Bartolome Esteban Murillo of Seville, Spain - The Annunciation to Mary, Museo del Prado, Madrid, 1660.

The Second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation, recalling Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45).
Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor

Ubaldo Gandolfi - The Visitation of Mary to her Cousin Elizabeth, Bologna, 1767.

The Third Joyful Mystery is the Nativity, the Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:4-7).
Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty

Ubaldo Gandolfi - The Nativity, Bologna, 1768.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of the Child Jesus (Luke 2:22-24).
Fruit of the Mystery: Obedience

Philippe de Champaigne - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

The Fifth Joyful Mystery recounts the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:40-52).
Fruit of the Mystery: Joy in Finding Jesus

Paolo Veronese - The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple


The Mysteries of Light or the Luminous Mysteries

The Mysteries of Light recall events in the Life of Christ which brought Light into our world.

The First Mystery of Light is the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17).
Fruit of the Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit

Guido Reni - Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, 1623, Vienna

The Second Mystery of Light is Jesus at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-12).
Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through Mary

Garofalo - The Marriage Feast at Cana, Rome, 1531.

The Third Mystery of Light is Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God with a call to conversion (Mark 1:15).
Fruit of the Mystery: Repentance and Trust in God

Divine Mercy Image.

The Fourth Mystery of Light is the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36).
Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness

Raphael - The Transfiguration of Jesus, 1579, Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican, 1519.

The Fifth Mystery of Light is the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and parallels).
Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration

Juan de Juanes of Valencia, Spain - The Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Museo del Prado, Madrid, 1560.


The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sorrowful Mysteries recall the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus.

The First Sorrowful Mystery is the Agony in the Garden, when his trusted friends, the Apostles fell asleep, leaving him all alone (Mark 14:32-42).
Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin

Botticelli - Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.



The Second Sorrowful Mystery is the Scourging at the Pillar at the order of Pontius Pilate (John 19:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Purity

William Adolphe Bouguereau - The Scourging at the Pillar, La Rochelle Cathedral, France, 1880.



The Third Sorrowful Mystery is the Crowning of Thorns (John 19:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Courage

Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio - Jesus Crowned with Thorns, National Gallery, London, 1525.



The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery recalls Jesus' Carrying of the Cross (Luke 23:26-27).
Fruit of the Mystery: Patience

Raphael - Christ Falls on the Way to Calvary, Prado, Madrid.



The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (Matthew 27:33-54).
Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance

Mark Haddad - The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Courtesy of Cross Publications, Savannah, Georgia, copyright 2002.




The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

The Glorious Mysteries recount the Resurrection of Jesus and the beginning of the Church.


The First Glorious Mystery is the Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16:1-8).
Fruit of the Mystery: Faith

Pieter Paul Rubens - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Cathedral of Antwerp, Belgium, 1612.



The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Luke 24:50-53).
Fruit of the Mystery: Hope

Garofalo - The Ascension of Christ,  Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome, 1515.



The Third Glorious Mystery is the Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1-4).
Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God

Jean Restout - The Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), Musee du Louvre, Paris, 1732.



The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Revelation 12:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death

Bartolome Esteban Murillo - The Assumption of Mary, Seville, Spain, 1670.



The Fifth Glorious Mystery is the Coronation of Mary as the Queen of Heaven (Revelation 12:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in Mary's Intercession

Diego Velazquez - The Coronation of the Virgin
The Glorious Mysteries recount the Resurrection of Jesus and the beginning of the Church.


The First Glorious Mystery is the Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16:1-8).
Fruit of the Mystery: Faith

Pieter Paul Rubens - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Cathedral of Antwerp, Belgium, 1612.



The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Luke 24:50-53).
Fruit of the Mystery: Hope

Garofalo - The Ascension of Christ,  Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome, 1515.



The Third Glorious Mystery is the Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1-4).
Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God

Jean Restout - The Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), Musee du Louvre, Paris, 1732.



The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Revelation 12:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death

Bartolome Esteban Murillo - The Assumption of Mary, Seville, Spain, 1670.



The Fifth Glorious Mystery is the Coronation of Mary as the Queen of Heaven (Revelation 12:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in Mary's Intercession

Diego Velazquez - The Coronation of the Virgin


 
















































































Mother mary of parel