The Rosary

What is the Purpose of the Rosary?The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain

principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them.

The purpose of the rosary is to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation

The main focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death and resurrection.

The Our Fathers remind us that Jesus' Father is the initiator of salvation.

The Hail Marys remind us to join with Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence.

The Glorys remind us that the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity.

Mysteries of the Rosary• The Church has used three sets of mysteries

for many centuries. • In 2002 Pope John Paul II proposed a fourth

set of mysteries—the Mysteries of Light, or Luminous Mysteries.

• According to his suggestion, the four sets of mysteries might be prayed on the following days:

Joyful Mysteries on Monday and SaturdaySorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and FridayGlorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday,Luminous Mysteries on Thursday.

The Five Joyful Mysteries  Monday & SaturdayThe Annunciation: HumilityMary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.The Visitation: CharityMary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be rememberedThe Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world

Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience

. Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to GodThe Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety

Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries Tuesday & Friday

The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sinsJesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before

he dies.The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our sensesJesus is lashed with whips.The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortificationJesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crossesJesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify himThe Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselvesJesus is nailed to the cross and dies.

The Five Glorious Mysteries Wednesday & Sunday

The Resurrection: Conversion of heartGod the Father raises Jesus from the dead

The Ascension: A desire for heavenJesus returns to his Father in heaven.

The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples.The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary

At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.

The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happinessMary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The Five Luminous Mysteries Thursday

The Baptism in the JordanGod proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.The Wedding at CanaAt Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.The Proclamation of the KingdomJesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom.The Transfiguration of JesusJesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and JohnThe Institution of the EucharistJesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

The Basics of the Rosary: The Beginning:  • Begin by touching the crucifix and pray The

Sign of the Cross and Pray The Apostles Creed

• On the first rosary bead, • Pray the Our Father• On each of the next three beads pray the Hail Mary

Glory Be Fatima Prayer

• The Rosary is divided into five groups of ten beads called decades.  One Hail Mary is prayed on each bead for a total of ten per decade. During these prayers, we meditate on different aspects of Our Lord's life and Passion, which are called Mysteries.

• The First Mystery of the RosaryAnnounce the Mystery on the first bead,

pray the Our Father and the first Hail Mary

Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

  Hail Mary  Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

• The Second Mystery of the RosaryAnnounce the Mystery on the first bead, pray

the Our Father and the first Hail MaryHail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary 

Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

• The Third Mystery of the RosaryAnnounce the MysteryOn the first bead, pray the Our Father

and the first Hail Mary.

Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary   Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

The Fourth Mystery of the RosaryAnnounce the MysteryOn the first bead, pray the Our Father

and the first Hail Mary.  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail

Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

The Fifth Mystery of the Rosary

Announce the Mystery

•  On the first bead, pray the Our Father and the first Hail Mary. 

•  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary  Hail Mary

•  • Glory Be and Fatima Prayer

Fifteen Promises of the RosaryIn the thirteenth century, Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan received the following promises from Our Lady for

all those who faithfully pray the Rosary:1. To all those who shall pray my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and great graces.2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some special grace.3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel

heresy.4. The rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant

divine mercies. It will draw 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. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.6. Whoever recites my Rosary devoutly reflecting on the mysteries, shall never be overwhelmed by

misfortune. He will not experience the anger of God nor will he perish by an unprovided death. The sinner will be converted; the just will persevere in grace and merit eternal life.

7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.8. Those who are faithful to recite my Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of

God and the plenitude of His graces and will share in the merits of the blessed.9. I will deliver promptly from purgatory souls devoted to my Rosary.10. True children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in heaven.11. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.12. To those who propagate my Rosary I promise aid in all their necessities.13. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have as their

intercessors, in life and in death, the entire celestial court.14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus

Christ.15. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

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 to the dead. The third

day He rose again . He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand

of God, the Father,

from whom 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.