The Holy Rosary

The Story of the Holy Rosary The devotion of the Holy Rosary has been treasured in the Church for many centuries. It is a summary of Christian faith in language and prayers inspired by the Bible. The Rosary is one of the best prayers that families are invited to recite.

Three appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Rosary Saint Dominic Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Fatima

Saint Dominic The origin of this devotion is traditionally connected with St. Dominic who was in Spain in the thirteenth century. He founded the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans. He went to France as a missionary to convert some people. One day the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Dominic, holding a Rosary in her hand. She told him that the devotion of the Rosary would convert sinners and obtain great graces from God. She said, “This is the precious gift which I leave to you.” Saint Dominic taught the people how to say the Rosary. Soon, more than one hundred thousand people were converted.

Our Lady of Lourdes In 1858 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared eighteen times to Saint Bernadette, a humble peasant girl, at Lourdes in France. She appeared in a rocky cave in a glow of brightest light. She wore a white robe and a blue sash, and on each of her feet there was a golden rose. A white Rosary with a cross of gold hung from her right arm. The beautiful Lady said the Rosary with Bernadette. She asked her little friend to tell the people to do penance for their sins and to pray. One day Bernadette asked, “My lady, would you be so kind as to tell me who your are?” The Lady joined her hands and looking up to heaven, said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

St. Bernadette

Our Lady of Fatima On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared to three little shepherd children at Fatima, in Portugal. Their names were Lucy, Jacinta, and Francisco. The beautiful Lady was dressed in white, and she stood on a bright cloud over a small oak tree. From her right hand hung a white Rosary. She said to the children: “Have no fear. I come from heaven. I want you children to come here on the thirteenth day of each month, until October. Then I will tell you who I am.” On October 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary again appeared to the children of Fatima. She said: “I am the Lady of the Rosary. I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. People must not continue to offend our Lord, already so deeply offended. They must say the Rosary.”

The Prayers of the Rosary The Sign of the Cross The Apostles Creed The Our Father The Hail Mary The Glory Be to the Father The Hail, Holy Queen

The Mysteries of the Rosary As we recite the prayers of the rosary, we think about certain stories in the lives of Jesus and Mary. There are four sets of five mysteries, or stories, for us to think about while we pray the rosary. The stories tell of certain events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

The Joyful Mysteries The Joyful Mysteries help us to think of Mary’s joy when Jesus came into the world. They are: The Annunciation The Visitation The Birth of the Child Jesus The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Finding of Jesus in the Temple Usually said on Mondays and Saturdays [except during Lent] and the Sundays from Advent to Lent.

The Luminous Mysteries The Luminous Mysteries or the Mysteries of Light help us to think of Mary’s joy, as the first among believers, when Jesus began to proclaim the Good News of salvation for all who followed Him. They are: The Baptism of Jesus Christ’s Self-Manifestation at Cana Christ’s Proclamation of the Kingdom of God The Transfiguration of Our Lord Christ’s Institution of the Eucharist Usually said on Thursdays, except during Lent.

The Sorrowful Mysteries The Sorrowful Mysteries help us to think of Mary’s great sorrow when Jesus suffered for our salvation. They are: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns Jesus Carries His Heavy Cross The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Usually said on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year and every day from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

The Glorious Mysterious The Glorious Mysteries help us to think of the glorious Resurrection of Jesus and the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven. They are: The Resurrection of Jesus The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven The Descent of the Holy Spirit Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary Usually said on Wednesdays (except during Lent) and the Sundays from Easter to Advent.

After the Rosary Hail, Holy Queen 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 ask You, that, meditating upon 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.