PrayTheRosary Apostolate

 

 

 

 

1st Joyful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your Incarnation in Mary's womb, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession,  a deep humilty.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   The time for the Incarnation is at hand. 2.   Of all women, God prepared Mary from her   conception to be the Mother of the Incarnate word. 3.  The Angel Gabriel announces: " Hail, full of   grace! The Lord is with thee." 4.   Mary wonders at this salutation. 5.   The angel assures her: "Fear not...you shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son." 6.   Mary is troubled for she has made a vow of virginity. 7.   The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and her son will be called the Son of God. 8.   The Incarnation awaits Mary's consent. 9.   Mary answers: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word." 10.  The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

 

 

Þnd Joyful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of the visitation of Your holy Mother to St. Elizabeth, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession, charity towards my neighbor.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   Mary's cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age...for nothing is impossible with God. 2.   Charity prompts Mary to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her need. 3.   The journey to Elizabeth's home is about eighty miles requiring four or five days. 4.   Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears within her the Incarnate Word. 5.   At Mary's salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his mother's womb. 6.   Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." 7.   "How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" 8.   "Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled." 9.    Mary replies: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." 10.  Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the birth of her son, John the Baptist.

 

 

 

3rd Joyful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your Nativity, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, detachment from the things of the world and a love of poverty.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caeser Augustus. 2.   The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room at the inn. 3.   In the stillness of the night. the Savior is born in a cave, Mary remaining a virgin. 4.   She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger. 5.   In unspeakable joy, Mary gathers to her bosom the flower of her virginity. 6.   Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly things. 7.   The angel announces to the shepherd: "Today there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord." 8.   The angelic chorus sing: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men of good will." 9.   The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant Jesus. 10.  The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.

 

 

áth Joyful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Presentation, and the Purification of Mary, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession, purity of body and soul.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   Observing the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. 2.   According to the Law, the firstborn male of every family shall be consecrated to the Lord. 3.   Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the price paid by the poor. 4.   Jesus is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach obedience, He submits to it. 5.   Mary is not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility she submits to it. 6.   God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until He had seen the Messiah. 7.   Recognizing the Child, he prays: "Now you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled Your word. 8.   "This child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed." 9.   And to Mary, Simeon reveals: "And your own soul a sword shall pierce." 10.  After they fulfill all the law requires, they return to Nazareth.

 

 

5th Joyful Mystery 

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Mary's finding You in the Temple, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession, the gift of true wisdom.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. 2.   After the feast, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus. 3.   At the end of the first day's journey, they discover Jesus is missing. 4.   His parents return immediately looking for Him. 5.   The loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding, to the hearts of Jesus and Mary. 6.   On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors who were astonished at His wisdom. 7.   Mary: "Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for You in sorrow." 8: "Why did you search for Me? Did you not know I must be about My Father's business?" 10.  Mary keeps all these things in her heart.

 

 

 

 

 

1st Sorrowful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your agony in the garden of Olives,  in the Temple, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, contrition for my sins.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1. Jesus comes with His disciples to Gethsemani: "Stay here while I go yonder and pray." 2.  Entering the garden with Peter, James and John, Jesus prays: "My soul is sorrowful unto death." 3.  Jesus sees the sins of mankind, whose guilt He has taken upon Himself. 4.  He sees the wrath of the Father which His sufferings must appease. 5.  So great is His anguish that His sweat becomes as drops of blood, falling to the ground. 6.  An angel appears to Him from Heaven to strengthen Him. 7.  "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not My will, but Thy Will be done." 8.  Finding the disciples asleep: "Could you not watch one hour with Me?" 9.  Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss, and cruelly bound and led away. 10. Father, by the merits of the agony of Jesus in the Garden, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

 

 

Þnd Sorrowful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your bloody Scourging, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, the grace of mortifying my senses.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.  Jesus is taken before the High Priest where He is falsely accused, buffeted and insulted. 2.  The Jewish leaders take Jesus before Pilate, for only he can impose the death penalty. 3.  The robber, Barabbas, is preferred to Jesus. 4. Pilate can "find no cause in Him," yet to appease the Jews, he orders Jesus to be scourged. 5.  The scourge is made of leather things to which are attached small, sharp bones and bits of metal. 6.  Jesus is bound to a pillar and cruelly scourged until His whole body is covered in deep wounds. 7.  The Lamb of God offers His suffering for the sins of mankind. 8.  Jesus suffers so much in His sacred flesh to satisfy, especially, for the sins of the flesh. 9.  The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: "He was wounded for our iniquities, He was bruised for our sins." 10. Father, by the merits of Jesus in this painful scourging, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

 

 

