The rosary by jounoud mariam

INTRODUCTION Considering the importance of the Rosary in the spiritual life, and considering the abundant blessings and grants received by whomever recites it spiritually and reverently, and in order to enlarge the recitation of this beautiful prayer among families, communities and individuals and to encourage it after it was neglected by few in their prayers and their spiritual traditions, we came up with the idea of this easy-to-carry booklet. This way, the latter will be the ever-present companion and friend that accompany us and stands by us throughout our days and at all times Hence, we will be able to pray and contemplate with the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the fifteen Holy Mysteries of the Rosary whenever the opportunity arises. Those Mysteries are rich in spiritual benefits because they include all the important stages in the life of Jesus Christ on Earth: his nativity, his passions and his crucifixion, and his resurrection and ascension to Heaven. Thus, we seek to unite with him for He is the purpose of Divine incantation and we strive to follow in his steps on the road of perfection, which He has paved for us through his incarnation: "You, therefore, must he perfect..." (Matt 5:48). By that we would be fulfilling his

urgent desire for us to pray "Watch and pray so you may not enter into temptation" (Mk 14:38). We dedicate this booklet to every family that prays together, to every believer who is keenly attached to this miraculous prayer and to all who plead the Virgin Mary faithfully and filled with trust. We also pray in unity with all those praying the Rosary, and we offer it for the repentance of sinners, for peace in the world, for putting an end to war, famines, natural disasters and incurable diseases. We also pray for the Holy Father and all the spiritual leaders within the body of the Church, for the sacerdotal and monastic vocations, for the union between Churches, for the sick, the suffering, the distressed, for the unity of families and for Lebanon and the world. Finally, we pray for the dead and the souls in the purgatory who await our prayers constantly. We ask God to bless this work so that it may prosper and give spiritual treasures through the mediation of the Holy Virgin and so that we may follow her path of virtue: She who has never refused the prayer of a believer who beseeched her with trust and love asking

her to intercede with God, She has always granted us our spiritual and temporal needs when these needs did not interfere with our salvation. Bless O God through the grace of Queen of the Holy Rosary this work so that it may be for the glory of your Holy name and for the salvation of souls. Amen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jounoud Mariamâ&#x20AC;?

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROSARY According to historians, the Rosary is an ancient form of prayer. The Christians in the first centuries used a knotted rope to count their devout deeds; and they used to move their thumbs one knot after the other. When monasteries and orders were first established beginning of the fourth century onward, monks prayed together. Their prayers were limited to reciting the "OUR Father" and "Hail Mary" and to the chanting of the 150 Psalms. The illiterate monks who were entrusted with working the land were exempt from chanting the Psalms; and they replaced it by reciting the "Our Father" and one hundred and fifty times the "Hail Mary". When the Crusades invaded the Orient in the beginning of the 11th century, it was essential to find an easy and simple prayer that could fulfill the needs of illiterate soldiers. At that time, their leader and guide, Peter the Hermit, advised them to use the rope with the one hundred and fifty knots, which was used by monks, and to recite the "Hail Mary" one hundred and fifty times in the place of the Psalms. Later on, this prayer became widely used by a number of Believers.

Hence, it could be said that the Rosary, is a human invention, until the intervention of the Virgin Mary, through her famous apparition to St, Dominic during which She stressed on this prayer and chose it as a Divine prayer cherished by the Lord and Herself .This is apparent through Her apparitions and Her messages to the world (for example the apparitions of Lourdes and Fatima), in which She urges for the recitation of this prayer, explaining its importance in the repentance of sinners, the prevention of corruption that has spread all over the world, putting an end to wars, stopping the spread of cults and heresies. After the apparition ofthe Virgin Mary to St. Dominic, this saint worked on organizing this prayer, and was thus called the Prayer of the Rosary, or "The Rosary"; and he worked on spreading it among believers. Accordingly, we can divide the history of the Rosary into two sections the first section dates before the apparition of the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic, when the Rosary was but a simple prayer and an act of simple devotion exercised by believers. The second section comes after the apparitions or the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic, when this prayer was organized and became holy and sanctified by Divine intervention through the Holy Virgin, and was known henceforth as The Rosary.

