| Praying the Holy Rosary
Praying the Rosary brings with it many benefits.
It destroys vice and greatly strengthens a person's faith. The Rosary
is a wonderful devotion, combining spoken prayers with
meditation of the lives of Jesus and Mary. It is meant to be said every day
and, through regular use, bring the believer to a state where he or
she is ever mindful of prayer or, as some like to put it, constantly in
a state of prayer. A Rosary has several parts to
it, as seen in the diagram below. At the bottom,
there is a crucifix, then a short string of
beads and then a large circle of beads. Prayers are said for the
crucifix and on each bead. It is good to offer up Rosary for some
intention. Our Lady of Fatima asked us to say a daily Rosary for world
peace and the conversion of sinners.
Our Holy Father himself prays
all four (4) mysteries of the Rosary daily, offering his prayers for
the salvation and peace.
How To Pray the Rosary
Today is Sunday, and so the Glorious mystery should be used.
 1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be."
5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
6. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the "Glory Be," then say the "Fatima Prayer."
8. Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in
the same manner.
9. Say the "Hail Holy Queen."
Religious devotion, public or private, for the duration of nine days
to gain special graces, is called a Novena. Those who perform it with
a lively hope of having their request granted, and with perfect faith
and resignation if it be refused, may be assured that Christ will
grant some grace or blessing. This requires an understanding that in
His infinite wisdom and mercy, He may refuse the particular favor
which is requested.
Novenas originated in imitation of the Apostles who were gathered
together in prayer for nine days from the time of Our Lord's Ascension
(to Heaven) until Pentecost Sunday (the descent of the Holy Spirit).
This practice of saying the Rosary nine times in the form of the
Rosary Novena in petition or thanksgiving, is another way of heeding
Our Lady's request to Pray the Rosary.
The 54 Day Novena Devotion which originated in 1884 at the Sanctuary
of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, consists of the daily recitation
of five decades of the Rosary. Pray through the complete cycle
(one complete Mystery: Joyful,
Luminous, Sorrowful,
or Glorious) for twenty-seven days in petition
and five decades for twenty-seven additional days in thanksgiving.
Three Novenas will be offered in petition for a particular favor and
three Novenas in thanksgiving for a particular favor.
1st day say the 5 Joyful Mysteries
2nd day say the 5 Luminous Mysteries
3rd day say the 5 Sorrowful Mysteries
4th day say the 5 Glorious Mysteries
5th day say the 5 Joyful Mysteries,
beginning the cycle again
Prayers of the Rosary
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles 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 into hell; the third day
He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated
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 (Pater Noster)
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
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.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and
lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our
hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we
send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn
then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after
this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O
clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, Holy Mother of God.
R. 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 you, that we who meditate on these mysteries of the most
holy Rosary of the blessed Virgin Mary, may both imitate what they
contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our
Lord. Amen
Mysteries of the Rosary
Joyful
(Mondays and Saturdays)
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1.
Annunciation -
Luke 1:26-28 Remember the humbleness of the Blessed Virgin Mary when the
Angel Gabriel greeted her with these words: "Hail, Full of Grace".
The angels recognize her holiness! Remember her immediate
acceptance of God's will for her life, even though she didn't
understand how it could possibly happen. It makes perfect sense
that she, a consecrated virgin, would ask how she could have a
child! And she knew that she would be suspected of adultery, and
possibly killed! Yet, she trusts God completely. Let Mary's words
"let it be done to me according to your Word" become your own
prayer, always.
Fruit of the Mystery: Humility
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2.
Visitation -
Luke 1:39-45
Remember that Our Lord was fully present in Mary's
womb from the moment the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. When Mary
showed her love and charity by visiting her cousin Elizabeth and
remaining with her for three months before the birth of John the
Baptist, it was an opportunity for grace, for Elizabeth, as well.
Remember how Elizabeth responded to grace, and showed her faith,
and recall the joy of the child John, who leaped in her womb, in
the presence of Our Lord. When we show love and kindness to
others, we not only receive grace, we can help others respond to
grace as well. Through Immaculate Mary, you can become an
instrument for God's grace in the world.
Fruit of the Mystery: Charity
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3.
Nativity -
Luke 2:1-20
Remember the poverty, so lovingly accepted by Mary when she placed
the Infant Jesus, our God and Redeemer, Lord of Lords, King of
Kings, in a stone manger in a tiny stable in Bethlehem. The angels
appeared first not to kings or the Wise Men, but to shepherds
guarding their flocks in a cold dark field. "Glord to God in the
Highest", indeed! God did not come to us as "royalty", but as one
of us. He is hidden, he hides himself in the lowly; those
individuals whom most people despise. Think of it. Jesus said: "I
was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never
gave me to drink, I was lonely and you never came to visit me,
etc." When others asked him when all this occurred, he said: "As
long as you neglected the least of my brothers, you neglected me."
