Scriptural Rosary...for those who love Mary! Compiled by R. M. Mayor, 1989

The Rosary is a meditative prayer. It is said with a set of prayer beads: a cross at one end, followed by a few beads, a religious medal (or a knot), and a large loop of beads: five sets of ten. These sets are called decades. Each decade is associated with a "mystery" of the lives of Jesus and Mary to be reflected upon during the oral part of the prayer.

There are three sets of these mysteries (generally only one set is prayed each day). The first set is the "Joyful Mysteries," the second is the "Sorrowful Mysteries," and the third is the "Glorious Mysteries." All but the last two Glorious Mysteries are scripturally based. These last two are the "Assumption of Mary into Heaven" and the "Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth." These last two mysteries are based upon traditions regarding Mary.

Marian theologians believe that Mary's body and soul was assumed (by the power of God) into heaven upon the completion of her life on earth. Being the first tabernacle of Christ, the mother of the God-man, she was given the graces she needed to honor him in purity and holiness and humility as that tabernacle. Thus she was purged of Original sin (inherited from the fall of Adam and Eve), prior to her conception. This is the teaching of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception was a pre-redemptive act of God in honor of the son of Man, the new Adam, Jesus. She was, therefore, not subject to the punishments of Adam and Eve -including death and decay. Her death is thought to be like "falling asleep" and her assumption similar to Jesus -being taken up into the clouds.

Since Christ made Mary our mother as well as his own (Jn 19:26-7), and since she is God's mother (Christ is both fully human and fully divine), and since we honor Christ as: Lord, Master, King, and Prince of Peace; Mary is thought of as the "Queen mum." It is not that she is divine herself. It is only that we recognize her special place in the salvation of humanity. She brought forth the redeemer, she was there at the foot of the cross, and she was there when the church was born at Pentecost. Her advice to others was: "Do whatever he tells you (Jn2)." And Christ responded to her even when his "time had yet not come," because she was his mother, the Woman, the new Eve. We too rely on her loving intercession and the gentle comfort of having a mother look after us from above.

II. A Brief History of the Rosary.

The rosary is said to have come to us from St. Dominic. The prayer was made popular at a time when only the wealthy and/or well-educated had access to the bible. The printing press was not invented or yet practical & the bible was not translated into the languages of the people. Thus the rosary has been called the "poor man's bible." Each "Hail Mary" prayer is said to be like offering the Blessed Mother a mystical rose…a token of our regard. By honoring the Mother of God we honor God himself, her creator and redeemer. By imitating Mary we become better disciples of Jesus: we follow him, we hold his words and deeds in our very hearts, and ponder what we do not fully understand as she did. We say humbly to God, "Behold the servant of the Lord…Let it be according to your will." And we follow him. And we stand tall in times of darkness and keep believing when it is hard to do so. We give what is near and dear to us to the world –even knowing that it will end in death and destruction, and hope in the Lord that it will somehow work out in the end. We forgive. We mother. We witness. We pray. All these things are in the bible and in the rosary...find them.

III. Prayers of the rosary:

The sign of the cross (beginning and end of prayer/similair to: "in Jesus name").
Do: Right hand with rosary cross on forehead,...............Say: "In the name of the Father,
same hand on diaphragm area,.....................................................and of the Son,
move to the left shoulder,............................................................and the Holy
then the right shoulder..................................................................Spirit.
Hands folded in prayer.................................................................Amen."

The Apostles Creed. (said on cross -as a marker).
I believe in God the Father the almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and became man. For our sakes he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

The Lord's Prayer (said prior to the "Haily Marys").
Our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven./
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary (said on the ten sets of beads).
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.

The Glory Be (said after the "Hail Marys").
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit./
As it was in the beginning, Is now, And will be forever. Amen.

The Hail Holy Queen (said at the end).
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you do we send up our sighs –mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the most blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
Refrain: "Pray for us O holy mother of God,/
Response: that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ."

Options:
Prior to saying the "mini decade," the small set of three Hail Marys (near the cross)…
Say: "We pray to receive the divine virtues of faith, hope, and charity."

The Memorary (some religious start with this prayer & jump ahead to the mysteries).
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency hear and answer me. Amen.

The Fatima Prayer (many people follow the "Glory Be" with this prayer).
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy. Amen.

IV. The Mysteries of the Rosary:

The Joyful Mysteries: (said on Monday, Thursday, Sunday* during Advent/Christmas) The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, The Finding in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries: (said on Tuesday, Friday, Sunday* during Lent) The Agony in the Garden, The Scouraging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Way of the Cross, The Crucifixion. 

The Glorious Mysteries: (said on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday*)  The Ressurection, The Ascention, The Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Assumption, The Coronation.

V. How To Use The Scriptural Meditations:

As you pray each mystery allow your eyes to wander from one scriptural quote to another.
You will not be able to use them all (there are more than ten). Pick and choose as the Spirit leads you. You will be amazed at how uniquely God touches your heart each time you use this method.

Feel free to share, recreate, or otherwise make use of the meditations of this site in any way that makes sense to you. All I ask is that it be offered free in honor of Our Blessed Mother and that it may be used to honor her in fidelity to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  Other versions of this prayer available on http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/rosary/links.html.  Enjoy & God Bless!

Choose one of the following: The Joyful Mysteries  The Sorrowful Mysteries  The Glorious Mysteries