Holy Rosary - Traditional Version (English)
What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a traditional Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that involves praying a series of prayers on a string of beads or a chaplet. The word "rosary" comes from the Latin "rosarium," which means "crown of roses." This name was chosen to represent the crown of roses that Mary is often depicted wearing in art and statues. The Rosary is a meditative prayer that honors Mary and reflects on the life of Jesus.
The Rosary is composed of four sets of five mysteries, which are meditations on the life of Jesus and Mary. The mysteries are as follows:
- The Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
- The Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion
- The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection, The Ascension, The Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Assumption of Mary, and The Coronation of Mary
- The Luminous Mysteries: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, The Wedding at Cana, The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, The Transfiguration, The Institution of the Eucharist
The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, also known as the "Mysteries of Light," were introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002. In his apostolic letter, "Rosarium Virginis Mariae," he called for the inclusion of these new mysteries in the Rosary to help Catholics better understand the public life of Jesus and the role of His teachings in the formation of their faith.
The Pope's intention was to provide a deeper understanding of the life of Jesus and the message of the Gospels and to help Catholics enter more fully into the mystery of Christ. He believed that the Rosary, when meditated in this way, would become a "compendium of the Gospel" and would help Catholics to contemplate the life of Jesus in a more holistic way.
Many Catholics have embraced the Luminous Mysteries as a way to deepen their spiritual practice and to better understand the role of Jesus in their faith. By meditating on these events in Jesus' life, Catholics are encouraged to reflect on the significance of Jesus as a teacher, as a miracle worker and as a revealer of God's kingdom, as well as on the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life.
How to pray the Rosary?
To pray the Rosary, follow these steps:
- Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and saying the Apostles' Creed.
- Say the Our Father on the first bead.
- Say three Hail Marys on the next three beads.
- Say the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery and then say the Our Father on the next bead.
- Say ten Hail Marys, one on each of the next ten beads, while meditating on the mystery.
- After the tenth Hail Mary, say the Glory Be.
- Repeat this process for each of the five mysteries.
- After the fifth mystery, say the Hail, Holy Queen and the final prayer of the Rosary.
- Conclude by making the Sign of the Cross.
It is common to pray the Rosary with a group of people, with one person leading the prayers and the others responding. The Rosary can also be prayed silently or with the aid of a Rosary booklet or app. Many people find it helpful to meditate on the mysteries as they pray the Hail Marys, using the words of the prayer as a guide. The Rosary is a powerful devotion that can bring peace, comfort, and spiritual growth to those who pray it with devotion.
Let's discover the mysteries...
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are a series of meditations on the joy-filled events in the life of Jesus and Mary. These mysteries are typically prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and during the Christmas season. The Joyful Mysteries are as follows:
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The Annunciation: This mystery reflects on the moment when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would bear the Son of God. In this mystery, we are called to remember Mary's faith and her willingness to accept God's plan for her life.
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The Visitation: This mystery reflects on the visit that Mary made to her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with a child. In this mystery, we are called to remember the joy and love that Mary had for her cousin and the child that Elizabeth was carrying.
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The Nativity: This mystery reflects on the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. In this mystery, we are called to remember the humility of Jesus' birth and the joy that it brought to the world.
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The Presentation: This mystery reflects on the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph brought him to be consecrated to God. In this mystery, we are called to remember the faith of Mary and Joseph and their willingness to dedicate their son to God.
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The Finding of Jesus in the Temple: This mystery reflects on the incident when Jesus, as a young boy, was found in the Temple talking with the teachers. In this mystery, we are called to remember the wisdom and intelligence of Jesus, even at a young age.
The Joyful Mysteries remind us of the joy and happiness that Jesus brought into the world and the love that Mary had for her son. As we pray these mysteries, we are called to reflect on the blessings in our own lives and to offer up our joys to God.
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are a series of meditations on the suffering and death of Jesus. These mysteries are typically prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and during the seasons of Advent and Lent. The Sorrowful Mysteries are as follows:
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The Agony in the Garden: This mystery reflects on the agony that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane as he faced the prospect of his upcoming suffering and death. In this mystery, we are called to remember the human side of Jesus and his willingness to accept the will of his Father.
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The Scourging at the Pillar: This mystery reflects on the torture that Jesus endured at the hands of the Romans, who flogged him with a whip until his back was raw and bloody. In this mystery, we are called to remember Jesus' willingness to suffer for our sins and to offer up his suffering for our salvation.
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The Crowning with Thorns: This mystery reflects on the humiliation that Jesus experienced when the Romans placed a crown of thorns on his head and mockingly hailed him as the "King of the Jews." In this mystery, we are called to remember Jesus' humility and his willingness to endure ridicule and shame for our sake.
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The Carrying of the Cross: This mystery reflects on the physical suffering that Jesus endured as he carried the heavy cross on which he would be crucified. In this mystery, we are called to remember Jesus' strength and courage as he faced his Passion.
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The Crucifixion: This mystery reflects on the final moments of Jesus' life, when he was crucified on the cross and died for our sins. In this mystery, we are called to remember the immense love that Jesus had for us, and the price that he paid to bring us salvation.
The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of the great love that Jesus had for us and the immense suffering that he endured to save us. As we pray these mysteries, we are called to reflect on our own sinfulness and to offer up our own sufferings in union with those of Jesus.
The Luminous Mysteries, also known as the Mysteries of Light, are a set of meditations on the public life of Jesus that were added to the traditional Rosary in the mid-20th century. These mysteries are typically prayed on Thursdays. The Luminous Mysteries are as follows:
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The mystery of the Baptism of Jesus: This mystery reflects on the moment when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. In this mystery, we are called to remember the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God and the beginning of his public ministry.
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The mystery of the Wedding at Cana: This mystery reflects on the moment when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, turning water into wine. In this mystery, we are called to remember the power of Jesus to bring joy and abundance into our lives.
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The mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God: This mystery reflects on the moment when Jesus began his ministry, preaching about the coming of the Kingdom of God and calling people to repentance. In this mystery, we are called to remember the message of Jesus and the call to follow him.
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The mystery of the Transfiguration: This mystery reflects on the moment when Jesus was transfigured on a mountain, revealing his divine glory to his apostles. In this mystery, we are called to remember the divinity of Jesus and the hope of our own transformation.
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The mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist: This mystery reflects on the moment when Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, making it possible for us to receive his body and blood. In this mystery, we are called to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the gift of the Eucharist.
The Luminous Mysteries remind us of the public ministry of Jesus and the ways in which he revealed himself to the world. As we pray these mysteries, we are called to reflect on the ways in which Jesus has revealed himself to us and to commit ourselves more fully to following him.
The promises of the Rosary
There are several promises associated with the Rosary, many of which are attributed to Our Lady of Fatima. These promises are not official Church teachings, but they are often cited by Catholics as reasons to pray the Rosary regularly. The most common promises are:
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune.
- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who are faithful in reciting the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
It is important to note that these promises are not official Church teachings and are not found in any official Church document. The Rosary is prayed by Catholics because it is a devotion that helps them to contemplate the life of Jesus and the mysteries of the faith, and to grow closer to God. The Rosary is a spiritual practice that can surely bring peace, comfort and blessings to those who pray it with devotion and attention.