ßrd Sorrowful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your Crowning with Thorns, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, contempt of the world.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.  Pilate asks: "Are you a king?" Jesus answers: "I am a King, but my Kingdom is not of this world." 2.  In the praetorium, the soldiers place an old purple robe on Jesus, in mockery of His claim to be a King. 3.  They fashion a crown out of thorns, and forcefully press it down upon His sacred head. 4.  In His bound hands, they place a reed, as a sceptre, in mockery of His kingship. 5.  Kneeling before Him in derision, they spit on Him and cry out: "Hail, king of the Jews!" 6.  Taking the reed from His hands, they strike Him on the head, driving the thorns more deeply into His scalp. 7.  Pilate brings Jesus before the people, hoping his pitiful sight will soften them: "Behold the man!" 8.  Their response: "Crucify him!" 9.  Our Blessed Lord submitted to this terrible humiliation to make reparation for our pride. 10. Father, by the merits of this painful humiliation, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

 

 

áth Sorrowful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your Carrying Your Cross, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, patience in bearing my crosses.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.  One condemned to death by crucifixion is forced to carry the cross to the place of execution. 2.  The suffering  of Jesus is intense as the cross is laid on His bruised and wounded back and shoulders. 3.  Weak and exhausted from the loss of blood, lack of food and rest, Jesus falls three times under the weight of the Cross. 4.  Jesus meets His afflicted Mother, causing untold anguish in the Hearts of Son and Mother. 5.  The countenance of Jesus is disfigured with blood and sweat, with dust and spittle. 6.  Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, leaving on her veil the image of His countenance. 7.  Fearing that Jesus might die on the way, the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Jesus. 8.  Jesus speaks to the weeping women: "Weep not for Me, but for yourselves and for your children." 9. "If anyone is to be My disciple, let him take up his cross and follow Me." 10. Father, by the merits of this painful journey to Calvary, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

 

 

ãth Sorrowful Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your Crucifixion, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, the conversion of sinners, and relief of the souls in Purgatory.
 

On each Ave bead, think and pray

Ý.  The Hands and Feet of Jesus are nailed to the Cross in the presence of His afflicted Mother. 2.  "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." 3.  "This day you will be with Me in Paradise." 4.  "Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your Mother." 5.  "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" 6. "I thirst." 7.  "It is finished." 8.  "Father, into Thy Hands, I commend My Spirit." 9.  The side of Jesus is pierced with a lance, and blood and water gush forth. His Body is taken down and placed in the arms of His Mother. 10. Father, by the merits of the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

 

 

 

1st Glorious Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your glorious Resurrection, and I ask of You, through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, love of God and fervor in Your service.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.  The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb on the  evening of Good Friday. 2.   His soul descends into the realm of the dead to announce to the Just the tidings of their redemption. 3.   Fearing the body of Jesus will be taken, the chief priests place guards at the tomb. 4.   On the third day Jesus rises from the dead, glorious and immortal. 5.   The earth quakes as the angel rolls back the stone; the guards flee in terror. 6.   The holy women coming to anoint the body of Jesus are amazed and frightened to find the tomb open. 7.   An angel calms their fears: "He is not here. He has risen as He said." 8.   Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and Peter and two disciples on the way to Emmaus. 9.   That evening He appears to the Apostles behind locked doors: "Peace be unto you...do not be afraid." 10.   Jesus breaths on them and gives them the power to forgive sins.

 

 

 

2nd Glorious Mystery 

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of Your triumphant Ascension, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, an ardent desire for Heaven, my true home.

Ý.  Jesus remains on earth forty days after His resurrection to prove He has truly risen from the dead. 2.  He commissions the Apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature and promises to be with them forever. 3.  He will not leave them orphans, but will send the Holy Spirit to enlighten and strengthen them. 4.  Jesus proceeds to Mt. Olivet accompanied by His Mother and the Apostles and Disciples. 5.  Extending His pierced hands over all in a last blessing, He ascends to Heaven. 6.  As He ascends, a cloud takes Him from their sight. 7.  Jesus ascends to takes His place at the right hand of His Father. 8.  What jubilation there must be amid the angels of Heaven at the triumphant entry of Jesus. 9.  The wounds in His glorified body are an endless  plea before the Father on our behalf. 10.The disciples leave Mt. Olivet and "return to Jerusalem with great joy."