St. Dominic and the Rosary The historian Castillius considers that Saint Dominic (born in Spain in 1170 and died in 1221) is the father of the Rosary by a revelation from the Virgin Mary. The "Rosary was miraculously spread in Rome by St. Dominic and through it he converted a countless numbers of sinners. Since his early age, St. Dominic was devoted to the adoration of the Virgin Mary. His love for worshiping here was a weapon with which he fought a lot of heresies and cults that appeared in his days, especially the heresy of the Albigensians that had spread in cities and kingdoms (Spain, France, Italy, etc.) and caused spiritual and moral ruin. St. Dominic realized that he was not able to stand in the face of such a powerful and devious current on his own, and this caused him much pain . He also felt that the Church is being torn apart by strange phenomena, and that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;faithâ&#x20AC;? is in danger. So, he secluded himself in a grotto in a forest near the French city of Toulouse praying to God and pleading Him through the intercession of the Virgin Mary to help him find a cure for this epidemic with which he can fend off the cults that appeared in the

Church. After three days of fasting, graveness, prayer and worshiping of the Blessed Virgin, the Holy Mother appeared to him and encouraged him and instructed him to take up the Rosary as remedy and as arm to fight with it the ailments of his time and the enemies of the Church. According to historians, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic in the toll owing as a very beautiful lady accompanied by three ladies, each lady had with her fifty young girls dressed in different outfits. The First lady and her young girls wore white garments, symbol of the five Joyful Mysteries. The second lady and her young girls wore red garments, symbol of the five Sorrowful Mysteries. The third lady and her young girls wore golden garments, symbol of the five Glorious Mysteries. After the saint received the portrait of this prayer, he returned immediately to Toulouse and told everybody there what happened and what he saw in his seclusion.

The Rosary and its Arrangement It was also mentioned in the biography of St Dominic that after the Virgin Mary revealed the Rosary to him in 1213, he strove eagerly to spread it among people. In 1216, he founded the Dominican Order (Order of the Preachers) and among its first monks was Father De La Roche. Both priests worked together on arranging the Rosary and enriching it by including the Mysteries to contemplate the life of Jesus and His mother Mary. This was in 1217 and they called it “The Rosary Beads”, because it resembled a garland of roses placed at the foot of the Virgin Mary. Hence, the Rosary came to be in the form we know it today divided into three parts: Joyful Mysteries, Sorrowful mysteries, and Glorious Mysteries. Each part is divided, in its turn, into five decades and each decade is made of ten beads. This division into three parts was suggested by the Virgin Mary in her apparitions, considering that the life of Jesus Christ and His mother the Virgin Mary, who participated with him in the mysteries of incarnation and salvation, passed through three stages: joy, sorrow and glory. Between each decade an individual bead is added for the recitation of the “Our Father”, which dates back to the time of the Apostles, who memorized it directly from Jesus Christ.

Fathers Dominic and De La Roche added the cross to this Rosary, because each Christian begins his duties and his prayers by drawing the Sign of the Cross. Near the cross, there is another individual bead for the recitation of the Nicene Creed (We believe in one God…). Further, the recitation of the Nicene Creed was obligatory before each prayer or religious rite. Then, there are three beads of meditation to contemplate the three qualities of the Virgin: daughter of the Father, mother of the Son and bride of the Holy Spirit. Finally comes the triangular icon that the Virgin was carrying in her apparitions to St. Dominic. Since many find it difficult to recite the Rosary with its three Mysteries, that is fifteen decades every day, the Church later found it sufficient to recite one third of the Rosary everyday, that is five decades only. Accordingly, it dedicated Monday and Thursday for the “Joyful Mysteries”, Tuesday and Friday for the “Sorrowful Mysteries” and Wednesday and Saturday for the “Glorious Mysteries”. As for Sunday, it is dedicated to the “Joyful Mysteries” from the Advent to Lent, to the “Sorrowful Mysteries” from Lent to Easter and to the “Glorious Mysteries” from Easter to the Advent.

