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| The Holy Rosary
"Against the background of the words Ave Maria the principal events of the life of Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul. ...They put us, in living communion with Jesus, we might say, through the heart of his Mother. ... Anyone who contemplates Christ through the various stages of his life cannot fail to perceive in him the truth about man. ... the Rosary does indeed “mark the rhythm of human life”, bringing it into harmony with the “rhythm” of God's own life, in the joyful communion of the Holy Trinity, our life's destiny and deepest longing. (Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginus Mariae) |
How to Pray the RosaryThe Rosary is a meditative prayer, both vocal and mental, contemplating twenty mysteries in the life of Christ as shared by the Blessed Virgin Mary, his mother. "While Marian in character, the Rosary is definitely 'Christocentric' said Pope John Paul II, "It is Christ centered." Through it the Mother of Christ leads the world to her Son. The heartbeat of the Rosary is the "Ave Maria", the prayer known
as "The Hail Mary" which echoes two salutations to Mary quoted in Sacred
Scripture. In Luke 1:28, the Angel Gabriel greets Mary with these words:
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among
women." In Verse 48, Mary announces: "Behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." This prophecy is fulfilled today with the recitation of the rosary daily throughout the world by millions of devout Christians. |
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Start by making the sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Then recite the Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
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
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What is the History of the Holy Rosary?
The Joyful Mysteries
(recited on Mondays and Saturdays) |
The Annunciation |
The Visitation |
The Nativity |
The Presentation |
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple |
| Luke 1:26-38 | Luke 1:39-56 | Luke 2:1-20 | Luke 2:22-39 | Luke 2:41-52 |
| In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,* and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. | In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ..." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. | And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.b While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. | Joseph and Mary bring the child Jesus to the temple in Jeruselem so that he could be presented to the Lord, according to the law of Moses. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradictedl (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” |
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. |
| Fruit of
the Mystery: Humility |
Fruit of
the Mystery: Love of Neighbor |
Fruit of
the Mystery: Poverty |
Fruit of
the Mystery: Obedience |
Fruit of
the Mystery: Joy in Finding Jesus |
The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan |
The Wedding Feast at Cana |
The Announcement of the Kingdom |
The Transfiguration |
The Institution of the Eucharist |
| John
1:29-34 Mathew 3:13-17 |
John
2:1-11 Mark 1:15, 2:3-13 |
Matthew
4:17 Mark 1:15, 2:3-13 |
Matthew 17:1-8 | Matthew 26:26-32 |
| John
is baptizing in the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance. |
His mother instructed those waiting on table, "Do whatever he tells you." Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter,"when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine without knowing where it had come from, he called the bridegroom. And said to him, "Every man serves good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, an inferior one, but you have kept the good wine until now.". |
Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." | Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. | Christ shows His love for us, for whose salvation He will offer Himself in sacrifice. His body and blood as food for us in the form of bread and wine. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. |
| Fruits
of this Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit |
Fruits
of this Mystery: To Jesus through Mary |
Fruits
of this Mystery: Repentance & Trust in God |
Fruits
of this Mystery: Desire for Holiness |
Fruits
of this Mystery: Adoration |
The Agony in the Garden |
The Scourging at the Pillar |
The Crowning with Thorns |
The Carrying of the Cross |
The Crucifixion |
| Luke 22:39-46 | Matthew 27:26 Mark 15:6-15 |
Matthew 27:27-31 John 19:1-8 |
Luke 23:26-31 John 19:16-22 |
Matthew 27:35-50 John 19:25-30 |
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At the garden of Gethsemani, Jesus agonizes over what He must do. Taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then he said to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death stay here, and watch with me. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast; and kneeling down, he prayed. Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. |
Jesus is cruelly mocked and tortured by being flogged with barbed whips, until His mortified body could bear no more. He was wounded for our iniquities and was bruised for our sins. | Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. | Jesus carries the heavy cross upon His shoulders to Calvary. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary. |
Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies after hours of agony witnessed by His Mother. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. |
| Fruit of this Mystery:
Sorrow for Sin |
Fruit of this Mystery:
Purity |
Fruit of this Mystery: Courage |
Fruit of this Mystery:
Patience |
Fruit of this Mystery: Perseverance |
The Resurrection |
The Ascension |
The Descent of the Holy Spirit |
The Assumption |
The Coronation |
|
Matthew 28:1-20 John 20:1-29 |
Luke 24:50-51 Acts 1:8-11 |
Acts 2:1-6, 38-41
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Revelation
12:1-3, 13-18 |
Revelation
12:1-6 |
| After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” The Report of the Guard. While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy [him] and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present [day]. The Commissioning of the Disciples. The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” | Jesus ascends into Heaven | The Holy
Spirit descends upon Mary and the Apostles in the locked room and gave
them his special gifts. |
The Blessed Mother is united with her Divine Son in Heaven. | Mary is
gloriously crowned Queen of Heaven and earth. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. |
| Fruit of
this Mystery: Faith |
Fruit of
this Mystery: Hope |
Fruit of
this Mystery: Love of God |
Fruit of
this Mystery: Grace of a Happy Death |
Fruit of
this Mystery: Trust in Mary's Intercession |
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When
we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, we honor Christ himself by keeping
the Fourth Commandment given to Moses: "Thou shalt honor thy father
and thy mother." Mary, as the mother of Christ, is also the mother
of the Mystical Body of Christ, the members of his Church.