Fruit of the Mystery: Poverty, or detachment from the world
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4.
Presentation -
Luke 2:22-40
Mary's obedience to the law of God in presenting
the Child Jesus in the Temple. She was obedient in all things.
Think also of the prophets Simeon and Anna, who were obedient to
God's promise to them, and went to the Temple every day, for many
years, waiting to see the Messiah. Many people would have given
up, waiting so very long. But Simeon and Anna, these holy prophets
of God, were steadfast in their trust. Finally, each of them saw
the child at the Temple, and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and
rejoiced! Their faithfulness and trust in God were rewarded!
Fruit of the Mystery: Obedience, Purity of Heart
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5.
Finding in the Temple -
Luke 2:41-52
I desire Trust in the sure knowledge that
we are safe within the Will of God
"How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be
about My Father's business?" This is the answer that Jesus gave to
His Mother when, after three days' of what must have been frantic
searching, she and Joseph had the joy of finding their Child in
the Temple. In these words Jesus sums up His whole person, His
whole life, His whole mission. They reveal His Divine Sonship;
they testify to His supernatural mission. Christ's whole life will
only be a clarifying and magnificent exposition of the meaning of
these words. St. Luke goes on to tell us that Mary "did not
understand the word that He spoke." But even if Mary did not grasp
the full significance of these words, she did not doubt that Jesus
was the Son of God. This is why she submitted in silence to that
Divine Will which had demanded such a sacrifice of her love. "Mary
kept these words of Jesus carefully in her heart." She kept them
in her heart, for there was the tabernacle in which she adored the
mystery concealed in the words of he Son, waiting until the full
light of understanding would be granted her.
Fruit of the Mystery: Joy in Finding Jesus, Piety
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Sorrowful
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
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1.
Agony in the Garden -
Matthew 26:36-44
Remember how Our Precious Lord Jesus went to the Garden of
Gethsemane, to pray. Remember how He wept, seeing our sins, with a
sweat of blood breaking out on His gentle brow. How awful, such a
bitter agony for our sins! Think of Him, alone in the dark, facing
His death, a sacrifice he makes willingly for us, yet in agony
already. He weeps not for the pain to come, but because of the
pain of our sins, which he will bear, lovingly, to the Cross.
Jesus said to St. Faustina: "I am Love and Mercy itself. When a
soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of
graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates
them to other souls." Let us blend our own tears with those of Our
Savior, for the sins of the world. Let us repent of our own sins,
and pray for the conversion of the whole world.
Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for our Sins
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2.
Scourging at the Pillar -
Matthew 27:24-26
Remember the cruel scourging at the pillar that our Lord
suffered. The whips the Romans used were tipped with sharp metal,
which tore at the flesh, often right down to the bone. They beat
Our Beloved Lord, He who was wholly innocent of any sin, tearing
open His flesh, wracking Him with pain. Silently He suffered
without a word, for us. Let us reflect on the pain that our
impurity causes Our Dear Lord. Lord, let us feel our hearts being
filled with Your love and let the rays of Your mercy and love
pierce our souls. Help us to take refuge from sin behind the
shield of Your mercy.
Fruit of the Mystery: Purity
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3. Crowning of Thorns -
Matthew 27:27-31
The crown of sharp thorns that was forced upon our Lord's Head.
The Roman soldiers mocked him, spit on him, tried to humiliate
him, and Jesus bore all of this, without a word. He who could have
commanded legions of angels to come to his rescue, submitted to
humiliation, for our sake.
Fruit of the Mystery: Courage
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4. Carrying of the Cross -
Matthew 27:32-33
The heavy Cross, so willingly carried by our Lord. He was
physically weakened by his ordeal, but kept trying, over and over,
to carry the instrument of his own death. Can we do any less? Ask
Him to help you to carry your crosses without complaint.
Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
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5.
The Crucifixion -
Matthew 27:33-54
The love which filled Christ's Sacred Heart during His agony on
the Cross. Join any suffering that you have, with His, and ask Him
to be with you at the hour of death.
Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance
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Glorious
(Wednesdays, Sundays)
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1.
Resurrection -
Mark 16:1-20
Christ's glorious triumph when, on the third day after His
death, He arose from the tomb and appeared to Mary Magdalene. She
ran to tell the others - but they did not believe her. Let the
grace of Our Lord fill your heart and strengthen your faith. Be
like Mary Magdalene. Think of her joy, when she ran to tell Peter
and the others, and let that joy fill your heart. He is risen!