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIESADDED TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

Rosarium Virginis Mariae is the title of the Apostolic Letter that was issued by the Vatican on October 16, 2002. Pope John Paul II addressed to bishops, the clergy and the faithful to declare the incorporation of the “Luminous Mysteries” to the mysteries of the Rosary and to declare the year extending from October 2002 to October 2003 as the Year of the Rosary. In the letter we read the following (p. 29): “Moving on from the infancy and the hidden life in Nazareth to the public life of Jesus, our contemplation brings us to those mysteries which may be, called in a special way “mysteries of light”. Certainly the whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light, He is the “light of the world”

(In 8: 12). This letter is considered as a historical one and one of great importance, because it is an open exhortation from the highest spiritual authority of the Church to renovate the prayer of the Rosary in the liturgical life and to exhort believers to recite it for its importance and the spiritual treasures it procures. For the Rosary is a continuous meditation with the Virgin Mary, the

partner of Jesus Christ in His life on Earth. In short, this Apostolic Letter is a Marian letter par excellence. The importance of this letter also lies in the fact that it is the first amendment to the prayer of the Holy Rosary, since the 13th century, i.e. since the time of St. Dominic, who worked with Father De La Roche by inspiration from the Virgin Mary to arrange this prayer, that became with time a source of miracles and great graces. Through this Apostolic Letter, Pope John Paul II became one of the Popes who worked on the spread of the Holy Rosary and who exhorted believers to plead the Holy Mother, the Queen of the Rosary, after having realized the spiritual richness of this prayer. In this context, Pope John Paul II says, “Since my early childhood, this prayer had a special place in my spiritual life” … “The Rosary, is my favorite prayer”… “The Rosary of the Holy Mary is the soft chain that links us with God”… “It is a contemplation of Jesus with Mary…”. Remark: After the incorporation of the “Luminous Mysteries” to the Rosary, the weekly, recitation of the prayer changed according to what was mentioned in

the Apostolic Letter. The new order of recitation has become as follow: 1. Joyful Mysteries: Monday and Saturday instead of Monday and Thursday. 2. Luminous Mysteries: Thursday. 3. Sorrowful Mysteries: Tuesday and Friday, as before. 4. Glorious Mysteries: Wednesday and Sunday, with the annulment of Saturday.

SOME SYMBOLS OF THE ROSARY The verse that was mentioned in the Apocalypse of John about the angel who descended from the sky with a strong chain in his hand with which he was chaining the dragon, “the ancient serpent”, was attributed by some to St. Dominic, the Apostle of the Virgin Mary. Some also said that this chain was the chain of the Rosary and that the dragon was Satan himself. This showed that the Rosary stopped Satan from inflicting evil upon human beings and destroyed the forces of evil. The prayer of the Rosary was not known by that name since its inception (as was mentioned before). It was rather sometimes called the “Our Father” prayer and some other times the “Marian Psalms'' in comparison to the Psalms of David, because it included one hundred and fifty “Hail Mary”, which is the same number of the Psalms, and because it is recited in churches everyday as does the Psalms. It was later called the “Rosary Beads” because it resembled the wreath that Moses placed on the ark. In the beginning, this chain of beads was a knotted rope with knots according to the number of “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” to be recited. According to the testimony of

