The memory of Mary should never be absent in the life of a Christian; she is the mother of Jesus and our mother. To pray the rosary means to continue in us the meditation made by Mary, as the Gospel reminds us, on the events of Jesus' life and hers. At the same time, we greet her and invoke her.
Strive to contemplate with love, serenity and reflection the main salvific events of Christ's life, from the virginal conception to the culminating moments of his passion, death and resurrection, seeing them through the heart of the one who was closest to him.
In praying the rosary, try to combine the contemplation of the mysteries with a filial attitude, praise in
the passing of the Hail Marys, the adoration in the glorias, the admiration and impetration in the litanies, so that all of it exudes confidence and love for Mary.
I. The Rosary in private
Opening prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord, Jesus Christ, true God and true man. My Creator and my Redeemer, because you are who you are, and because I love you above all things, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I will and firmly propose to confess in due time. I offer my life, works and labors in satisfaction for my sins. And I trust in your goodness and infinite mercy that you will forgive them and give me the grace not to offend you again. Amen.
Some personal intention is formulated.
Mysteries of joy (Monday and Saturday)
1. The incarnation of the Son of God.
2. The visitation of Our Lady to St. Elizabeth.
3. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The presentation of the Lord in the temple.
5. The Lost Child
and found in the temple.
Mysteries of pain (Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. Jesus' prayer in the garden.
2. The scourging of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. The crowning of thorns.
Jesus carries the cross.
Jesus is crucified.
Mysteries of glory (Wednesday and Sunday)
1. The glorious resurrection of the Lord.
2. The Lord's admirable ascension into heaven.
3. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
4. The assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven.
5. The coronation of Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
Mysteries of light (Thursday)
1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
2. The self-revelation of Jesus at the wedding at Cana.
3. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God inviting to conversion.
4. The Transfiguration of the Lord.
5. The institution of the Eucharist.
In each mystery an Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be are prayed.
At the end of the fifth mystery, the salve is added.
Salve Regina
Hail, Queen and Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. Hail God. To you we call the banished children of Eve. To thee we sigh groaning and weeping in this vale of tears. Therefore, O Lady, our advocate. Turn your merciful eyes upon us, and after this exile, show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb. O clement, O merciful, O sweet Virgin Mary!
This is followed by the recitation of the litanies:
Lauretan Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
God our heavenly Father. Have mercy on us.
God the Son, redeemer of the world.
God the Holy Spirit.
Most Holy Trinity, you are one God.
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God.
Holy Virgin of virgins.
Mother of Christ.
Mother of the Church.
Mother of mercy.
Mother of divine grace.
Mother of hope.
Mother most pure.
Mother of the chastest mother.
Virgin mother.
Immaculate Mother.
Kind mother.
Admirable mother.
Mother of good advice.
Mother of the Creator.
Mother of the Savior.
Most prudent Virgin.
Virgin worthy of veneration.
Virgin worthy of praise.
Powerful Virgin.
Clement Virgin.
Faithful Virgin.
Mirror of justice.
Throne of wisdom.
Cause of our joy.
Spiritual vessel.
Glass worthy of honor.
A distinguished vessel of devotion.
Mystic rose.
Tower of David.
Ivory tower.
Gold house.
Ark of the Covenant.
Heaven's gate.
Morning star.
Health of the sick.
Refuge of sinners.
Help from migrants.
Comfort of the afflicted.
Help of Christians.
Queen of Angels.
Queen of the 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 elevated to heaven.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.
Queen of the family.
Queen of peace.
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
forgive us, Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Pray for us, holy Mother of God,
that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
We beseech you, O Lord, grant us, your servants, to enjoy perpetual health of soul and body and, through the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to be delivered from our present sadness and to enjoy eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
II. Family Rosary
When the rosary is prayed as a family, it is initiated by the guide, who will enunciate each of the mysteries and the general intention; five of the participants may present the intentions for which the family wishes to offer each of the mysteries.
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord, Jesus Christ,
Participants:
God and true man. My Creator and my Redeemer, because you are who you are, and because I love you above all things, it grieves me with all my heart to have offended you. I will and firmly propose to confess in due time. I offer my life, works and labors in satisfaction for my sins. And I trust in your goodness and infinite mercy that you will forgive them and give me the grace not to offend you again. Amen.
Leader: We will offer the rosary for...
After each biblical passage, one of the participants can say the particular intention.
Mysteries of joy (Monday and Saturday)
Leader: The mysteries of the rosary that we are going to contemplate today are the joyful ones.
Guide: First Mystery: The Incarnation of the Son of God.
Reader: «And Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to thy word.» (Lk 1:38).
Guide: Second mystery: The visitation of Our Lady to St. Elizabeth.
Reader: «And Mary went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.» (Lk 1:40).
Guide: Third mystery: The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader: «And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.» (Lk 2:7).
Guide: Fourth Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.
Reader: «Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.» (Lk 2:22).
Guide: Fifth mystery: The Child lost and found in the temple.
Reader: «After three days they found him in the temple, seated in the midst of the doctors.» (Lk 2:46).
Guide: Salve Regina, Laurel Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
* * * * *
Mysteries of pain (Tuesdays and Fridays)
Leader: The mysteries of the rosary that we are going to contemplate today are those of sorrow.
Guide: First mystery: Jesus' prayer in the garden.
Reader: «And in agony, he insisted more in his prayer» (Lk 22:44).
Guide: Second mystery: The Scourging of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader: «Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.» (Jn 19:1).
Third mystery: The coronation of thorns.
Reader: «The soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head.» (Jn 19:2).
Guide: Fourth mystery: Jesus carries the cross.
Reader: «And Jesus, carrying his cross, went out to the place called Calvary.» (Jn 19:17).
Guide: Fifth mystery: Jesus is crucified.
Reader: «They crucified him and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the middle.» (Jn 19:18).
Guide: Salve Regina, Laurel Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
* * * * *
Mysteries of glory (Wednesday and Sunday)
Guide: The mysteries of the rosary that we are going to contemplate today are the following
glorious.
Guide: First mystery: The glorious resurrection of the Lord.
Reader: «Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen» (Lk 24:5-6).
Guide: Second mystery: The admirable ascension of the Lord to heaven.
Reader: «As he blessed them, he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.» (Lk 24:51).
Guide: Third mystery: The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
Reader: «Tongues of fire appeared to them, and they were distributed and rested on each one of them.
of them; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit» (Acts 2:3-4).
Guide: Fourth Mystery: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven.
Reader: «Happy is she who has believed that the things spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!» (Lk 1:45).
Guide: Fifth Mystery: The Coronation of Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
Reader: «A great sign appeared in the sky: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.» (Rev 12:1).
* * * * *
Mysteries of light (Thursday)
Guide: The mysteries of the rosary that we are going to contemplate today are the following
luminous.
Guide: First mystery: The Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan.
Reader: «And there came a voice from heaven, saying, »This is my Son, my beloved, my beloved" (Mt 3:17).
Guide: Second Mystery: The self-revelation of Jesus Christ at the wedding feast at Cana
Reader: «In Cana of Galilee Jesus began his signs, manifested his glory, and the faith of his disciples in him grew» (Jn 2:11).
Guide: Third mystery: The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the call to conversion.
Reader: «Jesus went away to Galilee to proclaim the Gospel of God. He said, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel”» (Mk. 1:15).
Guide: Fourth Mystery: The Transfiguration of the Lord.
Reader: «As he prayed, he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light» (Lk 9:29; Mt 17:2).
Guide: Fifth: Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist
Reader: «I am the living bread which came down from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever» (Jn 6:51).
Guide: Salve Regina, Laurel Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
