The Rosary is a topic which I cannot seem to get enough of these days. Years and years ago, I owned several rosaries and would carry them with me. This was long after I had encountered Christ and really was starting to try to walk with Him. I used to hold them when I prayed, but I didn’t actually PRAY the rosary because I had never payed attention to HOW to do it.
As time went by and I got discipled, I was told over and over again to get rid of my rosaries because it was inappropriate and unbiblical to pray one--- vain repetition , and all that. :)
I believed it , and got rid of them--- all except one, which for personal reasons meant a great deal to me.
YEARS later, and very recently, when I had started yearning to use one, I came across it. I asked Wayne and we had a lengthy discussion in the R&P and in life regarding "praying with beads." I reasoned that I could pray on the beads and not use vain repetition, he insisted that it was the praying on beads itself which was pagan in origin and therefor unacceptable. I took to fervent knitting while praying, which gave me the same tactile element, but really, though it was a meditative calm that overtook me in my knit-praying, my prayer life didn’t take on a new element.
Then someone told me I could pray a rosary whenever I wanted without beads because I had ten fingers. Intregued, I realized that the point of the rosary wasn’t the beads but the fact that it was a set series of prayers. Which yes, when done "for the sake of doing it" CAN be vain repetition, but if it’s done with a heart of prayer, can be life changing. Since beginning that day to pray the rosary, I’ve been amazed at how much deeper I have come into understanding the life and death of Christ. I feel closer than ever to Jesus and overflowing with His peace that surpasses all understanding, all through this relatively simple practice which has radically altered my prayer life.
First steps: resolving the pagan myth. Back in the day, monks in monasteries used to pray the psalter, a series of psalms. In order to keep track of which ones they had prayed, they kept rocks in pouches, transferring them from one pouch to another as they finished one psalm. Eventually, this practice turned to a cord with knots, which became a cord with beads. Both types of rosaries are available today.
The prayers themselves emerged over time as the rhythmic story of the church’s relation to Jesus through Scripture. Essentially, it is a series of Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, which take you through a meditation on one of four aspects of the life, ministry and death of Christ, depending on the day of the week. As you recite the rosary, your praying takes on a rhythm and your mind is freed to focus on the aspect of Christ’s life you are meditating on. When I first began to pray the rosary, I was amazed at the similarity in the experience with praying in tongues. Your tongue just goes---- and as it does, your mind, your heart, and every breath of you is focused in prayer. Often, you aren’t even aware that you ARE praying, you are so caught up in the meditative calm, focused on the image of Christ for that particular decade. You come away with a new understanding of Christ’s life and a powerful example of living to follow daily.
The prayers themselves are taken from scripture. You recite a certain number of the prayers on each "decade" (set of beads) and each decade is devoted to meditating on one part of Christ’s life.
Me? I pray the rosary especially because in recent appearances of Mary (for example, at Fatima) she stressed the importance of the rosary in a true conversion of the heart towards God. Initially, I heard this and was skeptical, to say the least, but now that I know the rosary, I believe completely that she would say this--- it has been an incredible way for me to literally walk into the Bible and see the Word of God come alive in my mind’s eye--- and see my Savior in a whole new light. Praying the rosary connects me directly to Jesus but in doing so, I am also linked to my sisters and brothers in Christ, which is amazing.
In fact, Pope John Paul II had some really interesting insight about the rosary in one of his apostolic letters, which I will paraphrase. He said that even the shape of the rosary is a meditation: the whole thing is focused on the cross of Christ, centered and anchored there, through a series of interconnected chains and links... representing the prayers of the church.
The rich tradition of praying the rosary has infinitely deepened my prayer life and elevated me to a whole new level of appreciation and love for my Savior, all the while amazing me completely as I ponder what else I’ve been missing all this time.
For more information on the power of praying the rosary, please see: www.rosaryarmy.com
If this is war, and I believe it is, we need the best equipping possible. There is a promise of peace attached to the mindful praying of the rosary.. because through it, hearts will be turned towards God and His reign will be brought down to earth.
A simple rosary (the most basic form of the prayer) chart looks like this:
The mysteries are, in order:
The Scriptural Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries
The First Joyful Mystery: The Anunciation
Our Father ...
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a virgin;/ and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:26-27
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:26-27
’Rejoice, so highly favored!/ The Lord is with you.’
Luke 1:28
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:28
She was deeply disturbed by these words/ and asked herself what this greeting could mean.
