Praying the Rosary
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The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Where does the word come from? It comes from a Latin word Rosaria, which means a crown of roses or a garden of roses.
It grew up in the second millennium of Christianity, particularly in Western Christianity around the 14th century. It's attributed to Saint Dominic.
The Rosary is a sequence of prayers. St John Paul II said, "it's a compendium of the Gospel and it's intended to help us grow in our faith as we come to understand more and more about the life, the death, the resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ, and about the Church and who we are in the Lord."
That's why the way to view the Rosary is as a time of meditation. We meditate on the great mysteries of the faith.
As we pray the rosary we meditate on the events of Our Lord's life and Passion, which are called Mysteries.
The repetition of the prayers assists in this meditation. The rosary, in essence, is a compendium of the Gospel and leads us, through the intercession of Our Lady, to contemplate Jesus Christ. -
How to Pray the Rosary1a. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1b. 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 Ghost, 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, 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
2. 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 3 Hail Marys
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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. Glory be to the Father
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.
5. Announce the First Mystery
Then say the Our Father (2).
6. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
Say ten Hail Marys (3), while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Glory be to the Father
After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: "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."
8. Announce the Second Mystery
Then say the Our Father (2). Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.
9. 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 vale 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! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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Daily Mystery Meditations
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The Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
And when the angel had come to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women."
(Luke 1:28)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Humility
The Visitation
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice:
"Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb."
(Luke 1:41-42)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Love of Neighbor
The Birth of Jesus
She gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes
and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged.
(Luke 2:7)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Poverty
The Presentation
When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses,
the couple brought Him up to Jerusalem so that He could be presented to the Lord,
for it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord.”
(Luke 2:22-23)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Obedience
Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple
On the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
(Luke 2:46)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Joy in Finding Jesus
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The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
In His anguish He prayed with all the greater intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood
falling to the ground. Then He rose from prayer and came to His disciples,
only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief.
(Luke 22:44-45)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Sorrow for Sin
The Scourging at the Pillar
Pilate’s next move was to take Jesus and have Him scourged.
(John 19:1)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Purity
Crowning with Thorns
They stripped off His clothes and wrapped Him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on His head, and stuck a reed in His right hand …
(Matthew 27:28-29)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Courage
Carrying of the Cross
… carrying the cross by Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull
(in Hebrew, Golgotha)
(John 19:17)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Patience
The Crucifixion
Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.”
After He said this, He expired.
(Luke 23:46)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Perseverance
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The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection
You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified.
He has been raised up; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
(Mark 16:6)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Faith
The Ascension
Then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into Heaven
and took His seat at God’s right hand.
(Mark 16:19)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Hope
Descent of the Holy Spirit
All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues
and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.
(Acts 2:4)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Love of God
The Assumption
You are the glory of Jerusalem … you are the splendid boast of our people …
God is pleased with what you have wrought.
May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever.
(Judith 15:9-10)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Grace of a Happy Death
The Coronation
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
(Revelation 12:1)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Trust in Mary’s Intercession
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The Luminous Mysteries
Baptism of Jesus
And when Jesus was baptized, … the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and alighting on Him, and lo, a voice from heaven, saying
"this is My beloved Son,” with whom I am well pleased."
(Matthew 3:16-17)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Openness to the Holy Spirit
Wedding at Cana
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." … Jesus said to them,
"Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
(John 2:5-7)
Fruit of the Mystery:
To Jesus through Mary
Proclaiming the Kingdom
"And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
You received without pay, give without pay."
(Matthew 10:7-8)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Repentance and Trust in God
Transfiguration
And as He was praying, the appearance of His countenance was altered
and His raiment become dazzling white. And a voice came out of the cloud saying,
"This is My Son, My chosen; listen to Him!"
(Luke 9:29, 35)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Desire for Holiness
Institution of the Eucharist
And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying,
"This is My body which is given for you." … And likewise the cup after supper, saying,
"This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."
(Luke 22:19-20)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Adoration
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The Sorrowful MysteriesThe Agony in the Garden
In His anguish He prayed with all the greater intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood
falling to the ground. Then He rose from prayer and came to His disciples,
only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief.
(Luke 22:44-45)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Sorrow for SinThe Scourging at the Pillar
Pilate’s next move was to take Jesus and have Him scourged.
(John 19:1)
Fruit of the Mystery:
PurityCrowning with Thorns
They stripped off His clothes and wrapped Him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on His head, and stuck a reed in His right hand …
(Matthew 27:28-29)
Fruit of the Mystery:
CourageCarrying of the Cross
… carrying the cross by Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull
(in Hebrew, Golgotha)
(John 19:17)
Fruit of the Mystery:
PatienceThe Crucifixion
Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.”
After He said this, He expired.
(Luke 23:46)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Perseverance
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The Joyful MysteriesThe Annunciation
And when the angel had come to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women."
(Luke 1:28)
Fruit of the Mystery:
HumilityThe Visitation
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice:
"Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb."
(Luke 1:41-42)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Love of NeighborThe Birth of Jesus
She gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes
and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged.
(Luke 2:7)
Fruit of the Mystery:
PovertyThe Presentation
When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses,
the couple brought Him up to Jerusalem so that He could be presented to the Lord,
for it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord.”
(Luke 2:22-23)
Fruit of the Mystery:
ObedienceFinding the Child Jesus in the Temple
On the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
(Luke 2:46)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Joy in Finding Jesus
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The Glorious MysteriesThe Resurrection
You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified.
He has been raised up; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
(Mark 16:6)
Fruit of the Mystery:
FaithThe Ascension
Then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into Heaven
and took His seat at God’s right hand.
(Mark 16:19)
Fruit of the Mystery:
HopeDescent of the Holy Spirit
All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues
and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.
(Acts 2:4)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Love of GodThe Assumption
You are the glory of Jerusalem … you are the splendid boast of our people …
God is pleased with what you have wrought.
May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever.
(Judith 15:9-10)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Grace of a Happy DeathThe Coronation
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
(Revelation 12:1)
Fruit of the Mystery:
Trust in Mary’s Intercession
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