Alleluia!
Fruit of the Mystery:
Faith
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2.
Ascension -
Luke 24:36-53
The Ascension of Jesus Christ, forty days after His glorious
Resurrection, in the presence of Mary and His disciples, and
remember His message to us - "And behold I am with you all days,
even to the consummation of the world."(Matthew 28:20)
Fruit of the Mystery: Hope
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3.
Descent of the Holy Spirit -
Acts 2:1-41
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles. We
have the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives in fulfillment of
Christ's promise to us, that we will have a Companion, to guide us
always. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit in your life! Let the
Spirit lead you, so that you may fulfill your mission as a
Disciple of Christ!
Fruit of the Mystery:
Love of God
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4.
The Assumption -
Luke 1:46-49
The angel Gabriel addressed Mary as "full of grace", and Mary
herself said, "all ages will call me blessed" (Luke 1:46-49).
Because she was preserved from Original Sin, she was preserved
from its consequences, namely death. Mary, the first of the
disciples, is the first of those risen in Christ. Our Lord,
honoring His blessed mother always, lifted her, body and soul,
into His Kingdom. From Heaven where Our Lord has taken her, Our
Mother, Immaculate Mary, ceaselessly directs our gaze to the glory
of the Risen Christ, in whom the victory of God and of his loving
plan over evil and death is revealed.
Fruit of the Mystery:
Grace of a Good Death
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5.
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -
The Apocalypse of St. John (Revelation) 12:1-18
The Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostle describes a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her
head a crown of twelve stars. Mary is that crowned Queen. We see
her depicted exactly this way on the miraculous image on the tilma
of St. Juan Diago, as
Our Lady of
Guadaloupe. She is the Queen of Heaven, and the Queen of the
Universe. In the 3rd Book of Kings, (3
Kings 2:19), we read that King Solomon would not refuse his
mother anything; and when she entered into his presence, the king
"stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon
his throne, and a throne was provided for the king's mother, who
sat at his right". Now Jesus is the true son of David, the
fulfillment of God's promise to David. And Jesus too must have his
Queen Mother, and he gives her honor, and enthrones her at his
right. And like the king, Jesus will never refuse his mother's
request, so call on Mary and have confidence in her intercession.
Entrust yourself to her prayers! Mary will lead you to the
Immaculate Heart of her Son!
Fruit of the Mystery:
Trust in Mary's Intercession
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Luminous
(Thursdays)
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1.
Baptism of Jesus -
Matt 3:13-17
Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who
became "sin" for our sake (2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and
the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son, while the
Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is
to carry out.
Fruit of the Mystery:
Openess to the Holy Spirit
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2.
The Wedding at Cana -
John 2:1- 11
The first of the signs, given at Cana, when Christ changes
water into wine, and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith,
thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers. Let
us remember the things we are shown here: the power of Mary's
intercession; her absolute trust in the Lord, that He will do
whatever needs doing; Jesus uses the water meant for the ritual of
ceremonial washing, and transforms it into the wine which
symbolizes the Blood of Christ, and finally, we see the
significance and honor Jesus shows toward the Sacrament of
Matrimony.
Fruit of the Mystery:
To Jesus Through Mary
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3.
Proclaiming the Kingdom -
Mark 1:14-15;
Mark 2:3-13;
Luke 7:36-50;
John 20:19-23
Jesus, I trust in You! Jesus proclaims the coming of the
Kingdom of God, (Mark 1:15) calls to conversion and forgives the
sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust (Mark 2:3-13; Luke
7:47- 48): the inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he
continues until the end of the world, particularly through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation ( John 20:22-23).
Fruit of the Mystery:
Repentance and Trust in God
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4.
Transfiguration -
Luke 9:28-35
The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ
as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to "listen to him"
and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so
as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life
transfigured by the Holy Spirit.
Fruit of the Mystery:
Desire for Holiness
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5.
Institution of the Eucharist -
John 13:1-38
Lord, draw me as often as You will to Holy Communion. Through
this Sacrament, through Your presence within me, I can reach
holiness. The institution of the Eucharist, in which Christ
offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and
wine, and testifies "to the end" Jesus' love for humanity. The
Holy Eucharist is a great means through which we may to aspire to
perfect holiness. But we must receive it with the desire and
intent of removing from our hearts all that is displeasing to Him.
Kneel and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him.
Speak to Him with abandonment, pour out your heart to Him, and
give him complete freedom to work in you as He feels is best.
Fruit of the Mystery:
Adoration
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