The Rosary
Contributed by a Reader
| The rosary is a spiritual tool and a version can be found in various spiritual traditions, most notably japa beads from the Hindu practices. Feel free to adapt the techniques and spirit of the practice of the Rosary. |
Thanks to the Internet, you can learn about the Rosary either by reading through this explanation or, if you're interested, you can download the new Virtual Rosary for Windows that allows you to actually pray the rosary on your computer....or at least have something to guide you while you actually use a Rosary.
What is a Rosary? Those who are non-Catholic have some vague idea, perhaps, but it is an interesting and very powerful way to focus one's energies and attention in prayer.
The Rosary has similar forms in many spiritual approaches, certainly not just in the Roman Catholic Church. There are various nonCatholics who find the spiritual aspects to be very helpful and fulfilling.
Quite obviously the ChristianMystics looks at a variety of mystic traditions throughout the rich range of the Christian heritage and approach, so if you've always wondered about the Rosary or if you've experienced it before but are a little rusty, now's your chance to have at least a few of your questions answered.
The word Rosary has two main meanings. One meaning refers to the physical object, which is comprised of a string of beads, a medal, and a Cross. The other main meaning is the prayer for which this physical object is used. One does not need the object itself in order to say the prayer of the Rosary, but the beads serve as wonderful a guide. Furthermore, the Rosary as a physical object is a sacred object, whose presence in one's home or pocket is in a certain sense a constant prayer being said to God through Our Lady.
(During the explanation, please refer to the diagram below. The individual prayers referred to in the explanation can be found at the end of the article.)
oooooooooo @ oooooooooo @ oooo
ooo @ (M) o
@ oooooooooo @ oooooooooo @ ooooo
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When we pray the Rosary, we start with the Cross, say a prayer, then move on to the first bead and say a prayer, then we move to the second bead and say a prayer, and we continue in this manner until all of the beads have been covered.
The basic prayer itself is simple: The Rosary consists of a Cross, a medal (M), individual beads (@), and consecutive beads (o). For the Cross, we pray the "Apostles' Creed"; for the individual beads (@), the "Our Father"; and for the consecutive beads (o), the "Hail Mary." There are also additional prayers, some of which correspond to the medal (M).
It is also important to consider the spirit with which we should pray it. The best source for this is The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort, which is available through Tan Publishers. (Every Catholic book store in the US is likely to carry it.) The following description is after the teaching of St. Louis:
When praying the Rosary, we should always keep in mind Our Lady and her desire to help us improve in our love of God, sincerely desiring to deepen our love for God through the Rosary. The individual prayers in the Rosary should be said slowly, either concentrating on the meaning of the words themselves, or meditating on the Mystery of the decade. We should take great care not to allow the praying of the Rosary to become a mere habit, done fast and without much attention. A Rosary said that way will have almost no benefit for us. However, when we pray the Rosary with great care and genuine devotion to Our Lady, it will be enormously beneficial.
As mentioned above, we should meditate on each Mystery either before or after praying the decade, pausing for one minute in order to reflect on the Mystery. This should be done even if we mediate on the Mystery while praying the individual prayers.
St. Louis also stresses the importance of stating our petitions so that we know what we are praying for, and so that we respond to Our Lady's desire to grant us more and more graces through the Rosary.
The Prayers:
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.
O my Jesus (from Fatima):
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 Your Mercy. Amen.
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.
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 You, that meditating upon these Mysteries of the 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.
The Memorare of St. Bernard:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come; before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.