"Commend yourself to God with all your heart, who often rains his mercies in times when hopes are drier." - Miguel de Cervantes.
The Holy Rosary of the Virgin Mary is a prayer appreciated by many Saints and encouraged by the Magisterium.
Within its simplicity and depth, it also continues to be, in this third millennium just begun, a prayer of great significance, destined to produce fruits of holiness. This sacramental helps us in prayer, it is a powerful tool given by the Virgin Mary, it is recommended by the Popes and prayed by countless saints.
It is made up of first quality evangelical materials: the selection of the mysteries, arranged in four groups, joyful, luminous, painful and glorious, which are decisive steps of Jesus and Mary that lead us from the Annunciation and Incarnation to the coming of the Spirit. and the coronation of the Virgin; the prayer that Jesus taught us to address the Father, and the one that the tradition of the Church has elaborated to greet Mary.
The Rosary, in fact, although it is distinguished by its Marian character, it corresponds to the laws of government of the world, the ordering of the world and the perfecting of the world, and the sensitive condition of our human nature.
The infinitely kind God created in Mary a being to whom he lavishly bestowed his own qualities. For this reason, He wants and desires that we use Mary as a holy bond, linking us intimately to her so that we can be carried with her upwards, towards her heart.
In wisdom and respect for his creatures, God rules the world through second causes. He sees fit to make human things and persons share in his properties, rights and powers, and he wants us to give those things and people the love and attachment that correspond to him.
This is why the Holy Rosary is a prayer centered on Christology. In the sobriety of its parts, it concentrates within itself the depth of the entire evangelical message, of which it is like a compendium.
It is one of the most beautiful, powerful and sacred prayers, since it is a devotion to God through devotion to the Virgin Mary.
It is found in the scriptures centered on Christ and the twenty Mysteries reflected in his life and offers hope when life seems unbearable. In him resounds the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation in her virginal womb.
With him, the Christian people learn from Mary to contemplate the beauty of the face of Christ and to experience the depth of his love.
Through the Rosary, the believer obtains abundant graces, as if receiving them from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.
Learn to pray the Holy Rosary step by step
It is important to remember that the rosary is a form of devotion with a long and rich history, so it should be treated with respect. If used correctly, the rosary will be an excellent tool for meditation and prayer, and will allow one to praise God by reflecting on the events in the life of Jesus and Mary.
Step 1. Make the sign of the holy cross by holding a crucifix
The rosary is said while the person moves slowly walking and stops at each of the prayers. Normally, if the whole rosary is said and not just one section, the person has to start with the crucifix at the bottom. To make the Sign of the Cross, touch your forehead with your right hand, then your heart, your left shoulder, and then your right. When you make the Sign of the Cross, go saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen". You can also say it in Latin: “In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen".
Step 2. Say the Apostles' Creed
“I believe in God, the almighty Father, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the work and grace of the Holy Spirit, born of the Holy Virgin Mary, suffered under the power of Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the almighty Father. From there he has to 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 eternal life. Amen".
Step 3. Go to the Our Father
“Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be your Name; let your kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; forgive our offenses, as we also forgive those who offend us; do not lead us into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen".
Step 4. On the next three beads, say a Hail Mary
These three prayers should be made with the intention of increasing faith, hope, and love.
"Hail Mary, you are 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".
Step 5. Between the three Hail Mary beads and the next one, say a Glory to the Father
"Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now and forever, forever and ever. Amen".
Step 6. Then announce the Mystery
The traditional order is to meditate on the Joyful mysteries on Mondays, the Sorrowful ones on Tuesdays, the Glorious ones on Wednesdays, the same pattern from Thursday to Saturday, and on Sundays the Glorious ones again. Another option that the Pope has proposed is for those who pray five decades a day:
- Monday - Joyful
- Tuesday - Painful
- Wednesday - Glorious
- Thursday - Luminous
- Friday - Painful
- Saturdays - Joyful
- Sundays - Glorious.
Step 7. Go to the next account and say an Lord's Prayer
This generally large bead marks the beginning of the first “decade” of the rosary.
The rosary is divided into five decades, each one made up of ten Hail Marys and separated from each other by an Our Father.
Step 8. Go back to Hail Mary
On each of the next ten beads, say a Hail Mary; that is, one Hail Mary for each account.
Step 9. Pray a Glory to the Father
Before continuing with the count, give a Glory to the Father, after that you can choose to say a Fatima Prayer.
The prayer of Fatima is “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, free us from the fires of Hell, take all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy. Amen".
Step 10. The next decade
It goes on to the next decade, announcing the Second Mystery.
Again, you will have to recite the mystery corresponding to the day. It continues with an Our Father.
Now then, continue with the rosary beads, following the pattern of the first decade for the following: an Our Father for the first bead, followed by a Hail Mary for the next ten, followed by a Gloria.
Step 11. When you have reached the center of the medallion, say a Salve Regina
The Salve Regina is a hymn that exalts the Holy Virgin Mary, very similar to the Hail Mary.
“Hail God, Queen and Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. We cry out to you, the exiled sons of Eve; to you we sigh, moaning and crying in this valley of tears. Come, then, Lady, our advocate, return to us those your merciful eyes and after this exile show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb. Oh gracious, oh pious, oh sweet Virgin Mary, Amen ”.
Step 12. Move into the third decade
Announce the third mystery. Again, you will have to recite the mystery corresponding to the day.
Continue with the Our Father and the next ten Marys Birds. It ends with Glory to the Father.
Step 13. Fourth decade
Announce the fourth mystery according to the corresponding day. It continues with the Our Father, the ten Hail Marys ending with Glory to the Father and the Prayer of Fatima.
Step 14. Fifth and last decade
Like the previous decades, it begins with the fifth Mystery.
Then say the last Our Father, letting the words resonate with you and feel their meaning. Recite the last ten Bird Marys. Close the last decade with a Glory to the Father and another Fatima Prayer.
Step 15. Last Save
To close and conclude the prayer, pronounce the last Salve. Remember to end with the Sign of the Cross. Raise your head, feel relieved and go about your day, devoted and contemplative.
Remember that the rosary is a help to have a stronger communion with God.
It is a very powerful spiritual mechanism against the forces of evil. Many times, people look at photos or statues while praying, because they use it to focus on the reality that they know the image represents.
Repeat words and sentences slowly. Think about what you say, not only repeat to repeat, but you must try to acquire the intrinsic meaning of each letter.
