The Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary was given to us by the Blessed Virgin Mary through three appearances. 

The first appearance was to St. Dominic in the thirteenth century.  The Blessed Virgin Mary told him that the devotion of the Rosary would convert sinners and obtain great graces from God, she said, "This is the precious gift which I leave to you."

The second appearance was to Saint Bernadette, at Lourdes in France.  The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in a rocky cave in a glow of brightest light, she wore a white robe and a blue sash, and on each of her feet there was a golden rose.  A white Rosary with a cross of gold hung from her right arm.  The Blessed Virgin Mary said the rosary with Bernadette and asked her to tell the people to do penance for their sins and to pray.

The third appearance was to three children of Fatima, Lucy, Jacinta, and Francisco, on May 13, 1917.  The beautiful Lady was dressed in white, and she stood on a bright cloud over a small oak tree.  On October 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary again appeared to the children of Fatima and told them, "I am the Lady of the Rosary.  I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  People must not continue to offend our Lord, already so deeply offended.  They must say the rosary."

The Rosary is made up of twenty mysteries, significant events in the life of Jesus and Mary, that are grouped into four series:
1.  The five Joyful Mysteries which help us to think of Mary's joy when Jesus came into this world
2.  The five Luminous Mysteries which help us to think of Mary's joy, as the first among believers, when Jesus began to proclaim the good news of salvation for all who followed Him
3.  The five Sorrowful Mysteries help us think of Mary's great sorrow when Jesus suffered for our salvation
4.  The five Glorious Mysteries which help us to think of the glorious Resurrection of Jesus and the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven.

How to pray the Holy Rosary:

1. Begin on the crucifix and make the sign of the cross and say the Apostles Creed.

    *The Sign of the Cross - In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    *The Apostles' Creed - I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.  I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and 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 and ascended into Heaven.  He is seated at the right of God.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

2.  On the first bead say one Our Father.

3.  On the next three beads say 'Hail Mary.'

    *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 end of our death.  Amen.

4.  Next say one Glory Be.  Then announce and think of the first Mystery and say one Our Father.

    *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.

    *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.

5.  Say ten Hail Marys and one Glory Be to the Father.

6.  Announce the second Mystery and continue in the same way until each of the five Mysteries of the selected group or decades is said.  

7.  After the five mysteries are recited, at the end, say one Glory Be, then Hail, Holy Queen.

    *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 vale of tears.  Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your 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!  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God!  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Month of October is the month of the Holy Rosary and October 7th is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Five Joyful Mysteries - usually said on Mondays and Saturdays (except during lent) and the Sundays from Advent to Lent.

1.  The Annunciation - And when the angel had come to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women." (Luke 1:28)  Fruit of the mystery: Humility

2.  The Visitation - Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:41-42)  Fruit of the mystery: Love of Neighbor

3.  The Birth of the Jesus - She gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged.  (Luke 2:7)  Fruit of the mystery: Poverty

4.  The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple - When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, the couple brought Him up to Jerusalem so that He could be presented to the Lord, for it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord."  (Luke 2:22-23)  Fruit of the mystery: Obedience

5.  Finding the child Jesus in the temple - On the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  (Luke 2:46)  Fruit of the mystery: Joy in finding Jesus

The Five Luminous Mysteries - Usually prayed on Thursdays, except during Lent.

1.  The Baptism of Jesus - And when Jesus was baptized the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him, and lo, a voice from heaven saying "this is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  (Matthew 3:16-17)  Fruit of the mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit

2.  The Wedding at Cana - His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you,"  Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water."  And they filled them up to the brim.  (John 2:5-7)  Fruit of the mystery: To Jesus through Mary

3.  The Proclamation of the Kingdom - "And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  You received without pay, give without pay."  (Matthew 10:7-8)  Fruit of the mystery: Repentance and trust in God

4.  The Transfiguration - And as He was praying, the appearance of His countenance was altered and His raiment become dazzling white.  And a voice came out of the cloud saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen, listen to Him!"  (Luke 9:29, 35)  Fruit of the mystery: Desire for Holiness

5.  The Institution of the Eucharist - And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you" .. And likewise with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."  (Luke 22:19-20)  Fruit of the mystery: Adoration

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries - Usually prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year and every day from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

1.  The Agony in the Garden - In His anguish He prayed with all the greater intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.  Then he rose from prayer and came to His disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief.  (Luke 22:44-45)  Fruit of the mystery: Sorrow for sin

2.  The scourging at the pillar - Pilate's next move was to take Jesus and have Him scourged.  (John 19:1)  Fruit of the mystery: Purity

3.  Crowning with Thorns - They stripped off His clothes and wrapped Him in a scarlet military cloak.  Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on His head, and stuck a reed in His right hand.  (Matthew 27:28-29)  Fruit of the mystery: Courage

4.  Carrying of the Cross - carrying the cross by Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skulls (In Hebrew, Golgotha)  (John 19:17)  Fruit of the mystery: Patience

5.  The Crucifixion - Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit." After He said this, He expired.  (Luke 23:46)  Fruit of the mystery: Perseverence

The Five Glorious Mysteries - Usually prayed on Wednesday, except during Lent, and the Sundays from Easter to Advent.

1.  The Resurrection - You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified. He has been raised up; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him."  (Mark 16:6)  Fruit of the mystery: Faith

2.  The Ascension - Then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into Heaven and took His seat at God's right hand.  (Mark 16:19)  Fruit of the mystery: Hope

3.  Descent of the Holy Spirit - All were filled with the Holy Spirit.  They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.  (Acts 2:4)  Fruit of the mystery: Love of God

4.  The Assumption - You are the glory of Jerusalem.. you are the splendid boast of our people... God is pleased with what you have wrought.  May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever.  (Judith 15:9-10)  Fruit of the mystery: Grace of a happy death

5.  The Coronation - A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  (Revelation 12:1)  Fruit of the mystery: Trust in Mary's intercession.

The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary are:

1.  Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2.  I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3.  The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

4.  It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things.  Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!

5.  The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

6.  Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred Mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune.  God will not chastise him in His justice; he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.

7.  Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8.  Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God, and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.

9.  I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10.  The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11.  You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12.  All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13.  I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14.  All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.

15.  Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.  

(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan)

In Loving Memory of my Grandma Norma Lambert Rainbow

Spirit Wolf Woman

December 17, 1931 - October 12, 2010