Rosary
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” -St. Padre Pio
“The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God…and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary.” – Pope Saint Pius X
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“The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God.” – St. Louis De Monfort​
History
The word “rosary” comes from the Latin word rosarius which means “garland” or “bouquet of flowers.” The word “bead” in Old English meant “a prayer.” Through praying the rosary, we offer a bouquet of flowers to Our Mother, who in turn gives them to her Son.
There are different traditions for how the rosary, as we know it, came to be. The first holds that St. Dominic received a vision from the Blessed Mother, receiving both the beads and prayers to be prayed. Though this is unlikely to be true, as there is hardly any evidence to support this in the early writings of St. Dominic’s life, he is undoubtedly credited for the widespread devotion to the rosary due to his fervent preaching and encouragement to the laity to pray in this way.
The second tradition holds the theory that the practice of the rosary developed slowly over time. It is during the medieval period that we see the early stirrings of the rosary. There is a connection between the development of monastic prayer and the prayer of the laity that leads to the formulation of the rosary.
Monastic prayer has been, and continues to be, structured around the recitation of the Psalter, all 150 psalms. This was a difficult feat for the laity in the Middle Ages, seeing how the Psalter was expensive and many of them could not read. So “the poor man’s breviary” was born, which consisted of reciting 150 Our Fathers each day. Eventually, the laity started to count their prayers on beads. Monasteries began to end some of their psalms with the recitation of Luke 1:28, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” which then became a substitute rote prayer for the laity’s beads. Overtime, Christians added Luke 1:42, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,” and the first half of the rosary as we know it was created. By the fifteenth century, 150 rosaries had been divided into five decades. Monastic communities began to recite an additional phrase at the end of the psalms to relate them to the life of Jesus and Mary. The laity adopted this idea and combined it with the praying of fifty Hail Marys and inserting Our Fathers in between. The sixteenth century saw the development of the mysteries, five Joyful, five Sorrowful and five Glorious. It was not until 2002 that Pope Saint John Paul II proposed the Luminous mysteries.
"The Origins of the Rosary" - Franciscan Media
15 Promises to Those Who Pray the Rosary
As seen on “The Fifteen Promises of Our Lady” from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Click for more information.
1. To all those who shall recite my rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my rosary shall receive signal graces.
3. The rosary shall be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin, and dispel heresy.
4. The rosary will make virtue and good works flourish and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it will draw the hearts of men from the love of the world to the love of God and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. How many souls shall sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the rosary shall not perish.
6. Those who shall recite my rosary devoutly, meditating on its mysteries, shall not be overwhelmed by misfortune. The sinner shall be converted; the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who faithfully recite my rosary shall find during their life and at the hour of their death the light of God, the fullness of his graces, and shall share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I shall deliver very promptly from purgatory the souls devoted to my rosary.
10. The true children of my rosary shall enjoy great glory in heaven.
11. What you ask through my rosary, you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my rosary will be aided by me in all their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have as their intercessors, in life and in death, the entire celestial court.
14. Those who recite my rosary faithfully are all my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my rosary is a great sign of predestination.
How to Pray the Rosary
Click here to download a PDF guide to praying the rosary
Time needed: 20 minutes
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Make the Sign of the Cross.
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Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
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On the first bead, say an Our Father.
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Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
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Say the Glory Be
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For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.
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While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.
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After finishing each decade, say the O My Jesus prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima
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After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:
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V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
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R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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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 thee, 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.
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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; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will 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.
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, 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.
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.
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 Thy mercy. Amen.
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 toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
The Mysteries
Tips
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Start with a guide in front of you. Whether that be a video, a podcast, or a booklet to follow along with. It takes time to learn the different prayers and that’s OK...you don’t need to be an expert yet.
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If a full rosary sounds daunting, try just a decade.
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Buy yourself a rosary you really like.
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Hard to carry around a full rosary with you? Acquire a rosary ring (which can be kept in your pocket or on your finger) or get a decade/wrap bracelet rosary to wear on your wrist.
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It can be hard to meditate on the mysteries while also reciting the prayers ... that is normal and OK. If you find yourself struggling to meditate on the mysteries, try contemplating the words of the Hail Mary prayer itself as you say it, which reveals to us the miracle of the incarnation.
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The rosary is not for everyone. If you’ve been trying to get into it and are just having a hard time, consider trying another form of prayer that you might more naturally connect with!
Need Help? Unsure Where to Start?
Digital Resources on the Rosary:
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How to Pray the Rosary Step by Step | Guided Rosary (Hallow)
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“How to Pray the Rosary” (USCCB) - all the prayers and mysteries in one place
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The Rosary in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mark Mary Ames (Ascension Press)
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The Holy Rosary: EVERYTHING You’ve Ever Wanted to Know w/ Gabi Castillo (Pints with Aquinas)
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Pray the rosary with Hallow
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@GabiAfterHours (YouTube) – Learn more about the rosary and hear testimonies from people of how the rosary has changed their lives
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Print Resources on the Rosary:
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Resources for Children on the Rosary:
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