The rosary
"Let Our Faith Be Your Strength" by Camille Engel, 2010
Why the rosary?
Of all the possible practices, why the rosary? The truth is, dear reader, that when I hold it in my hands, it's like entering my little sanctuary. It's a very simple act, but at the same time...!
Its use in meditation and prayer practices dates back thousands of years. We find rosaries in all disciplines and religions of the world. In Christianity, for example, it's known that the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the 3rd to 5th centuries used knotted pebbles and threads to count their prayers.
The rosary is a tool that helps us focus our attention and our being. It also allows us to know how many times we are repeating a phrase or word. Cultivating our attention in a quiet but active way is essential. We are what we pay attention to, and how we pay attention to something determines the quality of that particular relationship. The mystics agree that in order to get closer to God, we must first cultivate our inwardness, and this includes our attention. If we can focus on one thing, we will be able to focus on God when He shows us His face in those moments of spontaneous grace, without being distracted by details.
How to pray?
The rosary consists of three central prayers: the prayer for the Mother (Hail Mary), the prayer for the Father (Our Father) and the gathering prayer (Glory Be).
Steps
1. Make the Sign of the Cross.
2. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles’ Creed.
3. On the first bead, say an Our Father.
4. Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
5. Say the Glory Be.
6. Before beginning each of the five decades, announce the Mystery. Then say the Our Father. Continue with the decade.
7. While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, say the Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. At the end, say a Glory Be and the Fatima prayer.
8. After saying the five decades, say the Hail Holy Queen.
Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Our Father
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.
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
Con las tres oraciones anteriores, ya se puede rezar el rosario. Hay personas que, después del Gloria, dicen también esta oración adicional:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell;
lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy. 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 rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sits 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.
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 exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
The mysteries
Joyful
Mondays and Saturdays
The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary.
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea.
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
Sorrowful
Tuesdays and Fridays
The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar.
The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns.
The Carrying of the Cross.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.
Glorious
Wednesdays and Sundays
The Resurrection of Jesus.
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
The Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven.
Luminous
Thursdays
Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan.
The Wedding at Cana.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom.
The Transfiguration.
The Institution of the Eucharist.
Saint Brigid's Well in Clare, Ireland
Novenas and chaplets
There are many novenas and chaplets, and it's a personal decision to choose those that seem appropriate. Both can be dedicated to the Virgin, to Jesus, to the saints...
A novena is nine days of prayer, usually with one intention. Although it's mostly nine days in a row, you can also do nine times in one day, nine days of the week (e.g. Fridays).
A chaplet is similar to a rosary, but slightly different. Beads/knots are often used to mark specific prayers. Some are made with the traditional rosary and others include an "adapted rosary".