Luke 1:29
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:29
But the angel said to her, ’Mary, do not be afraid;/ you have won God’s favor.’
Luke 1:30
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:30
’Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son,/ and you must name him Jesus.’
Luke 1:31
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:31
’He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High;/ and his reign will have no end.’
Luke 1:32,33
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:32,33
Mary said to the angel, ’But how can this come about,/ since I am a virgin?’
Luke 1:34
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:34
’The Holy Spirit will come upon you/ and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.’
Luke 1:35
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:35
’And so the child will be holy/ and will be called Son of God.’
Luke 1:35
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:35
’I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary/ ’let what you have said be done to me.’
Luke 1:38
Luke 1:38
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Our Father ...
Mary set out at that time and went to the hill country./ And she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39-40
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:39-40
Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb/ and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:41
She gave a loud cry and said, ’Of all women you are the most blessed,/ and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’
Luke 1:42
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:42
’Yes, blessed is she who believed/ that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
Luke 1:45
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:45
And Mary said: ’My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my savior;/ because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.’
Luke 1:46-48
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:46-48
’Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,/ for the Almighty has done great things for me.’
Luke 1:48-49
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:48-49
’Holy is his name,/ and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.’
Luke 1:49
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:49
’He has shown the power of his arm,/ he has routed the proud of heart.’
Luke 1:51
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:51
’He has pulled down princes from their thrones/ and exalted the lowly.’
Luke 1:52
Hail Mary ... Luke 1:52
’The hungry he has filled with good things,/ the rich sent empty away.’
Luke 1:53
Luke 1:53
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Third Joyful Mystery - The Nativity
Our Father ...
Now while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem/ the time came for her to have her child.
Luke 2:6
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:6
And she gave birth to a son, her firstborn,/ and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes.
Luke 2:7
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:7
And she laid him in a manger/ because there was no room for then at the inn.
Luke 2:7
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:7
In the countryside close by there were shepherds/ and the angel of the Lord appeared to them.
Luke 2:8-9
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:8-9
’Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy,/ a joy to be shared by the whole people.’
Luke 2:10
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:10
’Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you;/ he is Christ the Lord.’
Luke 2:11
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:11
’Glory to God in the highest heaven,/ and peace to men who enjoy his favor.’
Luke 2:14
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:14
And some wise men came from the east,/ and going in they saw the child with his mother Mary.
Matthew 2:1,11
Hail Mary ... Matthew 2:1,11
And falling to their knees they did him homage./ Then they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
Hail Mary ... Matthew 2:11
And Mary kept in mind all these things/ and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
Luke 2:19
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation
Our Father ...
Observing the Law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem/ to present him to the Lord.
Luke 2:22
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:22
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon./ He was an upright and devout man.
Luke 2:25
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:25
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death/ until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
Luke 2:26
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:26
And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, he took him into his arms/ and blessed God.
Luke 2:27-28
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:27-28
’Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,/ just as you promised.’
Luke 2:29
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:29
’Because my eyes have seen the salvation/ which you have prepared for all the nations to see.’
Luke 2:30-31
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:30-31
’A light to enlighten the pagans/ and the glory of your people Israel.’
Luke 2:32
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:32
And he said to Mary his mother, ’You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel,/ destined to be a sign that is rejected.’
Luke 2:34
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:34
’And a sword will pierce your own soul too-/ so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
Luke 2:35
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:35
And they went back to Nazareth, and the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom;/ and God’s favor was with him.
Luke 2:39-40
Luke 2:39-40
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Our Father ...
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem/ for the feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:41-42
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:41-42
When they were on their way home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem/ without his parents knowing it.
Luke 2:45-46
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:45-46
They went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere./ Three days later, they found him in the Temple.
Luke 2:45-46
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:45-46
He was sitting among the doctors,/ listening to them, and asking them questions.
Luke 2:46
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:46
And all those who heard him were astounded/ at his intelligence and his replies.
Luke 2:47
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:47
’My child, why have you done this to us?/ See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’
Luke 2:48
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:48
’Why were you looking for me?/ Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’
Luke 2:49
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:49
But they did not understand/ what he meant.
Luke 2:50
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:50
He then went down with them and came to Nazareth/ and lived under their authority.
Luke 2:51
Hail Mary ... Luke 2:51
And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor/ with God and men.
Luke 2:52
Luke 2:52
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Scriptural Rosary: The Luminous Mysteries
The First Luminous Mystery: The Baptism in the Jordan
Our Father ...
