Pray the Rosary
What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is taken from the Latin word “rosarium” which means “crown of roses” or “garland of roses.” For Catholics, the Rosary is a form of prayer that we use along with its prayer beads. The strand of prayer beads used to recite this prayer is also called a “rosary.”
Over more than four centuries, several popes have promoted the Rosary as part of the veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church, and consisting essentially in meditation on the life of Christ. The rosary also represents the emphasis on “participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ”, and the Mariological theme “to Christ through Mary”.
What do the various Mysteries of the Rosary mean?
The Mysteries of the Rosary are meditations on episodes in the life and death of Jesus from the Annunciation to the Ascension and beyond.
These are traditionally grouped by fives into themed sets known as the Joyful (or Joyous) Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries.
In 2002, the then Pope John Paul II (later Saint John Paul) recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries (or the “Mysteries of Light”) in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in which we contemplate Jesus’ public life.
Why Pray the Rosary?
Devotion to the Rosary is one of the most distinguishable features of Catholic spirituality. The Rosary inspires us to meditate on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary. Meditation is an important part of our lives as Catholics.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, meditation “engages thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This mobilisation of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart and strengthen our will to follow Christ.”
Who started Praying the Rosary?
The Rosary of the Virgin Mary is a prayer recommended by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church; it has within itself the depth of the whole Gospel message, of which it can be said to be a summary.
According to pious tradition, the idea of the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic when the Virgin Mary appeared to him in an apparition in the year 1214. This Marian apparition is given the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The Dominican priest and theologian Blessed Alanus de Rupe promoted the practice of the Rosary by establishing the “fifteen rosary promises” and founding several rosary confraternities ….. “When you say your Rosary, the angels rejoice, the Blessed Trinity delights in it, my Son finds joy in it too, and I myself am happier than you can possibly guess. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is nothing in the Church that I love as much as the Rosary.”
Why is Praying the Rosary considered a devotion?
The Church believes that the Blessed Mother of God continues exercising her maternal office in Heaven, so it is natural for Christians to turn to her to ask her for their needs and entrust their concerns to her.
Numerous Popes have attributed great importance to this prayer: Leo XIII promulgated the encyclical Supremi Apostolatus Officio, a document of great importance, the first of his many statements on this prayer, in which he proposes the Rosary as an effective spiritual weapon against the evils afflicting society. John Paul II wrote a letter on October 16, 2002 called Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in which he proclaimed a Year of the Rosary and commented on the beauty of this prayer, which helps us “contemplate Christ with Mary.”
When & where do we Pray the Rosary?
One of the wonderful things about this traditional form of prayer is its versatility. No matter where you are, how much time you have, who you’re with or what you pray for – the Rosary always offers you a way to pray.
How do we pray the Rosary?
The Rosary begins with the Sign of the Cross. At the beginning of each decade, one of the five mysteries contemplated that day is announced.
On Mondays and Saturdays, the joyful mysteries are contemplated; on Tuesdays and Fridays, the sorrowful mysteries; on Thursdays, the mysteries of light; and on Wednesdays and Sundays, the glorious mysteries. Each mystery is composed of an Our Father, ten Hail Mary’s and a Glory Be.
When the five mysteries have been prayed, the Litany of the Virgin, prayers of praise to our Mother, are recited. According to the traditions of different places, to this basic structure of praying the Rosary are added some invocations and prayers that express the richness of popular piety.