Alanus, this latter form of the Rosary Beads was used by St. Dominic himself. St. Dominic distributed these ropes, which had a large number of knots, as if he were distributing slings to fight Satan. “Some even compared it to the bright red rope that Rahab let down from the walls of Jericho to escape with her family from the destruction of Jericho. Saint Jerome said: “this rope was a necklace inlayed with mysteries. It resembles the chain of the Rosary with which sinners are saved from the Divine Wrath”. Others said that by tying the beads to one another, the Rosary symbolizes the close tie found among brothers who participate together in the recitation of the Rosary. This prayer was known as the Rosary since ancient times and it is mentioned in the bulls of popes and the writings of scholars and historians. Cornelius, the great biblical master, said that this prayer has become known as the “Rosary” in reference to a verse from the Book of Wisdom, which reads, “like a flower planted on the edge of water” and from a verse in the Book of Ecclesiastes, which reads, “like a rose planted in Jericho”. The rose with its beautiful color and fragrant scent is the best expression of the beauty of the Virgin

Mary and Her purity, Her glory, Her strength, Her soft mercy and Her love. However, it should be noted that the rose also represents beauty, thorns and exquisite fragrance, which symbolizes the mysteries of joy, sorrow and glory. There are also many other analogies between the rose and the Rosary Prayer.

FEAST OF THE ROSARY Below is an outline of the event that inspired the great Pontiffs to honor the Rosary and to dedicate a feast day for its commemoration, then an entire month. In 1571, the Turkish fleet was moving towards Italy through the Mediterranean to invade Europe. So, Pope Pius V called for help from the European countries. Help was provided by Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, etc. The Christian fleet marched to face the Turkish fleet and the two armies met near the island of Lebantia (a Greek island). On October 7, 1571 news reached the Vatican that the Christian fleets were retreating and that the Turkish fleet ismaking headway victoriously. Fear filled the hearts of Christians and they assembled in the Vatican square crying and weeping. So, the Holy Father appeared to the crowd from his balcony and said, “Do not fear, believe, and let each one of you carry his Rosary and pray”. Then, he entered his room and knelt in front of the Cross and prayed the Rosary and the Litanies of the Virgin Mary. After praying, he reappeared to the crowd and said to them, “the war is over and we have won”. A few days later the news arrived to the Vatican in detail: at that time, when the

Holy Father was kneeling and praying the Rosary and while the Christians were being defeated, the wind changed direction in favor of the Christian fleet and the enemy began to retreat. Thus, the war ended with the unsuspected victory of the Christians. After this historic miracle, Pope Pius V added the sentence “Help of Christians” to the Litany of the Virgin Mary after almost two years. After his death, he was succeeded by Pope Gregory XIII, who added the sentence “Queen of the most Holy Rosary” and dedicated October 7 to the Feast of the Rosary (it was later moved to the first Sunday of this month). The Christians who were fighting in that battle had looted a lot of flags and banners from the enemy, as was the case with all victorious armies in wars. These banners and flags were preserved in the Vatican Museum until Pope Paul VI visited Turkey in 1965 and took them with him as gift to the president of the country. After one hundred years from the date of this war, the Turks invaded Central Europe by land and besieged the city of Vienna for ten years. John Sobieski, the King of Poland, was leading the European Christian troops and when he realized that victory was impossible and that weapons were useless, he climbed to a top of a hill and screamed to the Virgin Mary for help while waiving his

Rosary in his hands. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christianâ&#x20AC;? who were besieged within the city roamed the city praying the Rosary. Miraculously, the Turks run out of ammunition and they remove the siege and retreat and the war ends. This was on September 13, 1683. Prior to that date, Pope Innocent XI had claimed the consecration of the month of May to the Holy Virgin in the world. Also, King John Sobieski had asked him to consecrate the month of October to the Holy Rosary and the Pope granted his request.