"I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I."
Matthew 3:11
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:11
"I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals."
Luke 3:16
Hail Mary ... Luke 3:16
"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Matthew 3:11
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:11
"His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Luke 3:17
Hail Mary ... Luke 3:17
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him."
Matthew 3:13
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:13
"John tried to prevent him, saying, ’I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’
Matthew 3:14
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:14
"Jesus said to him in reply, ’Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ "
Matthew 3:15
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:15
"After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him."
Matthew 3:16
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:16
"And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ’This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17
Hail Mary ... Matthew 3:17
"Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
John 1:34
John 1:34
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Second Luminous Mystery: The Miracle at the Wedding of Cana
Our Father ...
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding."
John 2:1-2
Hail Mary ... John 2:1-2
"When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ’They have no wine.’ "
John 2:3
Hail Mary ... John 2:3
"[And] Jesus said to her, ’Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come."
John 2:4
Hail Mary ... John 2:4
"His mother said to the servers, ’Do whatever he tells you.’ "
John 2:5
Hail Mary ... John 2:5
"Now there were six stone jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons."
John 2:6
Hail Mary ... John 2:6
"Jesus told them, ’Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim."
John 2:7
Hail Mary ... John 2:7
"Then he told them, ’Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it."
John 2:8
Hail Mary ... John 2:8
"And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom"
John 2:9
Hail Mary ... John 2:9
"and said to him, ’Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.’ "
John 2:10
Hail Mary ... John 2:10
"Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him."
John 2:11
John 2:11
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Third Luminous Mystery - The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Our Father ...
"He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it is written: ’The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.’ "
Luke 4:16-18
Hail Mary ... Luke 4:16-18
"He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
Luke 4:18-19
Hail Mary ... Luke 4:18-19
"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:15
Hail Mary ... Mark 1:15
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit."
John 3:5
Hail Mary ... John 3:5
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."
John 3:16
Hail Mary ... John 3:16
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him."
John 4:36
Hail Mary ... John 4:36
"Now someone approached him and said, ’Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?’ He answered him, ’Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Matthew 19:16-17
Hail Mary ... Matthew 19:16-17
"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."
Matthew 19:29
Hail Mary ... Matthew 19:29
"Jesus said to him, ’What is written in the law? How do you read it?’ He said in reply, ’You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ He replied to him, ’You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.’ "
Luke 10:25
Hail Mary ... Luke 10:25
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all his angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ "
Matthew 26:31, 33-34
Matthew 26:31, 33-34
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration
Our Father ...
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves."
Mark 9:2
Hail Mary ... Mark 9:2
"And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them."
Mark 9:2-3
Hail Mary ... Mark 9:2-3
"Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus."
Mark 9:4
Hail Mary ... Mark 9:4
"Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Mark 9:5
Hail Mary ... Mark 9:5
"While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud."
Luke 9:34
Hail Mary ... Luke 9:34
"then from the cloud came a voice that said, ’This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ "
Matthew 17:5
Hail Mary ... Matthew 17:5
"When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid."
Matthew 17:6
Hail Mary ... Matthew 17:6
"But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ’Rise, and do not be afraid.’ "
Matthew 17:7
Hail Mary ... Matthew 17:7
"And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone."
Matthew 17:8
Hail Mary ... Matthew 17:8
"As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, ’Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’ "
Matthew 17:9
Matthew 17:9
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fifth Luminous Mystery - The Institution of the Eucharist
Our Father ...
"Jesus said to them, ’Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ "
John 6:32-33
Hail Mary ... John 6:32-33
"So they said to him, ’Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
John 6:34-35
Hail Mary ... John 6:34-35
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die."
John 6:47-50
Hail Mary ... John 6:47-50
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
John 6:51
Hail Mary ... John 6:51
"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ’How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?’ "
John 6:52
Hail Mary ... John 6:52
"Jesus said to them, ’Amen, amen I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.’ "
John 6:53
Hail Mary ... John 6:53
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."
John 6:54-55
Hail Mary ... John 6:54-55
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me."
John 6:56-57
Hail Mary ... John 6:56-57
"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Jn 6:58
Hail Mary ... Jn 6:58
"Then many of his disciples who were listening said, ’This saying is hard; who can accept it?’ As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, ’Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ’Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.’ "
John 6:60, 66-68
John 6:60, 66-68
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Scriptural Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries
The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Our Father ...
