The Holy Rosary
Definition:
The Rosary is a continuation of the tradition found in many
religions of using strings of beads to aid in prayer and meditation. This particularly Christian form
consists of either five groups of ten beads (most common) or fifteen groups of
ten beads (often called the “complete” Rosary). The former form is most common, probably due to the fact
that it is less bulky, easier to manage, and easier to transport. The five-decade form merely requires
repeating the cycle three times. The
Rosary with which we are most familiar was probably created by the Dominican
Order in the thirteenth century.
A Private Devotion:
While in fact the use of the Rosary is varied according to
the needs of the individuals involved, the basic pattern of the devotion again
probably originated with the Dominicans. Essentially saying the rosary involves two levels of prayer, vocal and
mental. The vocal portion of the
prayers consists essentially of the Pater Noster (the Lord’s Prayer), the Ave Maria (the Hail Mary), and the Gloria Patri (The Glory Be). The mental portion of the process generally consists of the
meditations on the fifteen mysteries that have traditionally been divided into
three sets (The Sorrowful, Joyful, and Glorious mysteries) of five topics
each. In 2002 Pope John Paul II
added the fourth set of mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries. While most of the mysteries represent
historical events in the life of our Lord or the Blessed Mother, there are
variations based on scripture, and some individuals prefer to focus on their
personal concerns and prayers. Interestingly, there is no “required” form for saying the Holy
Rosary. It is essentially a
private devotion and may be easily adapted to the personal needs of the
individual. It is often said by
family and church groups and less frequently in public worship.
Popularity:
The popularity of the Holy Rosary may be attributed in part
to tits effectiveness. Science has
demonstrated the calming and focusing effect of repetitive acts, even to the point
of lowering blood pressure. The
repetition of the prayers in the Holy Rosary help the individual to shut out
the distractions of the world and focus on the needs of the soul. This focusing tool allows us to center
our thoughts on God and our relationship with him. In the fast-paced, confusing world in which we live, it is
easy to see why the Holy Rosary has maintained its popularity as a prayer tool
for Christians.
A Note On The Ave Maria Prayer:
Individuals who come from a non-Catholic background are
often hesitant about the text of the Hail Mary prayer. In fact, the prayer is quite innocuous
once you understand its
meaning. The prayer begins with the scriptural greeting by the angel Gabriel to
the Virgin Mary (Lk. 1:28) and the words spoken to Mary by her cousin,
Elizabeth (Lk. 1:42). In the
second part, Mary is referred to as the “Mother of God.” This is a reference to the fact that
for Christians, Jesus is both man and God (Lk. 1:43). Finally, the prayer asks the Holy Mother to pray for us “now
and at the hour of our death” in acknowledgement of our belief in the communion
of the saints. Thus the prayer
reads;
“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 God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen”
One simple way of
saying the Holy Rosary takes the following form for each group of Mysteries:
1 – While you hold the crucifix, make the sign of the cross and say the Apostles’ Creed.
2 – On the first single bead, say the Lord’s Prayer
3 – While asking for an increase in faith, hope, and charity, say the Hail Mary on the next three small beads.
4 – Say the Gloria Patri on the next single bead.
5 – Call to mind the first Rosary Mystery and say the Lord’s Prayer on the medal.
6 – While meditating on the mystery, say the Hail Mary on each of the ten small beads of the group (decade).
7 – On the next single bead, recite the Gloria Patri.
8 – For each succeeding decade of beads, meditate on the next mystery while reciting the Ave Maria for each bead and the Gloria Patri on the single beads.
9 – When the fifth mystery in the group is completed, conclude your prayers with the Salve, Regina or the Magnificat and the Sign of the Cross.