THE INCESSANT REQUEST OF THE HOLY VIRGIN FOR THE RECITATION OF THE ROSARY The Holy Virgin urges us to pray the Rosary, and this incessant demand appeared in most of her messages to the world and in most of her apparitions. She carried the Rosary in some of these apparitions (especially in Lourdes - South of France and Fatima Portugal) to encourage us to carry it and to recite it. Below are some selections from some of the messages in which the Virgin Mary asked us to recite the Rosary: -“This prayer will be your weapon against your seen and unseen enemies and will be the sign of my love for Christians…” (Message of the Virgin Mary: 1213 to St. Dominic). -“Accustom children to pray the Rosary and place the Rosary Beads under the pillow of the sick so that he may repent and die a good death”. (1535, Message of the Virgin Mary to St. Angele, founder of the Order of the Ursuline Sisters). -When the Virgin appeared to St. Catherine Laboure, She asked her about her Rosary and insisted that she

pray the Rosary everyday (The Virgin Mary, 1830, Paris). -In one of her apparitions in the Grotto of Lourdes, The Virgin asked Bernadette Soubirous to pray the Rosary with the crowd. When Bernadette prayed the Rosary in the grotto in the presence of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother used to draw the Sign of the Cross and to recite the “Our Father” with her, and she used to smile at Bernadette when She recited the “Hail Mary”. The Virgin used to carry in Her joined hands a Rosary of flowers that went all the way down to her feet. (1858, France). -In Her second apparition at Fatima in Portugal, the Virgin Mary asked the three children to pray after each “Glory be to the Father…” following each mystery: “O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, and help especially those in most need of Thy mercy”. (The Virgin Mary, June 13, 1917). -“Pray the Rosary so that wars may end in the world. Only my intercession can bring this grace upon humans”. (The Virgin Mary: July 13, 1917, Fatima). -“I am the Lady of the Rosary… continue to say the Rosary every day…it is necessary for people to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. Let them

offend Our Lord God no more, for He is already much offended”. -“Pray! Pray! Pray! And you will be granted. Knock and you shall be answered. Ask and you shall find. Through prayer and penitence you will receive all that is good to your soul…” (The Virgin Mary: 31 MIY, 1968, San Damiano, Italy). -“Fathers and mothers! Consecrate your children to me that they may regain, faith charity, softness, purity and perseverance until death with great humility. Pray for your children, put them under my protection, because I will gather them around me like the Rosary crown, so that they may understand me and love me for the rest of their lives”. (The Virgin Mary: July 6, 1968, San Damiano). -“The Rosary! The Rosary my children! In families, in monasteries and in churches! The Rosary is the most beautiful prayer that you can offer me. Carry the Rosary around your necks. Carry it in your pockets, It is your means of defense against the enemy. It is your salvation…” (The Virgin Mary: September 6, 1969, San Damiano, Italy). -“When you pray the Rosary, pray attentively and think of the meaning of every word”. (The Virgin Mary: December 26, 1988, El Escorial, Spain).

THE PROMISES OF THE VIRGIN MARY TO ALL THOSE WHO RECITE THE ROSARY -All who recites the Rosary with dedication and perseveres in its recital will have his prayers answered. -I promise him my special protection and I will bestow upon him the most beautiful of graces. -The Rosary is like a strong shield that destroys cults and frees spirits from sin and from evil instincts. -Reciting the Rosary nourishes virtue, brings about Divine grace, exchanges mortal feelings with Divine Love and sanctifies countless souls ... -The soul who puts its trust in me by reciting the Rosary shall never perish. -There will be no miserable ending to all those who persevere in reciting my Rosary, because if they were sinners they will repent to true faith; and if they were virtuous they will remain in a state of grace to the end. -I would like all those who recite the Rosary perseveringly to find comfort for their sorrow, light for their guidance, and to participate after their death in the life of the blessed ...