Jesus came with them to Gethsemane./ And sadness came over him, and great distress.
Matthew 26:36-37
Hail Mary ... Matthew 26:36-37
Then he said, ’My soul is sorrowful to the point of death./ Wait here and keep awake with me.’
Matthew 26:38
Hail Mary ... Matthew 26:38
Then he withdrew from them,/ and knelt down and prayed.
Luke 22:41
Hail Mary ... Luke 22:41
’Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me./ Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.’
Luke 22:42
Hail Mary ... Luke 22:42
Then an angel appeared to him,/ coming from heaven to give him strength.
Luke 22:43
Hail Mary ... Luke 22:43
In his anguish/ he prayed even more earnestly.
Luke 22:44
Hail Mary ... Luke 22:44
And his sweat fell to the ground/ like great drops of blood.
Luke 22:44
Hail Mary ... Luke 22:44
Then he came back to his disciples and found them sleeping,/ and he said, ’So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour?’
Matthew 26:40
Hail Mary ... Matthew 26:40
’You should be awake,/ and praying no to be put to the test.’
Matthew 26:41
Hail Mary ... Matthew 26:41
’The spirit is willing,/ but the flesh is weak.’
Matthew 26:41
Matthew 26:41
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Our Father ...
They had Jesus bound and handed him over to Pilate./ Pilate questioned him, ’Are you the king of the Jews?’
Mark 15:1-2
Hail Mary ... Mark 15:1-2
Jesus replied, ’Mine is not a kingdom of this world;/ but yes, I am a king.’
John 18:36-37
Hail Mary ... John 18:36-37
’I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth;/ and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’
John 18:37
Hail Mary ... John 18:37
’Truth?’ said Pilate, ’What is that?’;/ and with that he went out again to the Jews and said, ’I find no case against him.’
John 18:38
Hail Mary ... John 18:38
’So I shall have him flogged and then let him go.’/ Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged.
Luke 23:16, John 19:1
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:16, John 19:1
Despised and rejected by men,/ a man of sorrows.
Isaiah 53:3
Hail Mary ... Isaiah 53:3
Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly,/ like a lamb that is led to the slaughterhouse.
Isaiah 53:7
Hail Mary ... Isaiah 53:7
Yet he was pierced through for our faults,/ crushed for our sins.
Isaiah 53:5
Hail Mary ... Isaiah 53:5
Ours were the sufferings he bore,/ ours the sorrows he carried.
Isaiah 53:4
Hail Mary ... Isaiah 53:4
On him lies a punishment that brings us peace,/ and through his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 53:5
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Third Sorrowful Mystery - The Crowning with Thorns
Our Father ...
The soldiers led him away to the Praetorium./ Then they stripped him and dressed him up in purple.
Mark 15:16-17, Matthew 27:28
Hail Mary ... Mark 15:16-17, Matthew 27:28
And having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head/ and placed a reed in his right hand.
Mt 27:29
Hail Mary ... Mt 27:29
To make fun of him they knelt to him/ saying, ’Hail, king of the Jews!’
Matthew 27:29
Hail Mary ... Matthew 27:29
And they spat on him/ and took the reed and struck him on the head.
Matthew 27:30
Hail Mary ... Matthew 27:30
Then Pilate took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd/ and said, ’I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.’
Matthew 27:24
Hail Mary ... Matthew 27:24
Jesus then came out/ wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
John 19:5
Hail Mary ... John 19:5
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’Here is your king,’ said Pilate./ ’Take him away!’ they said. ’Crucify him!’
John 19:15
Hail Mary ... John 19:15
’Why, what harm has he done?’/ But they shouted all the louder, ’Crucify him!’
Mark 15:14
Hail Mary ... Mark 15:14
’Do you want me to crucify your king?’/ The chief priests answered, ’We have no king except Caesar.’
John 19:15
Hail Mary ... John 19:15
So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd,/ handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 15:15
Mark 15:15
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - The Carrying of the Cross
Our Father ...
’If anyone wants to be a follower of mine,/ let him renounce himself.’
Luke 9:23
Hail Mary ... Luke 9:23
’And take up his cross every day/ and follow me.’
Luke 9:23
Hail Mary ... Luke 9:23
And carrying his own cross/ they led him out to crucify him.
John 19:16; Mark 15:21
Hail Mary ... John 19:16; Mark 15:21
And they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene,/ and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.
Luke 23:26
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:26
’Shoulder my yoke/ and learn from me.’