 

 

 3rd Glorious Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of the mystery of Pentecost, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through the intercession of Your holy Mother, the coming of the Holy Ghost in my soul.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.  The Apostles are gathered in the upper room where Jesus had held the Last Supper. 2.  They are persevering in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus. 3.  A sound comes from Haven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it fills the whole house. 4.  The Holy Spirit descends on each of them in the form of tongues of fire. 5.  Filled with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are enlightened and strengthened to spread the gospel. 6.  Having lost all fear of the Jewish leaders, the Apostles boldly preach Christ crucified. 7.  The multitudes are confounded because every man hears them speak in his own tongue. 8.  The Holy Spirit comes upon the infant Church, never to leave Her. 9.  That first day Peter goes forth to preach and baptize three thousand. 10. The feast of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, for on that day the Church begins to grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 4th Glorious Mystery

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of the resurrection and triumphant assumption of Your Holy Mother into Heaven, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession a tender devotion to so good a Mother.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1.   After the Apostles have dispersed, the Blessed Mother goes to live with John, the beloved disciple. 2.   Mary lives many years on earth after the death of Christ. 3.   She is a source of comfort, consolation, and strength to the apostles. 4.   As she had nourished the infant Jesus, so she nourishes spiritually the infant Church. 5.   Mary dies, not of bodily infirmities, but is wholly ravished in a rapture of divine love. 6.   Her body as well as her soul is taken up into Heaven. 7.   After her burial the apostles go to the tomb and find only fragrant lilies. 8.   Jesus does not permit the sinless body of His Mother to decay in the grave. 9.   Corruption of the body is an effect of original sin from which Mary is totally exempted. 10.  The bodies of all mankind, at the Last Judgment, will be brought back and united again to the soul.

 

 

 

 5th Glorious Mystery 

Lord Jesus, I offer You this decade in honor of the Coronation of Your holy Mother, and I ask of You through this Mystery and through her intercession perseverance in grace and a crown of glory hereafter.

On each Ave bead, think and pray

1. As Mary enters heaven, the entire court of heaven greets with joy this masterpiece of God's creation. 2.  Mary is crowned by her divine Son as Queen of Heaven and earth. 3.  More than we can ever know the hearts of Jesus and Mary overflow with joy at this reunion. 4.  Only in heaven will we know the great majesty of that coronation, and the joy it gave to the Angels and Saints. 5.  Even the angels, who are by nature greater than humans, hail Mary as their Queen. 6.  Mary shares so fully in the glory of Christ because she shared so fully in His sufferings. 7.  Only in Heaven will we see how central is the role of Mary in the divine plan of redemption. 8.  The angels and saints longed for the coming of her whose heel crushes the head of the serpent. 9.  Mary pleads our cause as a most powerful queen and a most merciful and loving mother. 10. "A great sign appeared in Heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

 

 For Scriptural Basis  of the Prayers and Mysteries of the Holy Rosary  GO HERE

 

 

 The Traditional Form of the Rosary - 15 Mysteries

In the Early Church, the faithful memorized all 150 Psalms, or else prayed as many as they could learn, just as Jews had for centuries prior. As time progressed through the Middle Ages, the faithful who could not learn the Psalms, [the numbers of] which increased as the population of Europe moved from urban population to a more rural and landed population, wanted a way to participate in the praying [of] the Psalms. Thus, at some point, for those who could not participate in the Psalms, the tradition was devised to pray 150 Our Fathers. Then [the tradition came to be to] say 150 Hail Marys, and so on. Later, this became fashioned into some Our Fathers and some Hail Marys, although Tradition doesn't say by [whom this was fashioned].

It was already in existence when St. Dominic refashioned it into the form we are more familiar with, nevertheless, it is true to a certain extent that he received it from heaven, in as much as Our Lady told him to spread the devotion far and wide amongst the faithful - thus, it became known as "Our Lady's Psalter".

This is so because during the Rosary the Hail Mary is said 150 times.

The whole rosary is modeled on the Breviary, the Church's Psalter, since at the end of ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be is said, just as it is after every Psalm in the Latin rite of the Church.

For century upon century, the traditional 15 Mystery form of the Rosary existed, and that form upheld and elaborated upon by numerous Popes, theologians and the very Saints themselves.

The inclusion of the new Luminous Mysteries is left to the freedom
of individuals and communities, and is not commanded, 
as clearly stated by Pope John Paul II:

"Of the many mysteries of Christ's life, only a few are indicated by the Rosary in the form that has become generally established
with the seal of the Church's approval.
The selection was determined by the origin of the prayer,
which was based on the number 150, the number of the Psalms in the Psalter."

"I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities,
could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ's public ministry
between his Baptism and his Passion."

                                                                                                                                          - ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE #19
                                                                                                           Apostolic Letter, Pope John Paul II, 16 October, 2002

 

Our Lady of Fatima confirms the traditional form as she stated
 the following promise to the little seers, Lucy, Jacinta and Francisco:

"I promise to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the First Saturdays of five consecutive months,
confess, receive Holy Communion, and keep me company for fifteen minutes, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary."

For our dear members who wish to include the new meditations,
we invite you locate them on any number of other Catholic pages on the web.

 

 

Go Here to Upload and Print out Your Own Rosary Mysteries Pamphlet

 

 

Mysteries of The Rosary Pamphlet

available through our Rose Garden