-Those who are truly devoted to the Rosary shall never die without having the sacraments of the Holy Church. -I will save all those who recite the Rosary from the Purgatory. -All those devoted to the Rosary will enjoy a special glory in Heaven. -All that you ask for when praying the Rosary will be granted if it does not stand in the way of your salvation. -I had the confirmation of my Divine Son that all the blessed in Heaven will become in this life and in the afterlife brothers to those who recite the Rosary. -I will help all those who spread my Rosary in their needs. -All those devoted to the Rosary will be my dearest children and brothers to Jesus Christ.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY The Joyful Mysteries (Said on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sundays of Advent, and Sundays from Epiphany until Lent.) 1. The Annunciation (For the love of humility) 2. The Visitation (For charity toward my neighbor) 3. The Nativity (For love of God) 4. The Presentation (For a spirit of sacrifice) 5. Finding in the Temple (For zeal for the glory of God) The Sorrowful Mysteries (Said on Tuesdays and Friday through the year; and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday). 1. Agony in the Garden (For true repentance for my sins). 2. Scourging at the Pillar (For a spirit of mortification). 3. Crowing with Thorns (For moral courage). 4. Carrying of the Cross (For the virtue of patience). 5. The Crucifixion (For the grace of final perseverance)

The Glorious Mysteries (Said on Wednesdays, and the Sundays from Easter until Advent). 1. The Resurrection (For a strong faith) 2. The Ascension (For the virtue of hope) 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (For zeal for the glory of God) 4. The Assumption (For the grace of a happy death) 5. The Coronation of the B.V.M. (For a greater love for Mary) The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light (Said on Thursdays.) 1. The Baptism of Jesus (For living my Baptismal Promises) 2. The Wedding at Cana (For doing whatever Jesus says) 3. Proclamation of the Kingdom (For seeking God's forgiveness) 4. The Transfiguration (For becoming a new person in Christ) 5. Institution of the Eucharist (For active participation at Mass)

FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY THE ANNUNCIATION

I Desire the Love of Humility Think of ... The humility of the Blessed Virgin when the Angel Gabriel greeted her with these words: “Hail, full of grace.”

Say ... 1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc * “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.” * In her second apparition at Fatima, June 13, 1917, Our Lady taught the three shepherd children to add this ejaculation after each decade of the Rosary.

SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY THE VISITATION

I Desire Charity toward My Neighbor Think of ... Mary's charity in visiting her cousin Elizabeth and remaining with her for three months before the birth of John the Baptist.

Say ... 1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc * â&#x20AC;&#x153;O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.â&#x20AC;?

THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY THE NATIVITY

I Desire the Love of God Think of ... The poverty, so lovingly accepted by Mary when she placed the Infant Jesus, our God and Redeemer, in a manger in the stable of Bethlehem.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY THE PRESENTATION

I Desire a Spirit of Sacrifice Think of ... Mary's obedience to the law of God in presenting the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY FINDING IN THE TEMPLE

I Desire Zeal for the Glory of God Think of ... The deep sorrow with which Mary sought the Child Jesus for three days, and the joy with which she found Him in the midst of the Teachers in the Temple.

Hail! Holy Queen, as on page 83

FIRST SORROWFUL MYSTERY AGONY IN THE GARDEN

I Desire True Repentance for My Sins Think of ... Our Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemani, suffering a bitter agony for our sins.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

SECOND SORROWFUL MYSTERY SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

I Desire a Spirit of Mortification

Think of ... The cruel scourging at the pillar that our Lord suffered; the heavy blows that tore His flesh.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

THIRD SORROWFUL MYSTERY CROWNING WITH THORNS

I Desire Moral Courage Think of ... The crown of sharp thorns that was forced upon our Lord’s sacred Head and the patience with which He endured the pain for our sins.

Say…

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FOURTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY CARRYING OF THE CROSS

I Desire The Virtue of Patience Think of ... The heavy Cross, so willingly carried by our Lord, and ask Him to help you to carry your crosses without complaint.

