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The Holy Rosary was given by the Blessed Virgin Mary, in an apparition/vision to Saint Dominic, a French monk and priest, in the Year of our Lord, 1214. The unique configuration of the Rosary Beads, which is different from all other Christian prayer-beads, was given per her special instructions to Saint Dominic. While prayer beads were used by Christians in Western Europe for hundreds of years already, Saint Dominic’s arrangement of the Holy Rosary Beads became the norm in most of Europe throughout later Medieval Times and on into the Modern Age. In recent decades, other configurations of Christian prayer-beads and chaplets have emerged, but the Holy Rosary bead configuration remains the most popular.
What makes the Holy Rosary unique is not just the prayers, but also what you do during the prayers. The Holy Rosary is designed to work like a meditation on specific events from the Gospels. When the meditations are done along with the prayers, it’s like having the New Testament on a string of beads. Presumably, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s idea behind the Holy Rosary was to help Christians contemplate the gospels daily in place of the written Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) prayed and chanted by clergy, monks and nuns, who often tended to be more educated than the general population at this time in history. Christian religious (clergy, monks and nuns) could usually read fluently in both Latin and their own vernacular languages. Christian laity (regular people or laypeople) were usually not so educated, and in many cases illiterate, so they needed something different. Furthermore, regular laypeople need something that is portable, something that can be easily carried in a pocket, and durable for the kind of active lives they lived. It wasn’t practical to bring a book with you into the fields, or into the stables, mills or workshops. Furthermore, books were extremely expensive back then, as they had to be copied by hand. For example, a common Bible could cost as much as a whole year’s wages at that time. Enter the Holy Rosary, which if done correctly, serves as a daily contemplative rehearsal of the entire New Testament.
The important thing to remember is that two things are going on here simultaneously.
The first is the prayers themselves, which are unique to the Holy Rosary devotion, and only work with the arrangement of beads on the Rosary. It doesn’t work with other arrangements of prayer beads. So trying to do this on Anglican Prayer Beads for example, while it’s a nice thought, it just won’t work. You need to have the beads arranged the way they are on a Rosary cord/chain, or you’re going to get stuck.
That’s because the arrangement of Rosary beads is modeled after the Book of Psalms as prayed in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours). There are 50 Blue Decade Beads (see diagram below) on a Rosary because the entire Rosary is to be prayed around three times, for a grand total of 150 Blue Decade Beads. That’s because there are exactly 150 Psalms in the Biblical Book of Psalms. So each Blue Decade Bead of the Holy Rosary devotion represents a Psalm. You will also notice that each Decade is capped with a Red Decade Bead (see diagram below), and this represents the prayers often attached to various Psalms in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours). Finally, the Antiphon Beads themselves (see diagram below) represent the antiphons and canticles also contained in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours).
The second thing that’s happening is the contemplative and meditative part. While the prayers are being said on each Decade, the devotee is supposed to be contemplating a particular scene from the New Testament. This is announced at the beginning of each Decade, and one is supposed to be thinking about it while praying through the Decade. This requires some discipline. Not only is a particular scene from the New Testament contemplated, but one is also supposed to think about the spiritual significance of this event and what it means both to humanity and to us individually. These Biblical scenes, and their spiritual meaning, are called “Mysteries.” When we say “Mystery” we’re not talking about something that is a mysterious secret, which must be figured out, but rather something that is more complex than it appears, and must be pondered repetitively to extract the fuller meaning out of it. One could spend an entire lifetime contemplating such Mysteries and still never fully understand them in total.
Trying to do this on other types of prayer beed arrangements just won’t work. You need to have the beads arranged the way they are on a Holy Rosary chain or chord, or you’re going to get stuck. There are five Mysteries to each Rosary set, and five strands (or Decades) on the average Holy Rosary chain or chord.
