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 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 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 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
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
The Third Joyful Mystery is the Nativity, the Birth of Our Lord (Luke
2:4-7). Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty
The Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of the Child Jesus (Luke
2:22-24). Fruit of the Mystery: Obedience
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
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
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
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
The Fourth Mystery of Light is the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke
9:28-36). Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for
Holiness
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
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
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
The Third Sorrowful Mystery is the Crowning of Thorns (John 19:1-6).
Fruit of the Mystery: Courage
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery recalls Jesus' Carrying of the Cross (Luke
23:26-27). Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
(Matthew 27:33-54). Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance
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
The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Luke
24:50-53). Fruit of the Mystery: Hope
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
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of Mary into Heaven
(Revelation 12:1-6). Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy
Death
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
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
The Second Glorious Mystery is the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Luke
24:50-53). Fruit of the Mystery: Hope
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
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is the Assumption of Mary into Heaven
(Revelation 12:1-6). Fruit of the Mystery: Grace of a Happy
Death
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
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