Say ... 1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FIFTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY THE CRUCIFIXION

I Desire The Grace of Final Perseverance Think of ... The love which filled Christ’s Sacred Heart during His three hours' agony on the Cross, and ask Him to be with you at the hour of death.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

Hail! Holy Queen, as on page 83

FIRST GLORIOUS MYSTERY THE RESURRECTION

I Desire a Strong Faith Think of ... Christ’s glorious triumph when, on the third day after His death, He arose from the tomb and for forty days appeared to His Blessed Mother and to His disciples.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

SECOND GLORIOUS MYSTERY THE ASCENSION

I Desire the Virtue of Hope Think of ... The Ascension of Jesus Christ, forty days after His glorious Resurrection, in the presence of Mary and His disciples.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

THIRD GLORIOUS MYSTERY THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I Desire Zeal for the Glory of God Think of ... The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles, under the form of tongues of fire, in fulfillment of Christ’s promise.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FOURTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY THE ASSUMPTION

I Desire the Grace of a Holy Death Think of ... The glorious Assumption of Mary into Heaven, when she was united with her Divine Son.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

FIFTH GLORIOUS MYSTERY THE CORONATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

I Desire a Greater Love for the Blessed Virgin Mary Think of ... The glorious crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven by her Divine Son, to the great joy of all the Saints.

Hail! Holy Queen, as on page 83

THE FIVE NEW LUMINOUS MYSTERIES On October 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter entitled The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, encouraging all Catholics to recite the Rosary. He also suggested five new Mysteries that might supplement the meditation on the traditional Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. The new Mysteries, i.e., Mysteries of Light or the Luminous Mysteries, are intended to offer contemplation of important parts of Christ’s Public Life in addition to the contemplation on His Childhood, His Sufferings, and His Risen Life offered by the traditional Mysteries: “Of the many Mysteries of Christ’s life, only a few are indicated by the Rosary in the form that has become generally established with the seal of the Church’s approval. ... “I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the Mysteries

of Christ’s Public Ministry between His Baptism and His Passion. In the course of those Mysteries we

contemplate important aspects of the person of Christ as the definitive revelation of God. Declared the beloved Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, Christ is the One Who announces the coming of the Kingdom, bears witness to it in His works and proclaims its demands. It is during the years of His Public Ministry that the Mystery of Christ is most evidently a Mystery of Light: 'While I am in the world, I am the light of the world' (Jn 9:5). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consequently ... it is fitting to add, following refection on the Incarnation and the Hidden Life of Christ (the Joyful Mysteries) and before focusing on the sufferings of His Passion (the Sorrowful Mysteries) and the triumph of His Resurrection (the Glorious Mysteries), a meditation on certain particularly significant moments in

His Public Ministry (the Mysteries of Light).â&#x20AC;? The Pope assigned these new Mysteries to Thursday while transferring the Joyful Mysteries-normally said on that day-to Saturday because of the special Marian presence in them.

FIRST LUMINOUS MYSTERY THE BAPTISME OF JESUS

I Desire to Live My Baptismal Promises

Think of… Christ’s Baptism at the hands of John the Baptist when the Father called Him His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended on Him to invest Him with the mission He was to carry out.

Say ...

1 Our Father. 10 Hail Marys. Glory be to the Father, etc

* “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, take all souls to heaven, and help especially those most in need of Your mercy.”

SECOND LUMINOUS MYSTERY CHRIST’S SELF-MANIFESTATION AT CANA

I Desire to Do Whatever Jesus Says

Think of… Christ's self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana when He changed water into wine and opened the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers.

THIRD LUMINOUS MYSTERY PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

I Desire God’s Forgiveness Think of… Christ’s preaching of the Kingdom of God with its call to forgiveness, as He inaugurated the ministry of mercy, which He continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

FOURTH LUMINOUS MYSTERY THE TRANSFIGURATION

I Desire to Be a New Person in Christ Think of… Christ’s Transfiguration when the glory of the Godhead shone forth from His face as the Father commanded the Apostles to listen to Him and experience His Passion and Resurrection and be transfigured by the Holy Spirit.

