The Rosary

“Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary’s which purifies the monotony of your sins!”   

~St. Josemaria Escriva

 

The rosary is a time-tested prayer of the Church and, outside of the Mass and Sacraments, arguably her most beloved devotion.  Having developed organically among the faithful over many centuries, the rosary engages our whole being as we finger the beads, meditate on the mysteries, and voice our praise of the Lord.  With every Our Father, every Hail Mary, and every Glory Be, along with every mystery of the rosary, we encounter the Word of God and petition our Blessed Mother to help us know and follow her Son.  Like a treasured family recipe, known and trusted for its excellence, that has been passed down from one generation to the next, the rosary brings unity and an enduring constancy to any prayer group.

 

Rosary meditation samples from the book, The Mothers’ Rosary.

BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN

Jesus humbles Himself and asks to be baptized by John.  John’s baptism of repentance was to ready the Jewish people for the New Covenant in Christ.  Jesus had no need of it and yet insisted that it be done so that others would follow His example.  Often examples are the most effective ways of teaching.  Help us Mary to humble ourselves so that our actions may become good examples for our children to follow.

THE RESURRECTION

Dear Blessed Mother, it is so easy for us as mothers to be distracted with all the little problems of the day.  Help us always to hold the bigger picture in our hearts and minds, to let go of the daily annoyances and to allow God to guide us in living our lives serving our families.  Help us to make our homes happy, peaceful environments in which Christianity thrives in the security of Our Lord’s promise of the resurrection.

 

The Mothers' Rosary provides a special opening prayer for mothers to pray for their children and five different meditations for each mystery of the rosary.

 

How to Pray the Rosary

 

1. Begin by making the Sign of the Cross.
2. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
3. On the first large bead next to the Crucifix, say an Our Father.
4. Say three Hail Marys, one for each of the next three smaller beads, praying in turn before each Hail Mary for an increase in Faith, Hope, and Charity.
5. Say the Glory Be.
6. For each of the five decades, announce the mystery and read one of the corresponding meditation options. Then pray an Our Father (large bead), 10 Hail Marys (one for each of the ten smaller beads), followed by the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer (O My Jesus).
7. When the five decades are completed, finish the rosary with the Hail Holy Queen prayer.
8. Other favorite prayers may be added at this point. 
9. Finish by making the Sign of the Cross.