Praying the Rosary

Make the Sign of the Cross (using the index and middle fingers of the right hand, place them first in the middle of the forehead, then the abdomen; go to the left shoulder and then to the right shoulder. Finally clasp your hands after the manner of the praying hands.) while saying the words:

•        In the Name of the Father / and of the Son / and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

1. While holding the Crucifix in your hand, recite the Apostles' Creed.

   THE APOSTLES' CREED
   

           I believe in God / the Father Almighty / essential to heaven and earth / and in Jesus Christ / His only Son / our Lord / who was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost / born of the Virgin Mary / suffered under Pontius Pilate / was crucified / died / and was buried . He descended into hell / the third day He rose from the dead / He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God / from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead . I believe in the Holy Ghost / the Holy Catholic Church / the Communion of Saints / the forgiveness of sin / the resurrection of the body / and life everlasting . Amen .
   
   

2. On the first large bead, recite the Our Father.
   

   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 let us not be led into temptation by the evil one.  Amen.

3. On the three small beads recite the Hail Mary for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
   

   THE 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 our Lord, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

4. Recite the Glory be to the Father in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.
   GLORY BE TO THE FATHER
   
          GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen.

   ---

   For those who daily say a five decade rosary, the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries are said according to the following pattern (the mysteries can either be reflected upon or there can be free meditation in the spirit):

   Say Joyful Mysteries on Mondays and Thursdays, and
          on Sundays from 1st Sunday of Advent up to Lent.

   1. Annunciation (Incarnation: a pre-existing being is conceived)
   2. Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth (Jesus with John)
   3. Nativity (humble birth of Our Lord in a stable)
   4. Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Simeon and Anna -- a promise fulfilled and a reward for perseverance in faith)
   5. Finding of Jesus in the Temple (teaching of the Temple elders)

   Say Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays, and
          on Sundays during Lent.

   1. Jesus' agony in the garden (Anticipatory sweating of blood at Gethsemane. Jesus knew His destiny before the beginning of time. He knows the dreaded suffering and death experience is near. [ Knowledge is not experience.] )
   2. Scourging of Jesus at the pillar (barbed -- flesh tearing -- whip)
   3. Crowning of Jesus with thorns (long thorns pushed with force into the skull)
   4. Jesus carries the cross (falls three times under the weight of the cross on the way to the Place of the Skull -- Golgotha. Jesus needs and gets help. How do we relieve part of the suffering He endured for us?)
   5. Crucifixion of Jesus (nails driven into His hands and His feet -- His mother watching during the hottest time of the day. Mary remains with Jesus while He suffers and dies.)

   Say Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and
          on Easter Sunday and then till the 1st Sunday of Advent.

   1. Resurrection of Jesus (at the Holy Sepulcher near Golgotha. His first appearance was to a publicly repentant sinner, Mary Magdalene)
   2. Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (following 40 days of final instructions to disciples -- the final ascension [First ascension came on the "Feast of First Fruits." -- Easter, on Sunday, was anticipated in Exodus.] )
   3. Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles (public activities of the Church begin -- Pentecost, on Sunday, was anticipated in Exodus.)
   4. Assumption of Mary, both spirit and body, into Heaven (Adam and Eve and all sinners have lost this privilege) Early references to the Dormition of Mary are found in the 5th century. The Feast of the Assumption was firmly established by the 8th century.
   5. Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven (unique status of she who gave birth to the universal King -- the title of a king's mother is "Queen." The wife of a king is a queen.)

   ---

5. Call to mind the first Mystery and reflect upon it :  then recite on the same bead The Lord's Prayer (Our Father).

6. On the ten small beads, recite the Hail Mary and reflect on each mystery.  Meditate as the occasion arises.

7. Recite the Glory be to the Father.        (This can optionally be followed by the Ejaculation given by Mary at Fatima to the three children, Lucia Abóbora, and Francisco and Jacinta Marto. [The greatest modern miracle took place on 13 October 1917.
           As 70,000 persons watched apprehensively, the sun, whirling like a gigantic fire-wheel, plunged at dizzying speed toward the earth.  It was the culmination of a series of mysterious events which had occurred in an obscure Portuguese village.  The Blessed Virgin Mary had appeared to the three humble children in a series of apparitions.  World War II, the rise of Communism, and the present world condition were predicted through the children.] )

   FATIMA EJACULATION
   

   •        "0 my Jesus, forgive us our sin, save us from the fires of Hell: lead all souls to Heaven especially those who are most in need of your mercy."

In each of the following decades continue as in the first: Recall the Mystery, then say
                the Our Father, the ten Hail Marys, and the Glory be to the Father.

After completing the rosary say the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina).

•        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 vail of tears.
         Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

•        V. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of our Savior.
         R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

•        V. May the Divine assistance always remain with us.
         R. And may the souls of all of the faithfully departed,
                 through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
  

  Close the rosary with the "Sign of the Cross" while saying:

•        May Almighty God bless us (all who participate in praying the Holy Rosary worldwide), the Father; and of the Son; and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Optional prayers:

Let us pray,
       O God whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord.  R. Amen.

Let us pray,
       Grant unto us, Thy servants, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord God, at all times to enjoy health of soul and body; and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever virgin, when freed from the sorrows of this present life, to enter into that joy which hath no end. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Prayers for the Pope that he may be worthy in God's sight:  one Our Father, one Hail Mary & one Glory Be.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin


• Lord, have mercy on us.                                Christ. have mercy on us.
  Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.        Christ, graciously hear us.
  

• God the Father of heaven,                              have mercy on us.
  Son of God, Redeemer of the world,              have mercy on us.
  Holy Ghost, Power of God,                            have mercy on us.
  Holy Trinity, one God,                                    have mercy on us.
  

To the following respond --                  Pray for us.

• Holy Mary,                                Pray for us.
  Holy Mother of Our Lord,
  Holy Virgin of virgins,
  Mother of Christ,
  Mother of divine grace,
  Mother most pure,
  Mother most chaste,
  Mother inviolate,
  Mother undefiled,
  Mother most amiable,
  Mother most admirable,
  Mother of good counsel,
  Mother of our Savior,
  Virgin most prudent,
  Virgin most venerable,
  Virgin most renowned,
  Virgin most powerful,
  Virgin most merciful,
  Virgin most faithful,
  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 of the most holy Rosary,
  Queen assumed into Heaven,
  Queen of peace.
  

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sin of the world,        spare us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sin of the world,        graciously hear us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sin of the world,        have mercy on us.
Christ hear us,                                                                  Christ graciously hear us.

Optional Prayers for the recently deceased:
one Our Father, one Hail Mary & one Glory Be.

Memorare:
        Remember, 0 most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection. implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, 0 Virgin of Virgins, my mother. To you I come; before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael:
       Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;  and do you, 0 Prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power entrusted to you, thrust into hell Satan and all other evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

Serran Prayer for Vocations
        0 God, Who will not the death of a sinner * but rather that he be converted and live * grant we beseech you * through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin * Saint Joseph, her spouse * and all saints * an increase of laborers for your Church * fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls * through the same Jesus Christ * Your Son * Who lives and reigns with YOU * in the unity of the Holy Ghost * God forever * and ever.  Amen.

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