FIFTH LUMINOUS MYSTERY INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

I Desire Active Participation at Mass Think of… Christ’s institution of the Eucharist, in which He offered His Body and Blood as food under the signs of bread and wine and testified to His love for humanity, for whose sake He would offer Himself in sacrifice.

PRAYER AFTER THE ROSARY 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 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. May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY 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. The Hail Mary HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father 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. The Apostles' Creed 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: the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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. The Hail! Holy Queen HAIL! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your 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 Litany of Loretto Mother of Divine grace, Mother most pure, Christ, have mercy. Mother most chaste, Lord, have mercy. Christ, graciously hear us Mother inviolate, God, the Father of heaven, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Have mercy on us. God, the Son, Re- deemer Mother most admi-rable, of the world. Mother of good counsel, Have mercy on us. Mother of our Creator, God, the Holy Spirit, Mother of our Sav- ior, Have mercy on us. Virgin most prudent, Holy Trinity, one God, Virgin most venerable, Have mercy on us. Virgin most renowned, Holy Mary, pray for us* Virgin most powerful, Holy Mother of God, Virgin most merciful, Holy Virgin of virgins, Virgin most faithful, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church,

Lord, have mercy.

* Pray for us is repeated after each invocation.

Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of angels, Queen of patriarchs, Queen of prophets, Queen of apostles, Queen of martyrs, Queen of confessors, Queen of virgins, Queen of all saints,

Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of families, Queen of peace, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; graciously hear

us, O Lord! Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on

us. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beg You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady of the Rosary MARY, Queen of the Holy Rosary, your Divine Son Jesus is the perfect Mediator between God and human beings, because He alone could in all justice merit our reconciliation with God as wel1 as the graces that God would impart after the reconciliation. You are the Mediatrix in union with Christ from Whom your mediation draws all its power. You merited the title of Unique Associate above all by your union with Christ in His redemptive sacrifice. After Jesus, no one suffered as you did. Now your action is primarily one of intercession. In your contemplation of God, you behold our needs with our prayers and you beg God to grant these favors. May the faithful recitation of my Rosary be a sign of my gratitude to Jesus and to you for all you have done for me in bringing about my Redemption. May my Rosary also be a means of obtaining all! the graces I need for the sanctification and salvation of my soul.

Immaculate Mary 1. Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing, Who reignest in splendor with Jesus, our king. Refrain: Ave, ave, ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria! 2. In heaven, the blessed thy glory proclaim, On earth we thy children, invoke thy fair name. Refrain: 3. Thy name is our power, thy virtues our light, Thy love is our comfort, thy pleading our might Refrain: 4. We pray for our mother, the Church upon earth; And bless, dearest Lady, the land of our birth. Refrain:

Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria! Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria! Refrain: Triumph, all ye cherubim, Sing with us, us seraphim, Heav’n and earth resound the hymn, Salve, salve, salve Regina. 2. Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria! Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria! Refrain: 3. To thee we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria! To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria! Refrain: 4. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, O Maria! Toward us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria! Refrain: 5. When this our exile’s time is o’er, O Maria! Show us thy Son for evermore, O Maria! Refrain:

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Index

Historical Part - Introduction - Brief History of the Rosary - St Dominic and the Rosary Rosary and its - The Arrangement - The Luminous mysteries added to the mysteries of the Rosary - Some symbols of the Rosary

5 8 10 12 14

- Feast of the Rosary 20 incessant 23 - The request of the Holy Virgin for the recitation of the Rosary - The promises of the 26 Virgin Mary to all those recite the Rosary

Prayers part -The mysteries of the Rosary -The Joyful Mysteries -The Sorrowful Mysteries -The Glorious Mysteries -The five new Luminous Mysteries

28 - Prayer after the 73 Rosary 31 - The Prayers of 74 41 the Rosary 51 - The Litany of 76 61 Loretto - Anthems 80 - The Luminous Mysteries 63 - References 85 of Mysteries of Light - Index 87