So in laying out this devotion, I will overview the prayers used for each Mystery first, then follow with the prayer structure of the Holy Rosary devotion thereafter. There are traditionally 15 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. These are divided into three sets of five. They can all be prayed in one day: as in five in the morning, five in the afternoon, and five in the evening, or they can be prayed one set of five per day, with each set assigned to a particular day of the week. This is the most common way Catholics do it, as the average Catholic layperson usually doesn’t have the time to devote toward fifteen Mysteries in one day. Such is the busy life of the laity.
It should be noted that Pope Saint John Paul II added an additional five Mysteries in the Year of Our Lord, 2000, but this was just a suggestion. They are not required as part of the Holy Rosary devotion, but may be included if the devotee is so inclined. I personally don’t use them because they disrupt the daily flow of the original fifteen Mysteries. Other Catholics use them all the time. It’s just a matter of personal preference. For the sake of brevity and simplicity, I’ll only list the original fifteen Mysteries here. You can find the additional five Mysteries of Pope Saint John Paul II just about anywhere online, and they are always prayed on a Thursday, or else they are inserted between the second and third sets of Mysteries, when doing the whole thing in one day.
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Prayed in the Morning
OR
anytime on Mondays and Thursdays
and on Sundays from the First Sunday of Advent to Ash Wednesday
The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
(See Luke 1:26-38)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, the Angel Gabriel announced unto thee the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thou didst accept God’s plan as the handmaid of the Lord. Pray for us, that we too may have Faith in God, and accept his plan for us and our lives. Let us pray…
The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
(See Luke 1:39-56)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou didst visit Elizabeth while she was with child. And upon arriving, the child did leap in her womb upon hearing thy voice. Pray for us, that we too may have friends to rely on, and like thee help our friends in time of need, that in doing so, we too might recognize Christ in each other. Let us pray…
The Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
(See Luke 2:1-20)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou gavest birth to thy Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a stable. The angels announced his arrival, and he wast visited by shepherds tending their flocks. Pray for us, that we may be humble and lowly as he, that we may come to him as the shepherds, so that we too may feed upon him in the Holy Eucharist as sheep, for thou didst lay him in a manger. Let us pray…
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation
(See Luke 2:22-38)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou didst present the Child Jesus at the Temple for purification as commanded in the Law of Moses, though neither thee nor he needed purification. Thou didst all this in accordance with the Law and holy piety. Pray for us, that we, who are in need of spiritual purification, may be religiously pious according to thy holy example. Let us pray…
The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou didst lose thy Child, our Savior, through no fault of thy own. Upon seeking him for three days, thou and thy spouse, Holy Joseph, didst find him teaching Israel’s elders in the Temple. Pray for us, that we, having lost him through our fault, our own fault, our most grievous fault, may likewise find him about his Father’s business, and be subject unto him, as he was unto thee. Let us pray…
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
Prayed in the Afternoon
OR
anytime on Tuesdays and Fridays
and on Sundays from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday
The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
(See Matthew 26:36-46)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Lord suffered greatly in the Garden: sweating, as it were, great drops of blood, in total abandonment to his Father’s will. Pray for us, that we may abandon our sins entirely, and abandon ourselves to the will of God as well. Let us pray…
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Savior was brutally scourged at the pillar for our sins. As the prophecy foretold; ‘he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement of our peace, and by his stripes we are healed.’ Pray for us, that we may have true contrition for our sins. Let us pray…
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
(See Matthew 27:28-29)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Lord was crowned with thorns, adorned with an old scarlet cloth, and having placed a reed in his hand as a scepter, the Roman soldiers mocked him shouting ‘Ave Rex Iudaeorum’ (Hail, King of the Jews). Pray for us, that we may have courage as he did, so that in courage we may truly hail him as our King, that he may reign in our hearts. Let us pray…
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
(See John 19:4-17, Luke 9:23)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Lord was forced to carry his cross to the place of his execution — Golgatha. Pray for us, that we may patiently endure the crosses of our lives, knowing that He will never allow us to carry more than we can bear. Let us pray…
