The Rosary

Overview

The Rosary is prayed as a meditation on the life of Jesus. As the Hail Marys are recited the participant thinks about one of twenty Mysteries of the Rosary.

In the Rosary, the Hail Marys become like a mantra as they are repeated over and over. The words become less important when a place of inner silence and stillness is reached. It can be calming like a chant.

The name Rosary comes from the Latin word rosarium which means a garland of roses or a crown of roses.

During the 16th Century Pope Pius V established a standard fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary based on various popular customs. In 2002 Pope John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries bringing the total number to twenty.

Prayer beads are used by many major religions as an aid to meditation.

How to pray the Rosary?

Start:

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
O God come to my aid;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

At the beginning of each decade, announce the "mystery" to be contemplated, for example, the first joyful mystery is "The Annunciation".

After a short pause for reflection, recite the "Our Father", ten "Hail Marys" and the "Glory be to the Father".

An invocation may be added after each decade.

At the end of the Rosary, the Loreto Litany or some other Marian prayer is recited.

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.

Hail Mary, Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen..

The Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation (Lk 1:26-27)
The Visitation (Lk 1:39-42)
The Birth of Jesus (Lk 2:1-7)
The Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2:21-24)
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-47)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony in the Garden (Mt 26:36-39)
The Scourging (Jn 19:1-3)
The Crowning with Thorns (Mt 27:27-29)
The Carrying of the Cross (Mk 15:21 - 22)
The Crucifixion (Lk 23:33-46)

The Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection (Lk 24:1-5)
The Ascension (Mk 16:19)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Lk 1:48-49)
The Crowning of Mary Queen of Heaven (Rev 12:1 )

The Mysteries of Light

The Baptism in the Jordan (Mt 3:16-17)
The wedding feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-5)
The proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:15)
The Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2)
The Last Supper (Mt 26:26)

Ideas for student activities

Read the story for the mystery from Scripture. Older students could locate the references. Explore the feelings of a character in the text e.g. the boy Jesus in the temple.

Lead students to enter “into" the scene of the particular mystery imagining the sights, smells, sounds, and emotions that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other participants experienced during the events in the story.

Make sets of Rosary beads. Younger children could use hat elastic and pony beads to make a rosary bracelet with one decade. Students from about ten years of age can make rosary key chainsusing pony beads and chord.

Make sets of rosary beads and include a bookmark explaining how to pray the rosary. Students could be encouraged to teach their family about the rosary and how to pray one decade.

Create a PowerPoint presentation of one of the four sets of mysteries depicting scriptural references.

Sequence the mysteries and make a Class Big Book. Students illustrate after being exposed to examples of sacred art. Write a simple summary of the story or a prayer.