Matthew 11:29
Hail Mary ... Matthew 11:29
’For I am gentle/ and humble in heart.’
Matthew 11:29
Hail Mary ... Matthew 11:29
’And you will find rest for your souls./ Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Matthew 11:29-30
Hail Mary ... Matthew 11:29-30
Large numbers of people followed him,/ and of women too, who mourned and lamented for him.
Luke 23:27
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:27
But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;/ weep rather for yourselves and for your children.’
Luke 23:28
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:28
’For if men use the green wood like this,/ what will happen when it is dry?’
Luke 23:31
Luke 23:31
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion
Our Father ...
When they reached the place called The Skull,/ they crucified him.
Luke 23:33
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:33
Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them;/ they do not know what they are doing.’
Luke 23:34
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:34
One of the criminals crucified with him said, ’Jesus, remember me/ when you come into your kingdom.’
Luke 23:39, 42; Mark 15:32
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:39, 42; Mark 15:32
’Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied/ ’today you will be with me in paradise.’
Luke 23:43
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:43
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother/ and the disciple he loved.
John 19:25-26
Hail Mary ... John 19:25-26
Jesus said to his mother, ’Woman, this is your son.’/ Then to the disciple he said, ’This is your mother.’
John 19:26-27
Hail Mary ... John 19:26-27
And from that moment/ the disciple made a place for her in his home.
John 19:27
Hail Mary ... John 19:27
And a darkness came over the whole land, and the earth quaked;/ and the veil of the Temple was torn in two.
Luke 23:44; Matthew 27:51
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:44; Matthew 27:51
And Jesus cried out in a loud voice,/ ’Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’
Luke 23:46
Hail Mary ... Luke 23:46
And bowing his head/ he breathed his last.
John 19:30, Luke 23:46
John 19:30, Luke 23:46
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Scriptural Rosary: The Glorious Mysteries
The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection
Our Father ...
’I tell you most solemnly, you will be sorrowful,/ but your sorrow will turn to joy.’
John 16:20
Hail Mary ... John 16:20
’For I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy,/ and that joy no one shall take from you.’
John 16:22
Hail Mary ... John 16:22
At the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb/ with the spices they had prepared.
Luke 24:1
Hail Mary ... Luke 24:1
And all at once the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven,/ came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.
Matthew 28:2
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:2
’I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified./ He is not here.’
Matthew 28:5-6
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:5-6
’He has risen from the dead./ Come and see the place where he lay.’
Luke 24:6; Matthew 28:6-7
Hail Mary ... Luke 24:6; Matthew 28:6-7
’And now he is going before you to Galilee;/ it is there you will see him.’
Matthew 28:7
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:7
And the women came out from the tomb/ filled with awe and great joy.
Mark 16:8; Matthew 28:8
Hail Mary ... Mark 16:8; Matthew 28:8
’I am the resurrection and the life./ If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live.’
John 11:25
Hail Mary ... John 11:25
’And whoever lives and believes in me/ will never die.’
John 11:26
John 11:26
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension
Our Father ...
Jesus took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany,/ and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
Luke 24:50
Hail Mary ... Luke 24:50
He said, ’All authority in heaven and on earth/ has been given to me.’
Matthew 28:18
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:18
’Go, therefore/ make disciples of all the nations.’
Matthew 28:19
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:19
’Baptize them/ in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’
Matthew 28:19
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:19
’And teach them to observe/ all the commands I gave you.’
Matthew 28:20
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:20
’He who believes and is baptized/ will be saved.’
Mark 16:16
Hail Mary ... Mark 16:16
’He who does not believe will be condemned.’
Mark 16:16
Hail Mary ... Mark 16:16
’And know that I am with you always;/ yes, to the end of time.
Matthew 28:20
Hail Mary ... Matthew 28:20
As he said this he was lifted up,/ and a cloud took him from their sight.
Acts 1:9
Hail Mary ... Acts 1:9
And so the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven;/ there at the right hand of God he took his place.
Mark 16:19
Mark 16:19
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Our Father ...
When Pentecost day came around,/ they had all met in one room.
Acts 2:1
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:1
Suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven,/ the noise of which filled the entire house.
Acts 2:2
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:2
And something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire;/ these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them.
Acts 2:3
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:3
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,/ and began to speak about the marvels of God.
Acts 2:4, 11
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:4, 11
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem/ from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:5
And Peter stood up with the Eleven/ and addressed them in a loud voice.
