The Holy Rosary is a form of prayer that consists of a number of 'decades' - or ten 'Hail Mary' prayers with an 'Our Father' in between. During each decade, we meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary. In the Roman Catholic Church the practice is usually completed with the aid of rosary beads, a loop of 60 beads used to count the prayers as they are said. To 'say the rosary' is to complete a full cycle of the beads with the initial and final prayers. It's often said that a rosary is a sign of devotion, though non-believers and cynics might view it as a sign of someone with too much time on their hands.

History of the Rosary

The name rosary comes from the Latin roserius meaning garland of roses. Early Christian artefacts of the 4th Century resembling cribbage boards have been unearthed, and are said to be devices for counting prayers. Monks of the Eastern Rite churches use knotted ropes to count devotional prayers. The use of beads is not unique to Christianity. St Francis Xavier reported they were astonished to see rosaries being employed by the Buddhists of Japan, while Muslims have for centuries employed beads or Tasbih to count the devotional names of Allah.

There are various explanations as to where the current Catholic Rosary tradition stems from. Some have suggested that the rosary is a gift from Our Lady¹; others have suggested that the tradition only goes as far back as the 14th Century. However most sources seem to suggest the current format of the rosary is a culmination of various traditions stretching back thousands of years. The widely accepted origin links the Marian Psalter or the Rosary with the psalm-singing of the early church. Those who could not read the psalms were instructed to instead say 150 'Our Father's and 'Hail Mary's.

St Dominic de Guzman popularised the Marian Psalter in the form we have it today (150 'Hail Mary's, with each tenth 'Hail Mary' followed by one 'Our Father') when Our Lady encouraged him to pray it that way in response to the Albigensian heresy. This association is why the Rosary is known as the 'Dominican Rosary', and is the method outlined bellow. Our Lady also appeared to the children at Fatima and asked that the Rosary be prayed daily, including the 'Fatima Prayer', as part of what must be done in order to prevent Russia from spreading its errors throughout the world.

The Prayers of the Rosary

The Apostle's 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 was 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.

'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.

'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 in most need of Thy mercy.

Hail, Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us.
And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

(Said on Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays of Advent, and Sundays from Epiphany until Lent)

• First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary Luke 1:26
• Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth Luke 1:39
• Third Joyful Mystery - The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1
• Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:22
• Fifth Joyful Mystery - Finding Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:41

The Luminous Mysteries

The Luminous Mysteries (Said on Thursdays throughout the year) was introduced by St Paul II in response to the call of Pope John VI for a renewal in Marian Devotion.

• First Luminous Mystery - The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan Matthew 3:17
• The Second Luminous Mystery - The Wedding at Cana, Christ Manifested John 2:11
• The Third Luminous Mystery - the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Mark 1:15
• The Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration of Jesus Matthew 17:2
• The Fifth Luminous Mystery - The Last Supper, the Holy Eucharist Matthew 26:26

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Said on Tuesdays, Fridays, and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday

• First Sorrowful Mystery - Agony of Jesus in the Garden Matthew 26:36
• Second Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar Matthew 27:26
• Third Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Crowned with Thorns Matthew 27:27
• Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus Carries His Cross Matthew 27:32
• Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion of Jesus Matthew 27:33

The Glorious Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

• First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection of Jesus John 20:1
• Second Glorious Mystery - The Ascension of Jesus Luke 24:36
• Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Acts 2:1
• Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
• Fifth Glorious Mystery - The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Saying the Rosary

There is no prescribed time or place to say the Rosary and this combined with the portability of Rosary beads has been a factor in the popularity of this form of prayer in Catholic and other traditions. Commonly the Rosary is said as part of a daily devotion that may take place within a community group. Some choose to say the Rosary before receiving the Sacraments, notably the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It may be said when a loved one dies, is in need, or ill. It can be said as an offering or thanksgiving. However the Rosary is not part of the Catholic Mass, despite the depictions of the popular media.

How to say the traditional Rosary is outlined below:

• Holding the cross that hangs from the rosary, make the sign of the cross, then recite the Apostle's Creed while looking at the cross.

• Moving to the first large bead, pray the 'Our Father.'

• On each of the three next smaller beads, recite the 'Hail Mary', and then recite the Glory Be.

• On the next large bead, recite the First Mystery and meditate² on it. The 'Our Father' follows this.

• On the next ten small beads, pray a 'Hail Mary' followed by a 'Glory Be.'

• On the next large bead, recite the second Mystery, meditate, and say the 'Our Father'.
• Repeat points 5 and 6 till all five decades of the beads have been completed.
• Next, say a 'Hail Holy Queen'.³
• Here you may follow the local tradition, for instance 'O My Jesus.'
• The Rosary is completed with the sign of the cross.

The Beads and other Denominations

Rosary beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and in materials ranging from crystal to plastic. More commonly they are 55 beads arranged in a loop connected by a medal depicting the Sacred Heart of Mary. From this drops five further beads and crucifix.

Although references to Mary were all but dropped from the liturgy and doctrine of the Protestant churches during the Reformation, there has been a recent renewal in Marian devotion among some Protestant denominations. As a result, the Rosary in both the Dominican and an Ecumenical form is becoming more commonly practiced by members of these churches.