The Holy Rosary

How to pray the Rosary:

While holding the crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

Then, recite the Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again.  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again 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.

Recite the Our Father on the first large bead.

Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

On each of the three small beads, recite a Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace!  The Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother o God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of on death.  Amen.

Recite the Glory Be to the Father after the third Hail Mary.

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.

After each mystery say the Fatima Prayer:

O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need.

The Joyful Mysteries, to be said on Mondays and Thursdays:

The Annunciation of Our Lord
The angel said to Mary, "You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High."

Read Luke 1:26-38

Meditation:

Consider the initial fear of Mary as the approach of the Angel; but as soon as she was certain that her visitor was from Heaven, She opened her heart to the plan laid before Her, submitting herself entirely to what was being asked of her. *

The Visitation
Mary rushed to greet Elizabeth, she replied, "You are the most blessed of all women and blessed is the child You will bear! How happy You are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!"

Read Luke 1:39-45

Meditation:

Consider how Mary thought nothing of herself in this mystery; Her needs were secondary to those of her cousin, to whom she went with great haste. *

The Nativity of Jesus
While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in strips of clothes and laid him in a manger.

Read Luke 2:1-7

Meditation:

Consider how the Holy Family were truly poor, having not even a place to stay where Mary could give birth to her son; and yet despite this, Mary and Joseph remained entirely serene and joyful. *

The Presentation in the Temple
When the day came to purify them according to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Simeon living in Jerusalem so that He could be presented to the Lord.

Read Luke 2:22-32

Meditation:

Consider the purity and perpetual virginity of Mary, the virtue by which her Heart can rightly be called Immaculate. *

The Finding in the Temple
After the yearly Passover festival, Mary and Joseph returned home, not knowing that Jesus remained. They searched for three days, where they finally found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard Him were amazed.

Read Luke 2:41-50

Meditation:

Consider how Mary sought God every day of her earthly life, in the mundane activities as well as in the great events related in Scriptures. *

The Sorrowful Mysteries, to be said on Tuesdays and Fridays:

The Agony in the Garden
 Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane with His disciples. He fell on His face in prayer. "Father, if You will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my Will, however, but Your Will be done."

Read Luke 22:39-46

Meditation:

Consider how the Immaculate Heart of Mary shares the same sense of sorrow as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the sight of so many sins offending God throughout the ages. *

The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus stood before Pilate, the people said, "Let the responsibility for His death fall on us and on our children." At that, he released Barabbas to them. Jesus then was wiped.

Read Matthew 27:15-26

Meditation:

Consider the sorrow that filled the Immaculate Heart of Mary, seeing Her Son beaten by the soldiers, and yet the respect she feels at the meekness He displays. *

The Crowning with Thorns
They stripped off His clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet robe. They then fixed a crown made out of thorns on His head and began to mock him.

Read Matthew 27:27-30

Meditation:

Consider the meekness and mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; for Mary is called the Mother of Mercy. *

The Carrying of the Cross
Carrying the cross, Jesus fell three times, each fall more painful than the one before. Carrying the Cross Himself, He got to what is called the Place of the Scull. There they crucified him.

Read John 19:16-18

Meditation:

Consider the sad meeting of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary on the way to Calvary; a meeting that no words could ever express. *

The Crucifixion and Death
Crucified to the cross, Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, "Father! In Your hands I place my spirit." After this, he died.

Read Luke 23:32-46

Meditation:

Consider how on Calvary, the Immaculate Heart of Mary was entirely united to the Sacred Heart of Her Son. *

The Glorious Mysteries, to be said on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays:

The Resurrection of Our Lord
 Mary Magdalene and Mary Mother of Jesus went to visit the tomb of Jesus. An angel appeared and spoke, "You must not be afraid, I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has been raised, just as He said."

Read Matthew 28:1-10

Meditation:

Consider the immeasurable faith of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the words of Her Son and in His promise that He would die, but would rise again in three days. *

The Ascension into Heaven
Then he led them out near Bethany, and with hands upraised, blessed them. As he blessed, he departed from them, and was taken up to heaven.

Read Luke 24:50-53

Meditation:

Consider that hope is the opposite of a presumptuous faith; it believes that what has been said is true and will be brought to completion. *

The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Everyone was gathered together in one place. There was a noise from the sky and Tongues as of fire appeared which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 2:1-13

Meditation:

Consider how Mary united her own prayers to the prayers of the Apostles, asking of God the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, as promised by Jesus Christ. *

The Assumption of Mary
After a life of much pain and suffering, Mary is taken to heaven.

Read Judith 13:18-20

Meditation:

Consider the life of the Blessed Virgin, and the virtues, which were so abundantly found within that life. Seeking God in alone in all things, She remained faithful until She was taken body and soul into Heaven. *

The Coronation of Mary
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.

Read Revelation 12:1

Meditation:

Consider the honour paid to the Blessed Virgin in Heaven by the Most Holy Trinity, by whom She is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth and all Hearts. *

Finally, say the 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 towards 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 O 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 while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary.

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4.  It will cause virtue and good works to flourish: it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh that souls would sanctify themselves by these means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying themselves to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune.  God will not chastise them in His justice, they shall not perish by an unprovided death; if they be just they shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7.  Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8.  Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All those who recite the Rosary are my sons, and daughters and children of my only son Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

(* Each meditation comes from The New Rosary With the Mysteries of Light, by Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo SHMI and published by Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate 2002)