THE HOLY ROSARY
(According to information obtained from the Vatican’s website.)
The Rosary is made up of twenty "mysteries" (significant events or moments in the life of Jesus and Mary), which, following the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, are grouped into four series.
The first contains joyful mysteries (recited on Mondays and Saturdays); the second, the mysteries of light (Thursdays); the third, the sorrowful mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays); and the fourth, the glorious mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays).
"This indication is not intended to limit a rightful freedom in personal and community prayer, where account needs to be taken of spiritual and pastoral needs and of the occurrence of particular liturgical celebrations which might call for suitable adaptations" (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 38).
How to pray the Rosary?
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
O God come to my aid;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.
At the beginning of each decade, announce the "mystery" to be contemplated, for example, the first joyful mystery is "The Annunciation".
After a short pause for reflection, recite the "Our Father", ten "Hail Marys" and the "Glory be to the Father".
An invocation may be added after each decade.
At the end of the Rosary, the Loreto Litany or some other Marian prayer is recited.
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 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.
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 Litany of Loreto
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, 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. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
JOYFUL MYSTERIES
The Annunciation
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary" (Lk 1:26-27).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Second Joyful Mystery:
The Visitation
"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"' (Lk 1:39-42).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Third Joyful Mystery:
The Birth of Our Lord
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Lk 2:1-7).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fourth Joyful Mystery:
The Presentation in the Temple
"And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord') and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons"' (Lk 2:21-24).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fifth Joyful Mystery:
The finding of Jesus in the temple
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it ...
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (Lk 2:41-47).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
MYSTERIES OF LIGHT
The Baptism in the Jordan.
"And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, 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"' (Mt 3:16-17).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Second Mystery of Light:
The wedding feast of Cana.
"On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you"' (Jn 2:1-5).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Third Mystery of Light:
The proclamation of the kingdom of God.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mk 1:15).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fourth Mystery of Light:
The Transfiguration.
"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light" (Mt 17:1-2).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fifth Mystery of Light:
The institution of the Eucharist.
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body"' (Mt 26:26).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
First Sorrowful Mystery:
The agony in the Garden.
"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will"' (Mt 26:36-39).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Second Sorrowful Mystery:
The scourging at the pillar.
"Pilate released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified" (Mt 27,26).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Third Sorrowful Mystery:
The crowning with thorns.
"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!"' (Mt 27:27-29).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery:
The carrying of the cross.
"And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull)" (Mk 15:21-22).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery:
The crucifixion.
"And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' ...
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last" (Lk 23:33-46).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
First Glorious Mystery:
The Resurrection of the Lord.
"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen"' (Lk 24:1-5).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Second Glorious Mystery:
The Ascension.
"So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God" (Mk 16:19).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Third Glorious Mystery:
The descent of the Holy Spirit.
"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fourth Glorious Mystery:
The Assumption.
"Henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me" (Lk 1:48-49).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.
Fifth Glorious Mystery:
The crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
"And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rev 12:1 ).
Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.