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
(See John 19:18-42)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Redeemer was stripped of his garments and crucified. Hanging from the Cross, he gavest thee to his disciple, and to us, as our Mother. Then atoning for our sins he breathed his last and died. Pray for us, that we may forgive others and attain final perseverance in the Faith. Let us pray…
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
Prayed in the Evening
OR
anytime on Wednesdays and Saturdays
and on Sundays from Easter Sunday to the First Sunday of Advent
The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
(See Matthew 28)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our Lord conquered both sin and death, by rising from the tomb on Easter Sunday. Pray for us, that we may have Faith in Him. Let us pray…
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
(See Mark 16:19, Acts 1:11)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thy Son our King ascended to heaven and was taken in the cloud to reign at the right hand of God as King over His Church which is the new Kingdom of Israel. Pray for us, that we may trust in his reign from Heaven, bringing his Social Kingship into our lives and communities, and that we may with great hope look forward to his return on the Last Day. Let us pray…
The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit
(See Acts 2:1-38)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou wast present with the disciples in the upper room when the Holy Spirit appeared in flaming tongues which rested on your heads. Pray for us, that we too may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the greatest of which is love, both for our Lord and for one another. Let us pray…
The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
(See Psalm 132:8, Church Fathers)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Ark of the New Covenant, thou wast taken body and soul into Heaven, like the Patriarch Enoch and the Prophet Elijah, so that thy immaculate body may never know corruption. Pray for us, that we might remain faithful to thy Son until the end, and that down-payment of immortality Christ has given thee, we may look forward to on the Last Day. Let us pray…
The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation
(See Psalm 45:13-14, Judith 13:18, Judith 15:9, Revelation 12:1)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, thou wast crowned queen of Heaven and Earth by thy Son, the King of Kings, in accordance with the custom of good Jewish monarchs. Pray for us, that in honoring thy majesty we may give acclaim to the One who made it so, understanding that every honor Christ has given unto thee, ultimately points back unto Him. Let us pray…
..
The Prayer Structure of the Holy Rosary
1.) While holding the Cross: Make the sign of the cross, praying…
“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
2.) On the cross recite the the APOSTLES CREED.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.
3.) On the first Red Bead above the cross, pray the 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.)
4.) On each of the Blue Antiphon Beads, pray a modified HAIL MARY, asking for (1) faith, (2) hope and (3) love on the three beads….
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 me, a sinner,
most especially for the gifts of faith, hope and love,
now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
5.) On the space between the three Antiphon Beads and the first Red Decade Bead, pray the GLORY BE.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
6.) On the Red Decade Bead, introduce the first Mystery as appropriate to the day or time of day (see above), say the prayer for the first Mystery (see above) and then pray one 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.)
7.) On the Blue Decade Beads, pray one regular HAIL MARY for each bead while contemplating the corresponding Mystery (see above) for that decade.
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.
8.) On the space between the decades, pray the GLORY BE.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
9.) OPTIONAL: Here, some people add the Fatima Prayer AFTER the GLORY BE.
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.
Amen.
10.) Repeat this process (steps 6,7,8 & 9) for the four remaining decades, moving on to the next corresponding Mystery (see above).
11.) Upon completing the Rosary pray the following on the Red Bead just below the loop…
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, 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 vale 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 merciful, 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.
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 by 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.
12.) The Blue Antiphon Beads are prayed for the Pope: that his days will be long upon the earth, that he will not be delivered to the will of his enemies and that he will govern the Catholic Church in accordance with the will of the Holy Spirit… (1) OUR FATHER, (2) HAIL MARY, (3) GLORY BE…
13.) On the last Red Bead above the cross, pray the St. Michael’s Prayer…
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
14.) To complete the Holy Rosary devotion on the cross, pray “In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” while making the sign of the cross as above.
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