Acts 2:14
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:14
’Repent and be baptized,/ and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 2:38
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:38
And they accepted what he said and were baptized./ That very day about three thousand were added to their number.
Acts 2:41
Hail Mary ... Acts 2:41
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created;/ and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Pentecost Alleluia
Hail Mary ... Pentecost Alleluia
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful;/ and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Pentecost Alleluia
Pentecost Alleluia
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption
Our Father ...
’Come then, my love,/ my lovely one, come.
Songs 2:10
Hail Mary ... Songs 2:10
’For see, winter is past,/ the rains are over and gone.’
Songs 2:11
Hail Mary ... Songs 2:11
’Show me your face, let me hear your voice;/ for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.;
Songs 2:14
Hail Mary ... Songs 2:14
And the sanctuary of God in heaven opened./ Then came flashes of lightning and peals of thunder,
Revelations 11:19
Hail Mary ... Revelations 11:19
Now a great sign appeared in heaven;/ a woman, adorned with the sun.
Revelations 12:1
Hail Mary ... Revelations 12:1
She was standing on the moon,/ with the twelve stars on her head for a crown.
Revelations 12:1
Hail Mary ... Revelations 12:1
With jewels set in gold, and dressed in brocades,/ the king’s daughter is led in to the king.
Psalm 45:13-14
Hail Mary ... Psalm 45:13-14
May you be blessed, my daughter, by God Most High,/ beyond all women on earth.
Judith 13:23
Hail Mary ... Judith 13:23
The trust you have shown shall not pass from the memories of men,/ but shall ever remind them of the power of God.
Judith 13:25
Hail Mary ... Judith 13:25
You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the great pride of Israel!/ You are the highest honor of our people!
Judith 15:10
Judith 15:10
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
The Fifth Glorious Mystery - The Coronation
Our Father ...
Who is this arising like the dawn,/ fair as the moon, resplendent as the sun?
Songs 6:10
Hail Mary ... Songs 6:10
Like the rainbow gleaming against brilliant clouds,/ like blossoms in the days of spring.
Ecclus 50:7-8
Hail Mary ... Ecclus 50:7-8
’I am the rose of Sharon,/ I am the lily of the valleys.’
Songs 2:1
Hail Mary ... Songs 2:1
’My throne is in a pillar of cloud,/ and for eternity I shall remain.’
Ecclus 24:4,9
Hail Mary ... Ecclus 24:4,9
’Approach me, you who desire me,/ and take your fill of my fruits.’
Ecclus 24:19
Hail Mary ... Ecclus 24:19
’I am like a vine putting out graceful shoots,/ my blossoms are sweeter than honey.’
Ecclus 24:17,20
Hail Mary ... Ecclus 24:17,20
’And now, my children, listen to me;/ listen to instruction and learn to be wise.’
Proverbs 8:32-33
Hail Mary ... Proverbs 8:32-33
’Happy are those who keep my ways,/ who day after day watch at my gates.’
Proverbs 8:32,34
Hail Mary ... Proverbs 8:32,34
’For those who find me find life,/ and win favor from the Lord.’
Proverbs 8:35
Hail Mary ... Proverbs 8:35
Hail, Queen of mercy, protect us from the enemy,/ and receive us at the hour of death.
Queenship of the B.V.M.
Queenship of the B.V.M.
Glory be ...
Oh my Jesus ...
Of course, thh possiblities are endless. Many, many protestants have their own version of the rosary (see Anglican Prayer Beads) if they are uncomfortable with the references to Mary. Or they may prefer to pray the Divine Mercy chapelet, which is prayed on a set of rosary beads:
How to Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers
You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
3. 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.
4. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
5. The Apostle’s 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 Ghost, 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, sitteth 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
6. The Eternal Father
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
7. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.
9. Conclude with Holy God
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. Optional Closing Prayer
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Again, it’s all up to the tastes of the individual. Pray the rosary. It will change your life.
Wow, that was alot of information. Thank you for sharing that. I am unsure as to how the rosary or bead praying is pagan or in anyway bad however, which you mentioned earlier in the post. To me it seems like a fantastic way to clear your mind of clutter and really focus on what you are praying for.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. I have prayed the Rosary off and on since childhood, but recently I have been having trouble getting "into" it and focusing. I am going to try it with the verses you give for each Hail Mary - that's such a great idea. (This is KatwithaK from Ravelry, btw.)
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