Rosary

The Holy Rosary

The Rosary is an old prayer that is always new, leading us to Jesus through Mary. It has been well known around the 12^th century that the praying of the Rosary became a popular devotion, where people with this devotion to Mary kept counting their prayers on a string of beads.

The Blessed Mother urged everyone to pray the Rosary during her apparitions at Fatima, Portugal. She called herself the “Lady of the Rosary”, and promised that the Rosary would help people grow in their faith, convert sinners, and bring about the world peace.

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7^th when all are invited to meditate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was so particularly connected with the incarnation, Passion and Glorious Resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

praying the Rosary and reflecting on the following mysteries of our Salvation

Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation:

’And the angel said to her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Blessed are you among women…. And the Angel said to her: Fear not Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bring forth a son. And you shall name Him Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most high; and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of David, His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of his Kingdom, there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:28, 30-32).

2. The Visitation:

Having been told that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a child in her old age, Mary went with haste to visit and help her cousin. ‘When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my God should come to me?” (Luke 1:41-43).

3. The Nativity of our Lord:

She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. The Angel said to the shepherds: Fear not, for behold I bring forth good tidings of great joy, …. For this day, is born to you a savior, who is Christ the Lord. … “ (Luke 2:7, 10-11).

4. The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple:

After her days of purification, according to the law of Moses, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord, ….. and offer a sacrifice, according to the law of the Lord. (Luke 2:22-24).

5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple:

And it came to pass, that after, after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him… His mother said to Him: Son, why did you this to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing.” (Luke 2:46-48)

Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River:

The disciple John saw Jesus coming toward him, and proclaimed, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana:

“Jesus did this (miraculously transformed water into wine) as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him”. (John 2:11)

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God:

“Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”(John 20:22-23)

4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord:

“And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.” (Matthew 17:2)

5. The Last Supper and Institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist:

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays) Scriptural Reflections:

1. The Agony in the Garden:

He went, according to His custom, to the Mount of Olives, and kneeling down, He prayed… and his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. … Then Judas drew near to Jesus, to kiss Him. And Jesus said to him: Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a Kiss?” (Luke 22:39, 41, 44, 47-48)

2. The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar:

"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.” (John 19:1).

"Jesus is bound to a pillar and cruelly scourged.

He was wounded for our infirmities. He was bruised for our sins: The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruises we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).

3. The Crowning with Thorns:

“And stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak on him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail King of the Jews. And spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.” (Matthew 27:28-31).

4. The Carrying of the Cross:

Jesus, condemned to death, carries the cross to Calvary. “Pilate said, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caeser. Then, therefore he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him forth. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:15-17)

5. The Crucifixion of Our Lord:

Jesus is crucified and hangs on the Cross for three hours, suffering an ignominious death. He dies in order to save us from death. …” They crucified Him and with Him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title and he put it upon the Cross. And the writing was: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:18-19).

“And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in two. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father into thy hands I commend My spirit. And saying this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 24:44-46)

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection:

And early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulcher… and looking, they saw the stone rolled back.. and entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man.. clothed in white, who said to them: be not frightened, you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: He is risen, He is not here…. But go, tell His disciples…” (Mark16:2, 4-7).

“And it was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women… who told these things to the apostles.” (Luke 24:10)

2. The Ascension: …

”He said to them… you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem,… and even to the ends of the earth. When He had said this, while they looked on, He was raised up, and while they were looking up, they saw Him going up to heaven, and behold two men stood by them in white garments who said: Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall come again in glory, just as you have seen Him going to Heaven…” (Acts 1:7-11).

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles:

“And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it rested upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1-4)

4. The Assumption of Mary:

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother is taken body and soul into heaven.

5. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth:

The Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is Mother of all and Mediatrix of all graces…. “A great sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman clothes with the sun, and the moon was under Her feet, and on Her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1)

Adapting the Mysteries of the Rosary

The following text from the Directory illustrates the nature of the Rosary and the faithful's freedom with respect to the distribution of the mysteries:

"197. The Rosary, or Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the most excellent prayers to the Mother of God. Thus, 'the Roman Pontiffs have repeatedly exhorted the faithful to the frequent recitation of this biblically inspired prayer which is centered on contemplation of the salvific events of Christ's life, and their close association with the his Virgin Mother. The value and efficacy of this prayer have often been attested by saintly Bishops and those advanced in holiness of life.'

"The Rosary is essentially a contemplative prayer, which requires 'tranquility of rhythm or even a mental lingering which encourages the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life.' Its use is expressly recommended in the formation and spiritual life of clerics and religious.

How to Pray the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation

2. The Visitation

3. The Nativity of our Lord

4. The Presentation

5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple.

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays) Scriptural Reflections:

1. The Agony in the Garden

2. The Scourging of Jesus

3. The Crowning with Thorns

4. The Carrying of the Cross

5. The Crucifixion of Our Lord.

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection of the Lord

2. The Ascension of the Lord

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

4. The Assumption of Mary

5. The Coronation of Mary.

Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays) Scriptural Reflections

1. The Baptism of Jesus

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom

4. The Transfiguration

5. The Institution of the Eucharist.

"199. With due regard for the nature of the rosary, some suggestions can now be made which could make it more meditative and wholesome:

"On certain occasions, the recitation of the Rosary could be made more solemn in tone 'by introducing those Scriptural passages corresponding with the various mysteries, some parts could be sung, roles could be distributed, and by solemnly opening and closing of prayer.'

"200. Those who recite a third of the Rosary sometimes assign the various mysteries to particular days. [Following Pope John Paul II, these are now: joyful (Monday and Saturday), sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday), glorious (Wednesday and Sunday), luminous (Thursday).]

"Where this system is rigidly adhered to, conflict can arise between the content of the mysteries and that of the Liturgy of the day: the recitation of the sorrowful mysteries on Christmas day, should it fall on a Friday. In cases such as this it can be reckoned that 'the liturgical character of a given day takes precedence over the usual assignment of a mystery of the Rosary to a given day; the Rosary is such that, on particular days, it can appropriately substitute meditation on a mystery so as to harmonize this pious practice with the liturgical season.' Hence, the faithful act correctly when, for example, they contemplate the arrival of the three Kings on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, rather than the finding of Jesus in the Temple. Clearly, such substitutions can only take place after much careful thought, adherence to Sacred Scripture and liturgical propriety.

Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University, answers some of the frequently asked questions on this related topic in (Zenit.org), Rome, Dec. 22, 2009. Please read the attachment file below.

The Holy Rosary, the Prayer of the Pilgrim Church on earth

The recitation or praying of the Rosary concludes with the Litany giving praise and glory to God, the Father for all the wonders of Salvation He has done for us through the merits of Life, Death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit; The Church joins with Mary, our Blessed Mother invoking her to intercede for us before Her son so that we may be found worthy of the Promises of Christ.

The Church urges us to pray the Rosary everyday. It is a recommendation to every family to make time to gather together and pray together, to have at least a meal together. It is an exemplary practise to pray diligently as a family together before dinner or after but before retiring for the night. It takes about a good fifteen to twenty minutes to pray together. We could surely find fifteen to twenty minutes in our day for the good of our family, can't we?

A family that prays together, stays together!

Attachment	Size
Adapting the Mysteries of the Rosary	25.75 KB
The Birth of Our Lord in Bethlehem	214.02 KB
A Son is Given to Us	61.19 KB
The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple	99.11 KB
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple	73.14 KB
The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan	87.3 KB
The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane	75.29 KB
The Crucifixion and the Death of Lord	59.93 KB
The Resurrection of the Lord	83.89 KB